Patti (Cheney) O'Brien

Current

• Librarian at Pima County Public Library

Past

• Librarian at Romeo District Library
• Children's Librarian at Washington Branch at Romeo District Library
• Library Technical Assistant at Michigan Healthcare Corporation

• Library Technical Assistant at Oakland Schools
• Circulation and Page at Huntington Woods Library

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Education

• Wayne State University

Recommended

1 person has recommended Patti

Connections

37 connections

Industry

Libraries

Websites

• GoodReads

Patti (Cheney) O'Brien’s Summary

Being a librarian is not just a job, it's an adventure! There are usually several somethings new every day, which is just the beginning of what makes being a librarian wonderful.

My biggest accomplishment at the Romeo District Library was instituting the fall program, Mystery Comes to Michigan. My first effort resulted in 10 authors coming out to northern Macomb County. Our programming was an afternoon of 2 panel discussions and all the authors signing their books afterwards. We had books available for purchase. I coordinated this program with Aunt Agatha's Book Store in Ann Arbor, MI; the authors were scheduled to appear at the Kerrytown Book Fest the same weekend.

My other accomplishments were more ongoing--helping patrons with their reference questions, assisting them with computer questions and problems, and my favorite, readers' advisory. I love helping patrons find new books to read, and I always tried to make sure they went home with at least 2 books, in case 1 didn't work out.

My professional goals as a librarian is to continue working on the front lines of library service, helping patrons with reference and computer questions, and readers' advisory. An overreaching goal to the above is to make the patron feel welcome and comfortable in the library environment--it is their space, and we, the librarians, work for them.

Patti (Cheney) O'Brien’s Specialties:

Readers' advisory, customer service

Patti (Cheney) O'Brien’s Experience

• Librarian

  Pima County Public Library

  (Libraries industry)

  December 2008 — Present (1 year 1 month)

  I serve as the Young Adult Services Librarian, as well as coordinating volunteers for the Valencia Branch.

• Librarian

  Romeo District Library

  (Libraries industry)

  July 1993 — July 2007 (14 years 1 month)

  Adult Services Librarian 2001-2007
  •Provided reference services & computer assistance to adults and teens
  •Coordinated highly successful author programs with multiple authors & panel discussions
  •Developed & coordinated an adult summer reading program
  •Coordinated “Breakfast with Books”, a booktalking program, including conception, planning, & program bibliographies
  •Provided primary readers’ advisory services to adults
  •Coordinate programs within assigned collection areas including writing PR materials for library flyers & newsletter, & press releases
  •Facilitated Supper Sleuths, a mystery book group
  •Participated in local committee for One Book/One Community program
  •Responsible for materials selection in the areas of adult fiction, films, music, & selected nonfiction
  •Member of the Data Collection Committee for the Romeo District Library during the library’s strategic planning process
  •Received Employee Recognition of Excellence Award for 2006

• Children's Librarian at Washington Branch

  Romeo District Library

  (Libraries industry)

  July 1993 — March 2001 (7 years 9 months)

  •Presented weekly storytime programs for ages two to six
  •Coordinated summer reading program
  •Coordinated at least two to four other programs per year, including craft and professional programs
  •Selected all children’s materials for the branch, and feature films and music for the main library and branch
  •Acted as liaison to the local schools and local government
  •Provided reference assistance and readers’ advisory to patrons of all ages
  •Wrote all press releases for in-house flyers, local newspapers and library newsletter promoting children’s programming

• Library Technical Assistant

  Michigan Healthcare Corporation

  (Hospital & Health Care industry)

  June 1990 — June 1993 (3 years 1 month)

  •Performed Medline searches for doctors, residents, interns and hospital staff
  •Provided interlibrary loan services
  •Processed medical print materials for hospital departments
  •Processed and cataloged medical print materials
  •Received and processed medical journals; also prepared journals for bindery

• Library Technical Assistant

  Oakland Schools

  (Education Management industry)

  January 1991 — September 1992 (1 year 9 months)

  •Cataloged materials for grant-supported fine arts collection
  •Provided interlibrary loan services to teachers throughout the intermediate school district

• Circulation and Page

  Huntington Woods Library

  (Libraries industry)

  1980 — 1987 (7 years )

Patti (Cheney) O'Brien’s Education

• Wayne State University

  MSLS , Library Science , 1990 — 1992

Additional Information

Patti (Cheney) O'Brien’s Websites:

• GoodReads

Patti (Cheney) O'Brien’s Interests:

Reading, Readers' Advisory, Library 2.0, walking, dining with friends

Patti (Cheney) O'Brien’s Groups:

American Library Association, Public Library Association, Sisters in Crime,
Ethnic Thursday Dining Group: President 2004-2006

Patti (Cheney) O'Brien’s Honors:

Received Employee Recognition of Excellence Award for 2006 from the Romeo District Library Board of Trustees and the Library Director
Selected to participate in the 2009 Arizona Leadership Academy for librarians.

Patti (Cheney) O'Brien’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• career opportunities
• consulting offers
• new ventures
• expertise requests
• getting back in touch