Meet the Staff

Megan Anne Johnson
Age: 25
Height: 5ft 3inches
Favorite Books: Harry Potter Series and Pride & Prejudice

"Librarians are needed now more than ever before because there is so much information online. It can be very frustrating when your search results turn up a lot of irrelevant items. You know there is something out there published on your topic, but you can't find it. That's where I come in!"

Meet the newest member of the LITC, Megan Johnson. She's a Reference Librarian and she'll be on hand to help patrons use library resources. Megan assists users in changing their search terms, utilizing databases, and finding the most relevant items for their topics. Imagine the library as a vast ocean. Megan would be a captain in our fleet, and these are familiar waters. She genuinely enjoys academic research, and helping people, and is looking forward to making a positive impact here at Coker College. "I truly do want to help in re-defining ready," Megan said. "I am excited about the opportunity to inspire and engage students in becoming better researchers by utilizing library resources."

Meet the Staff

Nancy T. Matthews
Height: 5ft 6inches
Favorite Book: The Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone and Illustrated by Michael Smollin

“Growing up I always knew I wanted to be a teacher or work in a library, that’s just me.”

When entering the LITC you may find yourself asking, “What’s the name of that sweet looking woman with the glasses and the short-bob haircut?” That’s Nancy T. Matthews, Acquisitions/ Cataloging Coordinator! To put it simply, she buys the books. Nancy is an integral part of the LITC team, stretching money, ordering library materials, and getting them ready for the shelves. Earlier this year Nancy took on responsibility for the Coker College Archives. The job is tough and the hardest part is ongoing. Nancy has to determine how to organize Archives, sorting through Coker artifacts, deciding what to keep while trying to consider what would best serve the college and its history. Organizing the past isn’t all dust induced headaches and arctic room temperatures. “It’s been fun because I was a student here," says Nancy. "I’m running across things that happened while I was attending Coker, pictures, names and newsletters, memos.” Nancy graduated from Coker in ‘76 returning to work at the college in ‘84. Going through the Archives allows Nancy a more intimate look at the institution, how Coker had changed during her 8 year absence, and how fast technology has evolved in the 2 and a half decades she has served the college. “If you have to work, which I do, it is very nice to work in an atmosphere like the Library provides – flexibility, there has been chance for promotion through the years, and great people.” Last week Nancy celebrated 25 years in the academic library business with cake in the LITC break-room, treating her co-workers to stories of her Alma Mater and how things have changed.

Nancy’s Library Survival Tips:

• “Have a fan in the winter and a sweater in the summer. I’ve been here 25 years and they still haven’t gotten the air right.”

Meet the Staff

How does working in the LITC stack-up against other summer jobs? Let’s find out…

David Charles Grosser Merriman
Age: 19
Height: 6ft 1(1/2)inches
Favorite Book: Catch-22 by Joseph Heller / A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

When entering the LITC this summer you may find yourself asking, “Who is that tall guy with the IPOD clipped to his Khaki shorts?” That’s David Merriman! A rising sophomore at Furman University, David came to us this summer in order to earn money for a study abroad trip to Costa Rica. “It’s part of a biology program. We’ll be going through different kinds of Costa Rican rainforest studying ecosystems,” David explained. We promptly put him to work. Even though day classes aren't in session there is still plenty to do. We're always trying to make the library better, and summer provides the staff with an opportunity to tackle projects that should help things run a little bit smoother in the fall. David has been a big help, moving shelves, sorting mail and counting microfiche. “Counting the microfiche is my project for the summer. It’s going. As far as the progress I’ve made, it’s about a fourth of the way done.” Part-timing at the LITC is David's second gig. In the mornings he can be found around campus working with the Coker College Physical Plant. The library provides him with a much needed break from the physical demand of hauling, trimming, lugging and cutting. “In terms of the opposing nature of the two, the library is a lot less labor intensive, and it’s not as easy to get dirty. It [LITC] is not a stressful job and it’s a pleasant work environment."

David’s Library Summer Job Survival Tips:

• “Be on time.”
• “When counting Microfiche be careful because the edges are a bit sharp.”
• “If you’re going to be doing tedious works, such as shelf reading, bring an IPOD to keep yourself focused and awake. You’ll need something to work to. I’ve got some AC/DC, some Bob Dylan, there’s some Scottish music and some Weird Al Yankovic. It’s sort of a mixed bag. ”