Michele Gorman
Experience
Editorial Director, “Teens @ the Library” Series, Neal-Schuman Publishing Company (January 2010-present)
Responsibilities:
Responsibilities:
- General planning of the series
- Solicitation of authors and proposals
- Creation and submission of quarterly progress reports on the Series
- Development and revision of ideas and manuscripts with authors
- Advising authors in preparing manuscripts
- Consultation and aid with Series promotion
- Manuscript reviews
Teen Services Coordinator, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library (August 2005 – present)
Responsibilities:
Responsibilities:
- Oversee Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s Teen Services Division consisting of 24 branch libraries and more than 40 teen-serving staff members
- Lead, coach, and manage performance of a staff team comprised of teen librarians and teen specialists in the Loft, CML’s teen-only library
- Develop strategically aligned system-wide teen programming and outreach programs and services for teens
- Establish standards for the system-wide delivery of teen services
- Collect, analyze and report on feedback about teen programs and services in collaboration with public services, information technologies, and community engagement staff
- Monitor the quality and consistency of teen programs and services throughout the system
- Collaborate with Human Resources to ensure that all CML frontline staff are trained to provide teen outreach, programs and services
- Strategically and effectively budget money for teen programs and services
- Form and coordinate teams responsible for teen programming and services (Teens & Technology, Teens & Reading, Teen Programming, Teen Library Website, Teen Volunteers, Teen Summer Reading, and Teen Outreach)
- Clearly and effectively communicate system initiatives
- Foster innovation in teen services
- Serve as a liaison to community agencies and other literacy groups
- Monitor new developments in the literacy field related to serving teens in libraries, incorporating new developments, as appropriate, into existing programs and services
Wired for Youth Librarian, Austin Public Library (March 2001 – August 2005)
Responsibilities:
Responsibilities:
- Created, maintained, and expanded the Wired for Youth (WFY) program, an award-winning, technology based library program for teens and pre-teens (ages 8-18) at the Carver Branch and Faulk Central Library
- Performed as leader for team of 8-10 Wired for Youth Librarians
- Assisted in orientation of new WFY librarians
- Wrote grants for additional funding for WFY
- Served as liaison to community groups interested in youth and teen achievement
- Developed, promoted, and carried out special WFY and teen-related programs and events
- Designed and created marketing materials for WFY Program, including flyers, handouts, newsletters, etc.
- Recorded and reported monthly statistics and participate in the development of monthly and quarterly reports
- Worked independently to produce dynamic programs
- Oversaw work of volunteers, summer interns, and Capstone Students (graduate level library school interns)
- Represented Youth Services Division in system-wide strategic planning
- Ordered and leveled all graphic novels for children, young adults, and adults for the Central Library and 20 branch libraries
Education
Master of Library Science (M.L.S.), Texas Woman’s University
Graduation Honors: Summa Cum Laude (GPA 4.0), December 2000
Graduation Honors: Summa Cum Laude (GPA 4.0), December 2000
Bachelor of Science in Education, Texas Woman’s University
Graduation Honors: Summa Cum Laude (GPA 4.0), January 1999
Graduation Honors: Summa Cum Laude (GPA 4.0), January 1999
Professional Activities
Member, YALSA Board of Directors, 2007-2010
Certified Trainer, YALSA “Serving the Underserved”, 2004-present
Member, YALSA’s Michael L. Printz Award Committee, 2006-2007
Member, ALA/Young Adult Library Service Association (YALSA), 2000 – present
Member, Beta Phi Mu, International Library and Information Studies Honor Society, 2000 – present
Member/Sub-Committee Chair, YALSA Popular Paperbacks Committee, 2004 – 2006
Member, YALSA Graphic Novels Task Force, 2003-2005
Member, ALA/ALSC Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children’s Video Committee, 2002-2003
Member, ALA/Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), 2001-2003
Publications
Books:
- Connecting Young Adults and Libraries, 4th Revised and Expanded Edition, Neal-Schuman, July 2009
- Getting Graphic! Comics for Kids, Linworth Publishing, 2008
- Connecting Young Adults and Libraries, 3rd Revised and Expanded Edition, Neal-Schuman, July 2004
- Getting Graphic! Using Graphic Novels to Promote Literacy with Preteens and Teens, Linworth Publishing, 2003
Articles:
- “Ten Years of Getting Graphic”, The Graphic Novel Reporter, February 2010
- “Graphic Novels Rule! Comics for Younger Readers” cover article, School Library Journal, March 2008
- “Getting Graphic” Columnist, Library Media Connection, 2007-present
- “Mr. Inspiration: an Interview with Patrick Jones on Knockout Teen Services, Mentoring Librarians, and, Yes, Loving Wrestling Magazines”, School Library Journal, August 2006
- “Down and Dirty Down Under”, YAttitudes, Fall 2006
- “Teenage Riot” Columnist, School Library Journal, February 2006-August 2008
- Graphic Novels Columnist, Teacher Librarian, 2004-2007
- “Get Wild…Read!” Young Adult Chapter, Texas Summer Reading Program Manual, 2005
- “Graphic Novels for Younger Readers”, Book Links, May 2004
- “Comics in the Classroom”, Library Media Connection, November/December 2003
- “What Teens Want: 30 Graphic Novels You Can’t Live Without” cover article, School Library Journal, August 2002
Columns:
- “Getting Graphic” Columnist, Library Media Connection, 2007-present
- “Teenage Riot” Columnist, School Library Journal, 2006-2008
- “Graphic Novels” Bookmark, Teacher Librarian, 2004-2007
Contributor:
- Urban Teens in the Library: Research and Practice. Edited by Denise E. Agosto and Sandra Hughes-Hassell. ALA Editions, 2010. “Chapter 11: The Loft at ImaginOn: An Overview”
- The Thriving Library: Successful Strategies for Challenging Times. Marylaine Block. Information Today, Inc., 2007. “Chapter 1: Focusing on Children and Teens”
- Net Effects: How Librarians Can Manage the Unintended Consequences of the Internet. Edited by Marylaine Block. Information Today, 2003. “Chapter 5: Access Issues; Wiring Teens to the Library”
Honors and Awards
- Literacy Leader’s Award, In the Loop of Success, 2008
- Director’s Award, Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, 2007
- “Movers and Shakers” List, Library Journal, 2003
- Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers Award, Association for Library Services to Children, 2002
Speaking Engagements
Extensive freelance speaker engagements in 40 states in the USA, Australia, Sweden, Germany, Portugal, Denmark, and the United Kingdom, providing all-day workshops, half-day training seminars, pre-conferences, and keynote speeches at national library and education conferences. A comprehensive list is available on request. Sample of the most popular workshops include:
- “Getting Graphic! Graphic Novels in Public and School Libraries”
- “This Ain’t Your Mama’s Library! Creating a New Generation of Library Services for a New Generation of Library Users”
- “Getting Teens Wired at Your Library: Teens and Technology”
- “Connecting Young Adults and Libraries: General Library Services for Teens”
- “Sucking Cyberteens into the Library Matrix: Best Practice in Web-based Library Services”
- “Technology, Radical Trust, and the Role of Social Networking for Teens in Today’s 21st Century Library”
Professional references available upon request.
You may also download a printable version of my resume (PDF).
