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Work experience

Sep 1987Present

Freelance indexer, editor, and information consultant

Info Grooming

Index and edit journals and books. Advise on information management and coping with information overload.

Jan 2013Present

Associate Executive Director

Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS)

Assist with leading a multitype library system providing services to more than 1,300 member libraries. Guide planning, implementation, and evaluation of system operations, including continuing education and consulting, delivery, facilities, membership and resource sharing issues, shared online catalogs and other technology, and Talking Books. Work collaboratively with the system's board, staff, member libraries, the Illinois State Library, and other stakeholders.

Major projects include:

  • Delivery outsourcing. Wrote request for proposal for outsourcing delivery. Assist with contract negotiation, evaluation, and planning for implementation and expansion.
  • E-books for Illinois. Wrote successful proposal for $985,219 grant from the Illinois Secretary of State for eRead Illinois (http://ereadillinois.com), a statewide project to expand e-book access in Illinois libraries. Work with project director and other stakeholders on implementation, sustainability, evaluation, and expansion.
  • Resource-sharing overlay to link multiple consortia sharing different integrated library systems. Wrote requests for proposal for several consultants in this multistage project. Chair working group.
  • Co-coordinator of the 2015 Great Lakes Resource Sharing Conference (http://glrsc.org)
Jul 2012Dec 2012

Interim Executive Director

Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS)

Lead a multitype library system providing services to more than 1,300 member libraries. Guide planning, implementation, and evaluation of system operations, including delivery, shared online catalogs, and Talking Books. Work collaboratively with the system's board, staff, member libraries, the Illinois State Library, and other stakeholders.

Jul 2011Feb 2012

LLSAP Services Manager/MAGIC

Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS)

Director of MAGIC (Multitype Automation Group in Cooperation), a resource-sharing consortium of 20 libraries in Cook, DuPage, and Kane counties of Illinois. LLSAP is an Illinois library acronym for Local Library System Automation Program.

Mar 2000Jun 2011

Director of Network Services

DuPage Library System

Managed all activities related to information technology, integrated library systems, remote patron authentication, websites, web conferencing, cataloging and metadata, OCLC, E-rate, interlibrary loan, electronic resources, and virtual reference.

Sep 1987Mar 2000

Associate LRC Director

National College of Chiropractic, Learning Resource Center

Management of an academic health science library, with emphasis on technology services.

  • College is now National University of Health Sciences.
  • Job title was Acting Head of the Library from Sept. 1987 to April 1988 and Head of the Library from April 1988 to Dec. 1991; however, job responsibilities were similar.

Education

Oct 1992Nov 1992

College of DuPage

Nondegree studies in local area network administration.

Summary

  • Multifaceted experience with management of library consortia and academic libraries, including planning; building projects; budgeting and finances; and staff recruitment, supervision, and evaluation
  • Track record of working effectively and collaboratively with diverse constituent groups and stakeholders, including boards of directors, committees, staff, and external audiences
  • Respected, effective leader and project manager, including leading organizations through periods of transition
  • Passion for connecting people with the information they need
  • Ability to organize and communicate complex ideas and information
  • Good listener, writer, and editor
  • Ability to analyze problems and implement creative solutions
  • Avid learner and teacher, including taking and leading classes and workshops, giving presentations, and facilitating in a problem-based curriculum

Professional Association Memberships

  • American Library Association
  • American Society for Indexing
  • Association of Visual Science Librarians
  • Chicago Women in Publishing
  • Editorial Freelancers Association
  • Health Science Librarians of Illinois
  • Illinois Library Association

References

  • References available on request.
  • Recommendations and testimonials are posted at http://www.janeplass.com.

Selected Creative and Scholarly Activities

  • Worked with other committee members on Serving Our Public 3.0: Standards for Public Libraries, which was published by the Illinois Library Association in 2014 
  • Presentations on information overload for Geneva Public Library District (Sept. 24, 2010) and the west suburban networking group of Chicago Women in Publishing (May 1, 2010)
  • Wrote and published e-course Beat Information Overload the 5F Way (2009; revised 2011)
  •  Spoke at the Reaching Forward Conference of Library Assistants on "Writing to be Read" (Rosemont, IL; April 15, 2005)
  •  With Philip Wolpe and Emory Giles, co-wrote National College of Chiropractic institutional profile for netILLINOIS grant proposal for Internet access (Jan. 1995)
  • Plass, Jane. "The Louët Mini Wheel (The S-40)" Spin-Off Winter 1994; 18(4):108
  • Plass, Jane. "Academic and Library Computing in Chiropractic Colleges." CLS Newsletter May 1992; 4(4):9-13
  • Wrote FCER grant proposal for feasibility study for an online chiropractic index (Submitted by the CLIBCON Indexing Committee in March 1992)
  • Plass, Jane Paula. "Library Subject Headings for Visual Therapy and Developmental Vision Literature." Paper submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Optometry at the Illinois College of Optometry, Feb. 24, 1984. This thesaurus was adopted for use in the Illinois College of Optometry library.
  •  Plass, Jane, Katie Wilson, and others. "Rights and Responsibilities in Interlibrary Cooperative Ventures." Southeastern Librarian Spring 1980; 30:22-8. (Editor and co-author as member of the VPI & SU Library's Advisory Committee on Interlibrary Cooperation)

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