Archives

Taylor, Laurie

Laurie Taylor is the Associate University Librarian for Collections & Discovery at the University of Connecticut Library. She leads Acquisitions & Discovery, Archives and Special Collections, Collections Strategies, Digital Imaging & Conservation, and the Digital Preservation Repository Program (Connecticut Digital Archive). Laurie joined UConn after serving at the University of Florida as Senior Director for Library Technology and Digital Strategies, Chair of the Digital Partnerships and Strategies Department, and the Editor-in-Chief of the LibraryPress@UF, and the Operational Lead and Digital Scholarship Director of the Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC). Laurie holds a Ph.D. in English/Media Studies and Digital Humanities and a Master of Arts. She has published extensively, and has been the principal investigator, co-PI, and investigator on many grants. In 2018, Laurie was awarded the Caribbean Information Professional of the Year by the Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL). Laurie is new to New England and thrilled to learn and explore while growing her community here.

Bernier, Maria

As the director of the Avery Point campus library, Maria works with faculty and staff to support student learning and research. She is available to provide information literacy training in classrooms or online and welcomes suggestions for resources to add to the library collection. She worked most recently in the CT State Library’s Division of Library Development, offering grants, helping public libraries expand their broadband access, supporting professional development for the library workforce, and gathering and sharing data about Connecticut’s public libraries. Prior, Maria worked at the Redwood Library & Athenaeum, Salve Regina University, and Mystic Seaport Museum. She has a BA in English and History from Amherst College, an MSLIS from Simmons University, and an MBA from Salve Regina University. Outside of work, Maria enjoys flower gardening, reading and listening to fiction, and eating good food.

Areas of Expertise

  • Maritime Studies
  • Statewide library services
  • Community engagement
  • Excel

 

Professional Affiliations

  • Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Connecticut Chapter (BCALA-CT)
  • Connecticut Library Association (CLA)
  • New England Library Association (NELA)
  • Rhode Island Library Association (RILA)

Fiducia, Kathryn

Kathryn is a Geospatial Services Librarian at UConn Library. She has a Master of Arts in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning, and a certificate in Geographic Information Sciences from Tufts University. She also has a Bachelor of Arts in Law and Politics and Sociology from Southern New Hampshire University. Prior to her graduate studies, Kathryn did a year of service as an AmeriCorps Data and Research VISTA with the City of Hartford’s North Hartford Promise Zone, which greatly impacted her approach to social science research, data analysis, and of course, mapping! Her other research interests include land use policy, researching the environmental impact of lead and how it relates to environmental justice, and affordable housing policy. In her free time, Kathryn enjoys spoiling her two cats Ben and Jerry, hiking, reading fantasy novels, and bird watching. 

Fitzgerald, Ellie

Ellie Fitzgerald is the current Conservation Technician in the Conservation Lab, working on stabilizing, re-housing, treating, and assessing the condition of archival material. She graduated with a B.A. in Art History and a B.A. in Arts Administration from UConn in May 2022. While a student at UConn, Ellie worked in the Conservation Lab as a student technician for three years and quickly developed a passion for and dedication to the field. She was trained by Conservator Natalie Granados in book repair, humidification of paper-based material, custom enclosure creation, collection surveying, and the preparation and packaging of Special Collection material for loans/shipment. She is thrilled to return to UConn, the Conservation Lab, and Collections & Discovery.

Affiliations:

American Institute for Conservation (AIC)

AIC Hartford Region ECPN (Emerging Conservation Professionals Network)

Historic Deerfield Summer Fellow ‘22

Frati, Angela

Angela joined the University of Connecticut in the fall of 2019 in the Department of Animal Science. She provided the department with financial and administrative support.

Prior to coming to UConn, Angela worked within several Departments at EASTCONN Regional Education Service Center, supporting multiple directors, program coordinators, psychologists, therapists, students, and teachers. She brings with her significant experience in administrative support and managing daily business operations.

Angela joined the UConn Library Office of the Dean in March of 2022 and currently supports Dean Langley, the Senior Leadership Team, and supervises the Dean’s Office student workers.

Angela earned her BA in English and Creative Writing Certificate from the University of Connecticut.

In addition to writing, Angela loves plants, animals, the beach, and reading. She has a passion for helping others and is not afraid of hard work.

Garcia, Vanessa

Vanessa is the weekend and evening Access & Visitor Services Associate. Building upon their Interlibrary Loan experience and collections projects, such as Book Traces, they transitioned to support Access & Visitor Services with a passion for workflow assessment and great customer service at the iDesk. Previously a departmental assistant, they worked with student employees to conduct Babbidge Library’s Lost and Missing Items search and contributed to the development of a new iDesk staff program, training iDesk staff as well. In their new role, they are excited to continue supporting the iDesk, process physical course reserves, and engage with the broader UConn community. They graduated from UConn with a B.A. in Actuarial Science-Finance and a minor in Statistics.

In their free time, they like to read children’s books, learn about art history, and listen to music with their dog.

Reed, Chalynne

Chay Reed is the Access Services Coordinator on the Avery Point campus. She has gained a variety of experiences working in academic and public libraries, with a focus on student support and resource sharing. When not in the UConn Library, Chay can be found visiting other libraries, trying new restaurants, or spending time with her favorite people and senior pets. She also enjoys making handmade rugs and other crafts. She holds a BA in Studio Art from Eastern Connecticut State University.

Professional Affiliations

Kohlbrecher, Roslyn

Roslyn joined the UConn School of Pharmacy in 2020. She has supported the research of students and faculty in the health as well as physical sciences. Roslyn has a BA in Spanish, an MS in Communication Management and Media, and a Master of Library and Information Science.

 

Areas of Expertise

  • Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • Scholarly Communication
  • Bibliometrics