Janet Brennan Croft jbcroft

Janet Brennan Croft jbcroft@ou.edu

Section 1. Professional Library Experience
Section 2. Education
Section 3. Publications and Presentations
Section 4. Organizations
Section 5. Additional Information and Experience

Section 1. Professional Library Experience

Head of Access Services, January 2001 to present. Assistant Professor, January 2001 to June 2007; Associate Professor, July 2007 to present.

Bizzell Memorial Library, University of Oklahoma.
401 West Brooks, Norman OK 73019-6030

Facilitate physical access to the collections of the university libraries for local and remote users by supervising circulation (SIRSI Unicorn system), document delivery, inter-library loan, stacks management, storage, billing, reserves, and building security functions of the library. Manage remote storage library annex and in-house limited access collection. Liaison with branch libraries concerning circulation functions. Supervise, train, and evaluate one librarian and eight full-time staff.
Define and articulate the role, goals, needs, and policies of the Access Services Department. Determine decision-making priorities for budgetary matters such as equipment and personnel. Collect and analyze statistics.
Conduct occasional bibliographic instruction sessions. Answer or refer "Email A Librarian" questions in my area. Maintain Law subject area on library web page (2002-2008).
Selected Library Committees: Faculty Development Committee 2004-2006 (chair 2005-2006), Space and Physical Environment Task Force 2004-2005 (chair), Safety and Security Task Force 2004, Technology Liaison Committee 2004-, ILL Software Committee 2003, Strategic Planning Committee 2002-2003, Dean's Conference Committee 2001-2003, 2009-2010, Circulation Committee 2001- (chair), Collection Development Committee 2001-, Signage Task Force 2009- (chair).
Campus Committees: Faculty Senate 2005-2008, Central Campus Planning Committee 2005, Provost's Advisory Council on Women's Issues 2004-2007 (co-chair 2005-06), Sooner ID Re-Carding Subcommittee 2004-2005, Continuing Education Council 2001-2004, Copyright Committee 2009-2011.
Selected major accomplishments:

Planned and supervised installation of shelving and other furnishings in 3,200 square foot remote storage facility; developed procedures for relocating and retrieving items.
Developed security procedures for 24/7 Hours during finals weeks.
Reorganized shelving to create a new children’s area.
Reopened a section of the library which had been closed for over 20 years, creating additional open shelving space.
Initiated library-wide digital security camera installation and supplementation of library security personnel with outside professionals.
Developed improved statistical reports for branches and annual report.
Created Current Awareness Services listing for library users.
Reorganized and streamlined shelving procedures, resulting in 24-hour turnaround for returned books.
Liaisoned with libraries providing service to Advanced Programs patrons through Pacific Area Command Library Steering Committee, attended international meetings twice as OU representative.
Developed procedures for sending bills and fines to bursar automatically.
Conducted workshop on the USA Patriot Act for library faculty and staff.
Reserves Department honored by OU Student Association for responsiveness to student needs.
Space and logistics planning for temporary move of Architecture branch library collections during renovation of Gould Hall.
Space and logistics planning for temporary move of Bizzell Library special collections (Bass, Nichols, and History of Science) during renovation of HVAC and fire suppression systems.
Integration of Limited Access, Library Annex, Searching, and document delivery requests into ILLiad system.
Planned space and access procedures for Textbooks on Reserve program. Developed statistics reporting.
Revitalized document delivery program to include on-campus delivery and in-library pickup.
Developed and implemented procedures for reserving group study rooms.

Library Director (Associate Professor), August 1993 to December 2000; Assistant Library Director, May 1993 to August 1993

Warden Memorial Library, Martin Methodist College.
433 West Madison, Pulaski TN 38478.

Upgraded library of small liberal arts college (approximately 500 students) making transition from two-year to four-year degree program, ensuring that library met standards set by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and Association of College and Research Libraries .
During successful SACS reaccreditation visit, served on Library and Learning Resources Committee, Arrangements Committee, and Steering Committee, and chaired Physical and Financial Resources Committee, during successful SACS reaccreditation; wrote portions of self-study dealing with library and managed Document Room for the visiting team.
Doubled shelving space and print resources in library; more than tripled non-print collections; increased library computer resources from one stand-alone word processing terminal to twenty-three networked workstations, three servers, and four additional word processing terminals.
Retrospective conversion: planned and implemented retrospective conversion and automation project using SIRS Mandarin system. Prepared requests for proposals; chose system and recon vendor; prepared catalog for conversion; managed total transition from card catalog to OPAC system with remote web-based access.
Managed acquisition of Internet access, networked CD-ROM references, and web-based databases; directed development and construction of library web page. Extended library intranet system to provide faculty with network/Internet access.
Acquired and cataloged (OCLC Cat-CD system) print and non-print materials to support new majors and electives. Worked closely with faculty; routed reviews and new-book notices.
Managed gifts, including major gift for Judaica from the Raymond Zimmerman fund.
Developed classroom bibliographic instruction programs; performed majority of instruction. Worked at circulation/reference desk on a daily basis. Wrote research guides, bibliographies, and library guides for all categories of users. Some examples:

