Ayanna Gaines

Current

• Part-Time Librarian at Ventura College

Past

• Librarian at California State University Channel Islands
• Assistant Professor/Assistant Reference Librarian at Elmhurst College
• Resident Librarian and Visiting Instructor at University of Illinois at Chicago

• Library Intern at Jos. Schaffner Library, Northwestern University

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Education

• Dominican University
• Brown University

Recommended

1 person has recommended Ayanna

Connections

142 connections

Industry

Libraries

Ayanna Gaines’s Summary

Granted tenure at Elmhurst College, 2006.
Scholarly interests include graphic novels, and popular culture fandom and the internet.
Member of the Midwest Popular Culture Association and the Popular Culture Association.
Area Chair, Magazines and Newspapers, Midwest Popular Culture Association.
Past faculty representative on the Elmhurst College Student Government Association.
Past committees include: Illinois Library Association Public Policy Committee, Elmhurst College Academic Standings Committee, LIBRAS Strategic Planning Committee, Dominican University GSLIS Alumni Council.
Member of the 2004 class of SYNERGY: The Illinois Library Leadership Initiative.
Participated in the 2001 ACRL Institute for Information Literacy Wisconsin Immersion program.
Developed leadership skills at the Minnesota Institute for Early Career Librarians from Traditionally Underrepresented Groups in 2000.

Ayanna Gaines’s Specialties:

Library reference, student-centered instruction, web site design, pop culture geekery

Ayanna Gaines’s Experience

• Part-Time Librarian

  Ventura College

  (Higher Education industry)

  August 2008 — Present (1 year 4 months)

  Leading information library tours for classes and teaching students how to conduct research; providing reference service to a diverse student body, in addition to faculty, staff, and visitors; assisting patrons with using library computers; enhancing the collection by purchasing books in areas as diverse as Jim Crow, costume design, and net neutrality.

• Librarian

  California State University Channel Islands

  (Libraries industry)

  August 2006 — July 2007 (1 year )

  Taught information literacy components to students in a variety of departments; provided reference assistance to traditional and adult students, faculty, and staff, and visitors; assisted students and faculty with technology conundrums; represented the library at New Student Orientation activities.

• Assistant Professor/Assistant Reference Librarian

  Elmhurst College

  (Educational Institution; Higher Education industry)

  August 2000 — July 2006 (6 years )

  Provided reference and technical assistance, and taught over 30 information literary sessions a year as part of a vibrant and active Information Literacy program; served as a library liaison to various departments, including Biology and Sociology; created and maintained a diverse collection of graphic novels and related titles; managed the library's many databases and oversaw Blackboard Course Management Software; redesigned the library website using HTML, XML, JavaScript, and Cascading Style Sheets; supervised the Student Technology Assistance Program and the Faculty Lab.

• Resident Librarian and Visiting Instructor

  University of Illinois at Chicago

  (Libraries industry)

  1999 — 2000 (1 year )

  Taught reference service and individual instruction using electronic and print sources; led several Bibliographic Instruction sessions for English, Psychology, and other classes; created resources for English classes focused on Asian American Studies; redesigned web pages giving instruction on using the online public access catalog.

• Library Intern

  Jos. Schaffner Library, Northwestern University

  (Libraries industry)

  1998 — 1999 (1 year )

  Provided reference service and computer technical assistance on evenings and weekends; processed interlibrary loans via OCLC's Passport program; instructed patrons in using the online public access catalog and library databases.

Ayanna Gaines’s Education

• Dominican University

  MLIS , Library and Information Science , 1997 — 1999

  In graduate school, I developed an interest in how popular culture and graphic novels/comic books can add to the depth of the library experience. Some of the classes I really enjoyed were Young Adult Literature, Readers Advisory, Reference Sources in the Humanities, and Preservation and Conservation of Books. I also enjoyed the challenge of LC Subject Analysis.

• Brown University

  BA , English , 1990 — 1993

  At Brown, I was fortunate to be freed from the restrictions of core requirements; as a result, I was able to take courses pertaining to my field of study immediately. However, I also enjoyed exploring other areas of knowledge, such as American Civilization, Theater, and Music.

  Activities and Societies:

  St. Anthony Hall, Brown Band, Food Services Lackey

Additional Information

Ayanna Gaines’s Interests:

Academic libraries, scholarship on fandom on the Internet, popular media and popular culture, video, card, and board games, reading (genres include historical fiction, young adult, and fantasy).

Ayanna Gaines’s Groups:

St. Anthony Hall, SATRI (St. Anthony Trust of Rhode Island), St. Anthony Educational Foundation, Midwest Popular Culture Association /Midwest American Culture Association, Popular Culture Association / American Culture Association, American Library Association, California Library Association, California Academic and Research Libraries, Association of College and Research Libraries

•    American Library Association
•    St. Anthony Hall
•    Brown Alumni Association (BAA)
•    Brown University Alumni of Los Angeles
•    Dominican University Alumnae/i Network

Ayanna Gaines’s Honors:

Received Elmhurst College Faculty Development Travel Grant, Fall 2004.
Member of the third class of SYNERGY: The Illinois Library Leadership Initiative, 2004.
Interviewed for the August 2003 issue of The ILA Reporter.
Received Association of College & Research Libraries 2001 Conference scholarship.
Participant, Association of College & Research Libraries Wisconsin Immersion, 2001.

Ayanna Gaines’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

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