Melora Norman Completes First Semester as New Librarian at Dorothy W. Quimby Library
Guides Unity College to Expanded Library Services 

(Created: Thursday, December 20, 2007 6:08 PM EST)

UNITY — Melora Norman has completed her first semester as Librarian at the Dorothy W. Quimby Library at Unity College. Her appointment was announced in August by Unity College President Mitchell Thomashow.

Melora Norman, Unity College Librarian at Dorothy W. Quimby Library

During her first semester Norman arranged for Quimby Library to join Minerva, the statewide library consortium.  This will allow library borrowers to make materials requests and manage their accounts online.  The conversion is expected to be completed in March of 2008.

Norman serves on the Unity College Information Technology Committee and a committee studying the faculty workload.

During Banned Books Week in September, Norman organized and implemented a week of discussions and readings at Quimby Library.

She participated in a task force that is reviewing computer and information literacy requirements of students. The task force has been gathering and analyzing feedback from students and faculty, and is preparing suggested changes to the curriculum.

Widely considered to be a leader among Maine’s librarians, Norman contributed several chapters to the recently published American Librarian Association titled "New Supervisors in Technical Services: A Management Guide Using Checklists," edited by Emily Bergman and Andrea Kappler. The chapters were written by the various members of the Systems and Services Sections Technical Services and Systems Committee of the Library Administration and Management Association. The chapter authors work in public, academic, and special libraries.

In October, Norman offered a presentation on intellectual freedom at a meeting of the New England Library Association (NELA). The presentation with Mary Somers, Reference Librarian at Harford Community college in Bel Air, Maryland, offered training for librarians on how to follow and support library policies in relation to patron privacy and intellectual freedom.

Norman brings a wealth of experience to her new position at Unity College.

Most recently she served as Coordinator of Outreach Services at the Maine State Library in Augusta, a position she held from 2002. Her additional experience includes holding a variety of teaching and library positions, including serving as an Adjunct Instructor teaching English, Spanish and Curriculum Development at Central Maine Technical College in Auburn, Maine; Director of the Charles M. Bailey Public Library in Winthrop, Maine; Computer Department Head at Liverpool Public Library in Liverpool, New York; Director of the Salina Free Library in Mattydale, New York; Assistant Registrar at Tompkins Cortland Community College in Dryden, New York; and Head of Circulation and Library Instruction at Morrisville College in Morrisville, New York.

Norman’s professional activities and publications are extensive and include serving as Chair of the Committee on Organization, American Library Association from 2004 to the present; Chair of the New England Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee from 2004 to 2006; and serving as Webmaster, Unitarian Universalist church of Brunswick, Maine, from 2003-2006.

She served as Chair of the Intellectual Freedom Round Table, American Library Association, from 2003-2004; was a Member of the Intellectual Freedom Committee, American Library Association, from 2002-2003; Co-Chair, Curriculum Subcommittee, New England Library Leadership Seminar in 2003; Member, Virtual Member, and Contributor to Collaborative Publication, Library Administration and Management Association Systems and Services Technical Services Section, 2002-2004; American library Association Councilor and Executive Board Member, Maine Library Association, 2001- Present; Libraries Build Sustainable Communities, Participants, American Library Association, 2000; President, Winthrop (Maine) Rotary Club, 1999-2000; Member, Maine Libraries Conference Committee, 1995-Present; Chair, Intellectual Freedom Committee, Maine Library Association, 1995-2004; along with a variety of published works and seminars attended.

She holds a Master’s Degree In Library Science from Syracuse University School of Information Systems, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English / Writing Arts and Spanish (dual), Magna Cum Laude, State University of New York College at Oswego.

Unity College is a small private college in rural Maine that provides dedicated, engaged students with a liberal arts education which emphasizes the environment and natural resources.  Unity College graduates are prepared to be environmental stewards, effective leaders, and responsible citizens through active learning experiences within a supportive community.