Jerry Yarnetsky, MLS

About Me

Curriculum Vitae

Earl G. “Jerry” Yarnetsky — Web Services Librarian (Associate librarian rank) — Miami University Libraries

Education

Master of Library Science, 2006.

Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Bachelor of Arts, English-Journalism, 1991.

Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.

Experience

Miami University

Oxford, Ohio: Public university of 23,000 students

Web Services Librarian/Associate Librarian

January 2018 to present

  • Redeveloped libraries web services from the Drupal content management system to the Jekyll static site generator resulting in major security and performance improvements. Change allowed our web services team to collaborate and peer review code via Github.
  • Leading the development of our next generation website on the Astro.js JavaScript web framework.
  • Led our library’s discovery services migration from Ebsco Discovery to ExLibris Primo, becoming only the third library in the North America to migrate to the new Primo NDE. Consulted with the statewide OhioLink consortium and with libraries across the nation making the migration to Primo NDE.
  • Lead implementer for front-line service apps and staff publishing systems such as LibGuides, Sanity, and LibCal. Extensively customized these services to the needs of library departments transitioning to online services due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Lead implementer for web accessibility. Completed multiple accessibility remediations on library web services in conjunction with the university’s accessibility office, the AccessMU Center. Train staff and advocate for universal accessibility in our services.
  • Conducted and analyzed results from IRB-approved usability testing of libraries website. Wrote new testing protocol for upcoming usability testing of libraries discovery system.
  • Created a virtual services data dashboard to share previously application-siloed library statistics with our library community using the Exploratory data science app.
  • Improved off-campus access to millions of library resources by implementing guest access in our Ebsco Discovery Service system.
  • Continually investigate emerging technologies to improve access and delivery of digital resources and services.

Visiting Faculty/Lecturer

January 2020 to December 2022

IMS 222: Introduction to Interactive Design and Development
  • Taught 3-credit course for the Emerging Technologies in Business and Design (ETBD) department.
  • Course investigates the theories and practice of interaction design and front-end web development.
  • Also explore topics such as ethics of online interactions, and inclusive design for every person on every device.
  • Cohorts alternates between first-year students starting their ETBD program and upper class students incorporating interaction design into their primary majors ranging from psychology to fashion design.
  • To fulfill the needs of my students during the pandemic, I have taught every mode of course delivery from in-person, hyflex, and online both synchronous and asynchronous.

Professional Service Overview

Service to the University and Libraries

  • Lived Experiences: Race at Miami digital history project (October 2022 to present): member of web development team for this Boldly Creative funded project. Specialized in information architecture, content management, and accessibility on the project.
  • Co-facilitator, Strategic Initiatives Virtual Spaces and Services (Spring 2022)
  • RFP Review Committee for MUAccess Center’s Accessibility Management Software (November-December 2021)
  • Library Games Night Committee (summer 2018 to present)
  • Strategic Initiatives Professional Development (AY 2020-21)
  • Search committees for Discovery Librarian (summer 2022), Web Services Librarian (spring 2019), and Social Sciences Librarian (spring 2018).
  • Faculty advisor for IMS452 Senior Degree Project (April-May 2021)
  • Volunteering at university and library events such as the National Civil Right Conference, search committee candidate visits, Late Night Breakfast, Explore King, Talawanda Science Week, Faculty Welcome Day, Graduate Student Welcome Night, Move-In Miami, and Copyright Conference.

Montgomery County Community College

Blue Bell, Pennsylvania :: Serving 12,000 FTE students in suburban Philadelphia.

Emerging Technologies Librarian/assistant professor

February 2010 to December 2014.
July 2016 to December 2017.

  • Design and maintain library web services emphasizing clarity of use for new students.
  • Customized function and appearance of the library’s online catalog (Sirsi Enterprise and eLibrary) and Ebsco Discovery Service.
  • Planned and implemented library technology services and workflows including online chat reference, intercampus loan, and library computer lab services.
  • Collaborated with college archivist and faculty to create digital projects for an historic silent film and college newspaper archives. Coordinated web development, digitization, and grant writing.
  • Curated technology and exhibit design for a unique multimedia gallery housed in our library.
  • Taught information literacy workshops customized to faculty and student needs.
  • Created multimedia tutorials and research guides for online students.
  • Provided one-on-one research and technology assistance and training for students, faculty, administration, staff, and community members in person, by phone, and online chat.
  • Assisted faculty in researching and assessing open educational resources.
  • Outreach and collection development for online learning, STEM, and Business divisions.

Director of Libraries (interim)

January 2015 to June 2016.

  • Served as interim director during college early-retirement buyout and reorganization.
  • Managed day-to-day operations and facilities of libraries on two campuses.
  • Supervised, coordinated, and evaluated staff of 20 including full-time and adjunct librarians and technical services.
  • Coordinated staff transition during a large cohort of employee retirement maintaining staff cohesion and communication while restructuring duties and procedures for the new environment.
  • Involved in hiring eight new staff members from circulation staff to a new librarian.
  • Coordinated major projects and writing library policy and procedures including creation of a new circulation desk manual.
  • Directly managed $265,000 operating budget, balance of $2 million budget pre-set in personnel and facilities budgets set at college level.

Service to the College

  • Chair, All-College Student Life Committee, September 2016 to December 2017
  • Chair, All-College Distance Education Committee, September 2011 to June 2014.
  • Member, President’s Leadership Council September 2012 to May 2014; September 2016 to December 2017.
  • Middle States Self-Study Steering Committee: Member of steering committee and co-chaired working group.
  • Commencement faculty volunteer. Reader in 2011 and 2013, student marshal in 2012, and faculty marshal in 2017.
  • Sabbatical Committee, Spring 2016
  • Student Commencement Prizes Committees, Spring 2017.