Current Controversies: Researching Topics in the News
Locating Journal Articles
Poems, Plays, Essays, and Short Stories: Locating Shorter Literary Works
The Fugitives and the Agrarians: Nashville Area Literary Movements of the Early Twentieth Century
Resources for the Study of Nature Writing
Costume and Clothing: Resources for Theatre and Performing Arts
Sports Law

Served as Building Manager for the Johnston Center classroom, office, and library building. Oversight and liaison for maintenance and security. Developed and maintained safety and security plan. Performed safety and maintenance inspections on a regular basis. Involved in short and long range planning for building and campus.
Performed all other duties of a director, including budgeting and planning; developing policies and procedures; departmental assessments; and hiring, scheduling, training, supervision, and evaluation of one professional and six to eight clerical staff, and four to ten work-study students.
Committees and campus organizations: Technology Task Force; Library Committee; Curriculum and Academic Policies Committee; Building and Safety Committee; Drama Club (Costume Designer).

Acquisitions Clerk, February 1993 to May 1993 (part time)

Wheeler Basin Regional Library.
504 Cherry St. NE, Decatur AL 35602.

Checked orders against regional database; added new copies to shelf list; prepared card sets for branch libraries using Bibliofile; some original cataloging.
Initiated and carried through project to clear three-year backlog of branch library discards from main card catalog.

Substitute Cataloger, October 1991 (part time); Adult Services Librarian, July 1985 to November 1988; Volunteer, November 1984-June 1985

Sewickley Public Library
Thorn and Broad Streets, Sewickley PA 15143

As Substitute Cataloger:

Cataloged new and gift books using Bibliofile.

As Adult Services Librarian:

Provided reference services to the general public.
Hired and supervised 1.5 FTE student shelvers.
Corrected card catalog problems.
Created book lists and library guides.
Accepted and cataloged gift items; selected and cataloged non-print items.
Organized and presented at least one adult program series per year, and compiled related book lists.

As Volunteer:

Processed books.
Substituted at Reference Desk as needed.

Substitute Cataloger, April 1990 to August 1990 (part time); Cataloger/Librarian, June 1988 to May 1989 (part time)

Moon Township Public Library
1000 Beaver Grade Road, Coraopolis PA 15108

Cataloged new and gift books using Follett’s Quick Card.
Participated in automation using Follett’s Circulation Plus, clearing up all problems with bar codes.
Supervised processing of cataloged books.
Maintained card catalog, supervised filing, and kept statistics.

Reference Librarian, April 1985 to June 1985 (part time)

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Business Division
One Mellon Bank Center, Pittsburgh PA 15217

Provided reference services to Pittsburgh's business community and general public.
Assisted library's database coordinator with searches on DIALOG and WESTLAW.

Substitute Librarian, March 1985 to April 1985 (part time)

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15213

Services as needed; primarily worked in telephone quick reference department.

Reference Librarian, August 1983 to August 1984

Jenner and Block
One IBM Plaza, Chicago IL 60611

Provided reference services to over 200 lawyers and paralegals in major Chicago firm; included database searches on LEXIS and DIALOG.
Responsible for interlibrary loan through OCLC and to other firms.
Performed copy cataloging; prepared acquisitions newsletter.
Supervised stack maintenance, library messenger service, circulation, shelving, and other duties of 2.5 FTE support staff.
Prepared manual of reference and technical procedures.

Section 2. Education

Master of Library Science. Indiana University School of Library and Information Science, 1983. (ALA accredited)

Margaret I. Rufsvold Fellowship

Bachelor of Arts. Indiana University, 1982. Double major: Classical Civilization and English.

