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Meet your Library Relations Managers
For Berit Nelson, the pursuit of library science began on the path to law school when she talked to a law librarian and found herself drawn to the information side of the industry. Perhaps serendipitously – we like to think so – her plans detoured once again in the library science program when she found herself gravitating more toward the automation and programming courses.
The rest was history, and she’s been bridging specialties every since, translating library needs into SirsiDynix action items to improve the way libraries function.
“Our job with customers is so interactive – working with them to find smarter, more creative ways to serve their communities. I find it very fulfilling.”
A pioneer of automation technology in the library community, Jim Wilson was co-founder of Dynix in 1983. Throughout his career, Wilson has worked closely with libraries of all types and sizes in customizing Dynix, Horizon and Symphony automation solutions to meet their particular needs. He has worked in sales, support, development, product management and training. Prior to starting Dynix, he worked for the Provo Public Library and Brigham Young University’s Herald B. Lee Library.
Kathi Adams, currently a senior library relations manager, joined SirsiDynix in 1993. During her time with the company, she has held multiple positions in SirsiDynix operations and sales, but says library relations has been her favorite role of her career so far. Kathi has 17 years of library industry experience.
Vera Maeser joined SirsiDynix after its merger with DRA, and has been working for the combined company since 1987. Before assuming her current position as library relations manager for North America library customers, she was a member of the client care team. Vera earned her MLS degree from Case Western Reserve University and has 10 years of experience working as a cataloger in academic and special libraries.
Though her official title is senior library relations manager, Pam Arnold thinks of her work as library advocacy. As for her day-to-day responsibilities, it’s all based on the immediate needs of the libraries she serves.
"No two libraries are alike. Each library is an individual, and so their needs are, too."
Perhaps the one exception to this, she says, is that all libraries want to give their users the best service they can give them. This is a goal Pam shares with her libraries. As a result, every day – like every library – is a little different. But Pam wouldn’t have it any other way.
Lisa Witteman joined SirsiDynix client care in 1994. Prior to her current role as library relations manager, she served as trainer, team leader, training coordinator and technical product manager. Lisa has 23 years of experience in the library industry.
Janet Klutho joined SirsiDynix when it merged with Data Research Associates and has worked at the combined company since 1986. Prior to her position as a library relations manager, she was a software tester and a trainer. She has an MLS from the University of Missouri at Columbia, and has experience working in academic libraries for six years.
Sonia Brown joined SirsiDynix in 2007 from a leading UK university and SirsiDynix customer. There, as an academic liaison librarian, she maximized library resources for students and faculty. At SirsiDynix, she has utilized that experience to help libraries in her roles in client care and now as a library relations manager. Sonia has a master of science degree in information and library science from the University of Wales.
Mary Beth McDonald has been part of the SirsiDynix team since 1994. Prior to joining SirsiDynix, she worked at the University of Victoria and the Library Services Branch of the Province of British Columbia. At SirsiDynix, Mary Beth held positions in customer support, training, consulting and project management. Mary Beth is a graduate of the Master's of Library Science Program at the University of Toronto.
Neil Dalley is a professional librarian who joined SirsiDynix in 2004. Before being appointed a library relations manager, he managed the UK application support team in client care, and worked as a SirsiDynix support consultant and trainer. Previously, Neil worked for 11 years in a variety of roles at a large university library, and at a public library at the beginning of his career.
Luisa has been part of the SirsiDynix team for eight years. Prior to her position as library relations manager, she was a senior client care consultant and trainer. She holds an MA in library and information studies from University College London and has a total of 15 years of library industry experience, including working in academic, public and special libraries. In her library roles, she was a SirsiDynix customer and worked on system implementations and administration.
Nicki Lake joined SirsiDynix in 2005, and worked as a member of the client care team and in implementations and customer training before assuming her current role as library relations manager. Prior to joining SirsiDynix, Nicki worked for eight years in academic libraries in a variety of roles from academic liaison to project management and system implementation. Nicki holds a master of arts in librarianship from the University of Sheffield.
Amanda Carlson recently returned to SirsiDynix after working for the second largest public library service in Australia, where she lead implementations of SirsiDynix SaaS, among other things. Amanda has more than 10 years experience in supporting libraries through client care, training, systems administration and more.
Zichun Liu holds a master's degree in librarianship from Monash University and has been working with SirsiDynix over 10 years. Zichun has extensive experience in the Unicorn/Symphony system and currently assists customers in her role as Library Relation Manager. Her previous roles at SirsiDynix include manager of China customer care, training, and sales consultant.
Inga joined SirsiDynix in 2010, having spent over 20 years working in libraries including roles in IT support, cataloguing, acquisitions and serials. Prior to joining SirsiDynix, Inga worked as a network administrator for a public library consortia, and spent 3 years as a high school librarian in Scotland. She has a Bachelor of Applied Science in library and information science from Curtin University in Western Australia.
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