Faculty Profile: Angie Kelleher
Angie Kelleher has a love of books in her blood and a passion for libraries in her genes.
The access services librarian at Alma College, who is a daughter of a librarian, worked in libraries throughout high school and college. Despite her lifeline to the library, Kelleher admits that it took her a while to read between the lines.
“My first master’s degree was in social work, so I worked on crisis hotlines, in domestic violence shelters, and with emotionally-impaired homeless teens,” she says. “I decided to pursue other career options, and after taking graduate courses in library research, I could finally tell the discipline would be a good fit for me.”
Kelleher earned her master’s degree in library science from Wayne State University in 2003 and began working at Alma, where she oversees the circulation and interlibrary loan departments. She teaches library instruction sessions and library research classes, and she works one-on-one with students, something she says she really enjoys.
“Even though I’m no longer a social worker, I can still make connections to my previous career and help people, but in a different way,” she says. “I get to help students find what they’re looking for and then help them understand how to utilize that information, which is very rewarding. I like being in an environment where people are learning new things all the time.”
While books are Kelleher’s first love, she recommends that students, especially those considering a career in libraries, be aware of the constantly changing nature of information.
“So much information is now available digitally, and you need the tools to effectively use it, whether you’re a librarian or a student,” she says. “I feel like I’m constantly learning new technology, which helps me to embrace the new information world that we live in.”