(return to top)

Section 3. Publications and Presentations

Publications in librarianship:

“Balancing Evolving ‘Real’ and ‘Virtual’ Patron Needs: A Challenge for Access Services.” Journal of Access Services 3:4 (2005): 13-27 (2005 issue published in summer 2007).
"Licensing and Interlibrary Loan: Tools for Proactive Contract Management." Journal of Library Administration, 2005, v.42 #2/4, p. 41-53. Published simultaneously in Licensing in Libraries: Practical and Ethical Aspects, ed. Karen Rupp-Serrano, Haworth Press, 2005, p. 41-53.
Legal Solutions in Electronic Reserves and the Electronic Delivery of Interlibrary Loan. Published simultaneously as monograph and Journal of Interlibrary Loan, Document Delivery, & Electronic Reserve, v.14 #3, by Haworth Press.
"The TEACH Act and Library Services. " Journal of Access Services, 2003, v.1 #3, p.5-6.
"Licensing and the Interlibrary Loan Workflow: The Best Solution is Prevention." With Molly Murphy. Journal of Access Services, 2002, v.1 #2, p.5-14.
"Model Licenses and Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery from Electronic Resources." Interlending and Document Supply, 2001, v.29 #4, p.165-168. Awarded Most Outstanding Article published in Interlending and Document Supply in 2001.
"Changing Research Methods and Implications for Web Page Design: Ranganathan Revisited." College and Undergraduate Libraries, 2001, v.8 #1, p. 69-77.
"Mold Fighting on a Tight Budget." Archival Products News, Winter 1996, p.1-2+. Reprinted in Granite State Libraries (New Hampshire State Library), May 1996, v.32 #3.

Conference presentations in librarianship:

· “Collaborating For Info-Savvy Students.” (Presenter/Panelist, invited.) Teaching Scholars Initiative Colloquium. University of Oklahoma. February 1, 2007.

"ILL From Electronic Sources: Legalities and Practicalities." With Molly Murphy. TexShare ILL Workshop, Dallas, February 2005.
"Electronic Document Delivery and the Interlibrary Loan Workflow". Northwest Interlibrary Loan Conference, Portland OR, September 2004.
"License to Fill: What do Libraries Want?" RUSA panel at American Library Association annual conference, Orlando, July 2004.

Publications in literature:

“Naming the Evil One: Onomastic Strategies in Tolkien and Rowling.” Mythlore 28.1/2 (#107/108) (2009): 149-164.
“The Education of a Witch: Tiffany Aching, Hermione Granger, and Gendered Magic in Discworld and Potterworld.” Mythlore 27.3/4 (#105/106) (2009): 129-142.
“Pauline Baynes in Mythlore.” With Edith Crowe. Mythlore 27.1/2 (#103/104) (2008): 7-8.

· An Index to Mythlore: Issues 1-100. With Edith Crowe. Mythopoeic Press. Spring 2008. Second edition, issues 1-102, Fall 2008. Supplements issues 101-106 and Tolkien Journal 1-18 (a journal which merged with Mythlore in 1976), 2009

“Nice, Good, or Right: Faces of the Wise Woman in Terry Pratchett’s ‘Witches’ Novels.” Mythlore 26.3/4 (#101/102) (2008): 151-164.
Tolkien and Shakespeare: Essays on Shared Themes and Language. Jefferson: McFarland, 2007.
"’Bid the Tree Unfix his Earth-bound Root’: Themes from Macbeth in The Lord of the Rings.” Tolkien and Shakespeare: Essays on Shared Themes and Language. Ed. Janet Brennan Croft. Jefferson: McFarland, 2007. 215-226.

· “Note: Walter E. Haigh.” Tolkien Studies 4 (2007): 184-188.

· "Farmer Giles of Ham," Gríma Wormtongue," "Haigh, Walter E.," "Merry," "Pippin," Rankin-Bass," and "Shakespeare" entries. The Tolkien Encyclopedia. New York: Routledge, 2006.

· "Three Rings for Hollywood: Scripts for The Lord of the Rings by Zimmerman, Boorman, and Beagle." Fantasy Fiction Into Film. Ed. Leslie Stratyner and James R. Keller. McFarland, 2007. 7-20.