Madison-Jefferson County Public Library

Madison, Indiana. County district library with 32,500 service population

Reference and Web Services Librarian

January 2007 to January 2010

Reference Assistant

January 2002 to December 2006

  • Designed and managed library web presence. Redesigned library web site received ALA recognition in 2006 as traffic increased more than doubled.
  • Created digital history projects in collaboration with the local history department. Established best practices, designed websites, and coordinated technology, content management, metadata creation and image scanning.
  • Wrote library’s state mandated 2005-07 and 2008-11 Long Range Technology Plans.
  • Wrote and coordinated grants for public access computing and wireless Internet services. Collaborated on LSTA and foundation grants for digitization projects.
  • Planned and maintained technology projects and public access computing.
  • Provided reference services utilizing print, Internet, database and human sources for inquiries made in person, by email and via library web site.
  • Trained patrons and staff in use of technology including Internet and database searching, Microsoft Office and content management systems.
  • Supervised library on Sundays.
  • Developed video and music collections. Created the library’s new DVD collection and wrote a new video borrowing policy.
  • Planned and promoted library events from movie festivals to poetry slams.
  • Developed library communication materials including newsletters, press releases, posters and blogging.

Web development

ReAL Design

Web developer, March 2007 to March 2013

  • HTML/CSS/PHP/Javascript/jQuery/MySQL development with Drupal, WordPress, Textpattern, and Concrete5 content management systems.
  • Collaborated with graphic/UI designer Rick Lostutter of ReAL Design to create websites for clients in southern Indiana including Holiday World theme park, Madison Consolidated Schools, Jefferson County Historical Society, Southeast Indiana Regional Planning Commission, Thomas Family Winery, and the Switzerland Co. Public Library.

Journalism

The Madison (Ind.) Courier

Special Projects Editor and Staff Writer for daily newspaperNovember 1993 to May 2002

  • Reported on local government and education.
  • Trained news staff for technology advances including new software, Internet research and the transition from manual to computerized design.
  • Redesigned the newspaper and helped restructure procedures for the paper’s moves to computerized design and color printing.
  • Designed special sections in collaboration with news and advertising staff.
  • Managed daily news products as acting managing editor.
  • Won Hoosier State Press Association community service award in 1996.
  • Developed the newspaper’s first web site.

La Prensa Nacional

Managing editor of Latino weekly newspaper in Toledo, Ohio.January 1992 to September 1993

WMUB-FM

Reporter, program engineer, and program host for public radio station. Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.January 1989-December 1991

Awards and Honors

Tenure and promotions

  • Promoted to Associate Librarian at Miami University (2024, July).
  • Awarded Continuing Contract at Miami University (2024, July).
  • Promoted to Assistant Professor at Montgomery County Community College (2014, January).
  • Awarded Tenured at Montgomery County Community College (2016,September).

Awards

  • Distinguished Service Award for the Miami University Libraries (2026, June).
  • Miami University Creativity and Innovation Award (2022, November).
  • American Library Association PR Xchange marketing prize (2022, June).
  • Miami University Prodesse Quam Conspici Award for outstanding service to the university during the pandemic (2021, September).
  • John and Suzanne Roueche Excellence Award for exceptional leadership. National award through the League of Innovation in Community Colleges Alliance as nominated by Montgomery County Community College. (2014)

Award Nominations

  • Miami University Libraries Distinguished Service Award (2023, April).
  • Innovation of the Year Award with college archivist Lawrence Greene for our Betzwood Digital History Project at Montgomery County Community College in 2012.

Professional Memberships

  • American Library Association (ALA)
  • Accessibility Assembly
  • Reference and User Services Association (RUSA)
  • Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL)
  • Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures (Core)
  • Games and Gaming Round Table (GAMERT)
  • Academic Library Association of Ohio (ALAO)
  • Technical, Electronic, and Digital Services Interest Group (TEDSIG)
  • Indiana Library Federation, 2003 to 2010.

Skills

Technology, Reference, Instruction, Management

Technology

Web development and content management: Versed in both the Linux-Apache-MySQL-PHP and Javascript-APIs-Markdown models of web development. Experience using a wide range of content management and digital collection systems including Sanity, Astro.js, Jekyll, LibGuides CMS, Drupal, WordPress, SharePoint, Textpattern, Omeka and ContentDM. Experience with accessibility and LAMP server administration and application installation. Knowledge of usability, and UX design.

Integrated library systems: Customizing ExLibris Primo, Ebsco Discovery Service, and Sirsi Enterprise OPAC. Familiar with Koha and Evergreen integrated library systems. Knowledge of Dublin Core, XML, and MARC/AACR2 cataloging.

Computer troubleshooting: Windows and Macintosh troubleshooting. Knowledge of Linux distributions and servers, basic ethernet and wireless networking.

Graphic, Multimedia and Print Design: Design using Adobe Creative Cloud suite including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Digital drawing/illustration, preservation scanning, digital photography, sound and video editing using Apple and Adobe software. Experience using and teaching Microsoft, Apple, and Google productivity software including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Keynote.

Reference and instruction

Reference interviewing. Research using print, Internet, database and human sources. Reader’s advisory for youth and adults. Information literacy, research strategy, and technology instruction to audiences ranging from college students to senior citizens. Instruction experience both in class settings and online via chat, live synchronous, and tutorial creation.

Course Instruction

Course and lesson planning, student assessment using web development assignments, experience teaching in-person, synchronous and asynchronous online, and hy-flex models. Teaching with Github Classroom and Codespaces. Experience with Canvas and Blackboard learning management systems.

Management and other skills

Personnel and project management and supervision, coaching, and evaluation. Departmental budgeting. Print and Internet marketing and public relations and conversational Spanish.