Please welcome Chelsae Cordia in her new role as Coordinator of Donor Engagement for the University of Missouri Libraries. She comes to us from Stephens College where she served as the administrative assistant for the Children’s School. She holds a bachelor’s in management and minor in communication from Webster University and has extensive experience in news and grant writing, along with non-profit leadership. Chelsae is currently the executive director for the Three Rivers Community College Foundation, based in Poplar Bluff, a role she will continue to perform in her spare time. Recently relocated to Columbia from Southern Missouri with her son, 11-year-old Benjamin, she looks forward to cultivating new relationships within the community. Chelsae is an avid runner who enjoys coffee, travel, and watching Dateline.

Chair: Kara Whatley
CVM Faculty: Cindy Cravens
HSL Librarian: Rebecca Graves
RAIS Librarian: Jill Kline
Libraries Staff Member: Katy Emerson

After 38 years with the MU Libraries, Dr. Paula Roper will be retiring on December 24, 2024. After working as a teacher and for some federally funded projects, Paula came to MU to pursue her M.A. in Library Science. While enrolled, she served as a teaching assistant for the libraries’ library skills course. While working as a librarian in Ellis, she completed her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis with an emphasis in Higher Education. During her career, Paula has had a tremendous impact on students, the libraries, and our community. As the Education and Black Studies Research & Instruction Librarian, she has long been lauded by students and researchers for her support in their successful academic endeavors. One scholar calls her The Oracle for her work in assisting with his development as a teacher and scholar and how she expertly integrated the libraries into the work of his students. Paula is well-known for her in-depth instruction sessions in which she provides students with clear guidance for their specific assignments and materials they can consult after class for further assistance. She is also always available for consultations and has come into the libraries to meet with students on evenings and weekends if that is what works best for the students’ schedules. Among those of us in reference, we are always amazed at Paula’s tenacity in tracking information to help users. Paula will follow every lead; call anyone she identifies to get the information the user is looking for. She is a true testament to doing whatever it takes to help our users be successful. In addition to her personal assistance to our students and researchers, Paula is a tireless advocate for community education and involvement. Over the years, she has coordinated several national traveling exhibits and events for the libraries, including Lincoln – The Constitution and the Civil War and Forever Free: Abraham Lincoln’s Journey to Emancipation. She annually coordinates National History Day judges for the Strickland Memorial African-American History Prize and serves as a judge herself. As coordinator for Black History Month events, Paula develops amazing programs annually for the libraries, the campus, and the community. Each year, this month is capped off with Black History Month Trivia Night, a highly successful community event that Paula coordinates with the Daniel Boone Regional Library and MU Libraries. For her tremendous contributions to academic librarianship, Paula was awarded the 2024 Missouri Library Association Outstanding Professional Librarian award. You have been a wonderful colleague, mentor and friend, Paula. We will miss you!

A fun throwback interview with Paula as the December 2011 MULSA Spotlight Award Winner: https://library.missouri.edu/muse/december-2011-spotlight-award-winner-paula-roper/

When You Find Your Oracle at the Library: https://library.missouri.edu/news/ellis-library/when-you-find-your-oracle-at-the-library

In-Person Library Instruction Leads to Online Instruction: https://library.missouri.edu/news/cycle-of-success/cycle-of-success-in-person-library-instruction-leads-to-online-instruction

Paula Roper, Winner of MLA Outstanding Professional Librarian: https://library.missouri.edu/news/cycle-of-success/congratulations-to-paula-roper-winner-of-mla-outstanding-professional-librarian-2

If you are in Ellis Library, check out the wonderful display on the 2nd floor in honor of Paula’s MLA award.

Clare Starkey will be leaving the University of Missouri Libraries on Friday, December 20th to begin a position with Westminster College as their Research and Engagement Librarian. Clare joined Special Collections as a student employee to help process the Husni Collection before being promoted to Library Information Specialist. Over the last semester, Clare has supervised research appointments, processed collections, and provided both instruction and reference support. She will be greatly missed.

We have a small gift for all graduating student workers, and we will acknowledge them on social media (with their permission). So please send the names and emails of these students to Shannon (carysn@missouri.edu) by December 4. Thanks!

Thank you to Gabe Harman! I am pleased to announce that Gabe Harman has agreed to serve as the Interim Head Librarian of the Journalism Library starting November 15th. Vera Elwood’s last day as the Head Librarian is this Friday, November 22nd. Gabe began serving as the Journalism Librarian in June 2024 and prior to that he was a LIS Sr. at the Engineering Library. I appreciate Gabe’s willingness to help during this time of transition. We are working to finalize a job description in anticipation of posting the permanent position near the beginning of the year. More details are forthcoming.

–Chris Pryor

Vera Elwood will be leaving the University of Missouri Libraries on Friday, November 22nd. I cannot express the level of gratitude and appreciation I have for working with Vera for the last two and a half years while she served in the role as Head Librarian for the Journalism Library. Vera will be deeply missed as she has made such a positive impact and brought forward much needed change at the Journalism Library. She has accepted a newly created position as the Coordinator of Youth Programming for The Center Project, which is a local community organization that Vera has supported and volunteered with for the last several years. Please join me in wishing Vera all the best in her new adventure supporting our local community. I am working to develop a plan for covering the Journalism Library so more details will be announced.

-Chris Pryor

As you know, the election is next Tuesday, November 5. Early voting is already taking place. If you haven’t voted yet, here is the University’s policy regarding taking time off to vote. The policy, HR-411 Voting Leave, can be found online. Please review the policy. It details the conditions for granting time off, including the requirement that employees must contact their supervisor before election day to request to be absent from work for voting. Supervisors can specify when employees are out of the office to vote so there is coverage.

I am pleased to announce that Jara Anderson has agreed to serve as the Interim Head Librarian of the Zalk Veterinary Medical Library starting November 1st. Rae Thudium is still in her role until December 11th so Jara will have some time to onboard and familiarize herself with the role prior to Rae’s departure to the University of Pennsylvania. Jara has been serving as the Agriculture, Natural Resources & Extension Librarian since December 1, 2023 and prior to that she was the LIS Sr. at the Veterinary Medical Library. I appreciate Jara’s willingness along with Jeannette Pierce’s and Rhonda Whithaus’ partnership with me to help support the Vet Med Library during this time of transition. The Health Sciences Library Information Services team will also be helping Jara in her role as interim to alleviate some of the pressure so she can continue to make the wonderful progress she had started in her role as the Agriculture and Extension Librarian. We are working to finalize a job description in anticipation of posting the permanent position later this fall. More details are forthcoming about that. I am grateful for everyone’s support as we continue to keep the Vet Med Library moving forward.