Sayers, Dorothy L. The Travelling Rug. Annotations for previously unpublished short story. Altadena, Mythopoeic Press, 2005.
"Bid the tree unfix his earth-bound root": Themes from Macbeth in The Lord of the Rings." Seven: An Anglo-American Literary Review 21 (2004), 47-60.
Tolkien on Film: Essays on Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings (editor). Mythopoeic Press, 2004. Includes my essay "Mithril Coats and Tin Ears: 'Anticipation' and 'Flattening' in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings."
"The Young Perish and the Old Linger, Withering": World War II in the Works of J.R.R. Tolkien." Mythlore 92 (Summer/Fall 2004), 58-71.
"The Morality of Military Leadership in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. Mallorn 42 (August 2004), 47-50.
War in the Works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Greenwood Press, 2004. Winner of the 2005 Mythopoeic Scholarship Award in Inklings Studies.
"Beyond The Hobbit: J.R.R. Tolkien's Other Works for Children." World Literature Today, January-April 2004, 67-70.
"'The utter stupid waste of war': J.R.R. Tolkien on World War II." Proceedings of the Southwest/Texas Popular and American Culture Associations (SW/TEX PCA/ACA) Years 2000-2003, 2131-2149.
"The Mines of Moria: 'Anticipation' and 'Flattening' in Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring." Proceedings of the Southwest/Texas Popular and American Culture Associations (SW/TEX PCA/ACA) Years 2000-2003, 2109-2130.
"'Reading Lord of the Rings: The Final Attempt': an analysis of a web community.' Mallorn 41 (July 2003), 26-33.
"The Great War and Tolkien's Memory: an examination of World War I themes in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings." 2002, Mythlore, v.23 #4, p.4-21

Works in progress and under consideration in literature:

· The Power of Naming, Re-naming, and Self-naming: Onomastics in Middle-earth. Under contract with Edwin Mellen Press. Proposed completion August 2011.

Index to Mythlore, revision. Adding early conference proceedings and artwork.
“Psyche in Vogue: The Devil Wears Prada Updates the Myth.” (Conference presentation)
“Aragorn and Turin: Escaping or Embracing Fate Through Self-Naming.” (Conference presentation)

Conference presentations in literature:

“Tolkien and War.” National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Institute: “J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings: The Real and the Imagined Middle Ages,” Texas A&M University, August 2009.
“Naming the Evil One: Onomastic Strategies in Tolkien and Rowling.” Southwest/Texas Popular Culture Association., Albuquerque, February 2009, and University of New Mexico Hobbit Society, February 2009. Mythopoeic Society Conference Los Angeles CA, July 2009.

· “The Education of a Witch: Tiffany Aching, Hermione Granger, and Gendered Magic in Discworld and Potterworld.” (Presentation, refereed.) Southwest/Texas Popular Culture Association. Albuquerque NM. February 2008. Also accepted for Mythopoeic Society Conference. Hartford CT, August 2008.

· “Retrospective: Tolkien and Film.” (Presentation, invited.) Popular Culture Association. San Francisco, March 2008

· “Nice, Good, or Right: Faces of the Wise Woman in Terry Pratchett’s ‘Witches’ Novels.” (updated and revised)(Presentation, refereed) Southwest/Texas Popular Culture Association. Albuquerque NM. February 15, 2007.

"Jackson's Aragorn and the American Superhero Monomyth." Popular Culture Association annual conference, San Diego, March 2005. Mythopoeic Society Conference Los Angeles CA, July 2009.
"Tolkien as Scholar: The Academic Life of 'On Fairy-Stories' and 'Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics'." Presented at the Southwest/Texas Popular Culture Association annual conference, Albuquerque, February 2005.
"Three Rings for Hollywood: Scripts for The Lord of the Rings by Zimmerman, Boorman, and Beagle". Presented at Mythcon 35, Annual Conference of the Mythopoeic Society, Ann Arbor MI, July 2003
"Three Rings for Hollywood: Scripts for The Lord of the Rings by Zimmerman, Boorman, and Beagle" Southwest/Texas Popular Culture Association/Popular Culture Association Annual Conference, San Antonio, TX, April 2004.
"Nice, Good, and Right: Face of the Wise Woman in Terry Pratchett's 'Witches' Novels." Presentation at Mythcon 34, Annual Conference of the Mythopoeic Society, Nashville TN, July 2003
"The Mines of Moria: 'Anticipation' and 'Flattening' in Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring. Presentation at Mythcon 34, Annual Conference of the Mythopoeic Society, Nashville TN, July 2003
"'The Dull Backwaters of the Art of Killing': Training, Signalling, Intelligence, and Maps in J.R.R. Tolkien's Fiction." Presentation at the Popular Culture Association Annual Conference in New Orleans, April 2003.
"The Mines of Moria: 'Anticipation' and 'Flattening' in Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring. Presentation at Southwest/Texas Popular Culture Association in Albuquerque, February 2003.
"'Bid the tree unfix his earth-bound root': Themes from Macbeth in The Lord of the Rings." Presentation at Mythcon 33, Annual Conference of the Mythopoeic Society, Boulder, CO, July 2002.
"'Reading Lord of the Rings: The Final Attempt': an analysis of a web community.' Presentation at the Popular Culture Association Annual Conference in Toronto, March 2002.
"'The utter stupid waste of war': J.R.R. Tolkien on World War II." Presentation at Southwest/Texas Popular Culture Association annual conference in Albuquerque, February 2002.
"The Great War and Tolkien's Memory: an examination of World War I themes in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings." Presentation at Mythcon 32, Annual Conference of the Mythopoeic Society, San Francisco, August 2001.
"The Great War and Tolkien's Memory: an examination of World War I themes in The Lord of the Rings." Presentation at the Popular Culture Association Annual Conference in Philadelphia, April 2001.

Other professional public speaking:

· “Meet the Editor of Oklahoma Librarian.” Oklahoma Library Association. Tulsa, April 2008.

“Tolkien and Shakespeare: Influences, Echoes, Revisions.” University of New Mexico Hobbit Society, February 2008.
“Copyright Basics.” OU Educational Psychology Faculty, November 2007.
“Great Horns of the North Wildly Blowing’: J.R.R. Tolkien and War.” University of New Mexico Hobbit Society, February 2007.
“Tolkien on Film Before Jackson.” OU English 4013 invited lecture, November 2006.
“Copyright Basics.” OU Outreach Center for Public Management. November 2006.
“Tolkien and War.” OU English 4013 invited lecture, October 2006.
“Faculty Status, the Tenure Process, and Research.” OU SLIS 5243 invited lecture, September 2006.
"CV Review" panel at the Popular Culture Association annual conference, San Diego, March 2005.
"Special Collections in Libraries, Museums, and Archives." Moderator for panel discussion jointly sponsored by Libraries in Popular Culture and Collectibles and Collecting areas, Southwest/Texas Popular Culture Association/ Popular Culture Association Annual Conference, Albuquerque, February 2005.
"Tolkien and War." Lecture and discussion for "From Beowulf to Postmodernism, J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings," a National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Institute for Teachers at Texas A&M, July 2004.
"Special Collections in Libraries and Museums." Moderator for panel discussion jointly sponsored by Libraries in Popular Culture and Collectibles and Collecting areas, Southwest/Texas Popular Culture Association/ Popular Culture Association Annual Conference, San Antonio, TX, April 2004.
"Special Collections in Libraries and Museums." Moderator for panel discussion jointly sponsored by Libraries in Popular Culture and Collectibles and Collecting areas, Southwest/Texas Popular Culture Association annual conference in Albuquerque, February 2003.
"Special Collections in Libraries." Moderator for panel discussion jointly sponsored by Libraries in Popular Culture and Collectibles and Collecting areas, Southwest/Texas Popular Culture Association annual conference in Albuquerque, February 2002.
Frequent panel participant or chair at Mythcon, annual conference of The Mythopoeic Society.
Interviewed for "The Legacy of The Lord of the Rings," written and produced by Daniel Timmons, 2001.

Reviews and letters:

Tolkien Studies VI. Review in Mythlore 28.1/2 (#107/108):192-197.
Carolyn Hares-Stryker. The Illustrators of The Wind in the Willows, 1908-2008; The Wind in the Willows: An Annotated Edition edited by Seth Lerer; The Annotated Wind in the Willows edited Annie Gauger. Review in Mythlore 28.1/2 (#107/108):183-187.
Carolyn Hares-Stryker. The Illustrators of The Wind in the Willows, 1908-2008. Review in Reference Reviews, forthcoming.
J.R.R. Tolkien, Tales From the Perilous Realm. Review in Mythprint 46.1/2 (January 2009): 8-9.
Cory Doctorow. Little Brother. Review in Oklahoma Librarian,July/August 2008.
Walt Crawford. First Have Something to Say. Review in Oklahoma Librarian, May/June 2008.
Terry Pratchett's Hogfather. Review in Mythprint 44:12 (December 2007), 11.
Thomas Honegger, ed.: Reconsidering Tolkien. Review in Tolkien Studies 3 (2006), p.190-193.
Thomas Honegger, ed.: Translating Tolkien: Text and Film. Review in Mythprint, February 2005, p.12-13.
John Garth: Tolkien and the Great War: The Threshold of Middle-earth. Review in World Literature Today, January-April 2005, p.93.
"The Cinematic Tolkien," letter in World Literature Today, May-August 2004, p.76.
Conference Report: The Southwest/Texas Popular Culture Association Annual Conference, Albuquerque, February 2003. Mythprint 40:4 (April 2003), 4.
The Legacy of The Lord of the Rings, review of documentary in Beyond Bree (September 2002), 5.
Film Reviews and Comments (review of Fellowship of the Ring). Mythprint 39:1 (January 2002), 4-5.