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Advisory Committee Members

Sally Bissell, a former real estate broker, joined the Lee County Library System 15 years ago, the happy result of a midlife career change. She earned her MA in Library Science from the University of South Florida while working on the Bookmobile. Currently an Adult Services Reference Librarian, Sally is an avid readers’ advisor who takes great pleasure in leading book discussions, maintaining her book blog and now writing reviews for Library Journal. She’s not quite sure how she got to be so "techie", but she was instrumental in encouraging LCLS to join the statewide chat service, serves as on-site coordinator, and loves the diversity of library work. Her avocations include enjoyment of movies, theatre, travel and local politics.

Judy Born has been the Public Services Supervisor at Manatee Community College for 18 years. Her MLS is from the University of Michigan; BA in Soviet Area Studies from Michigan State University. She is one of the original VREF Advisory Committee members, and staffed the Friday night shift from home that first summer. Her dachshund, Wrinkles, barked at each new question, and enjoyed playing fetch between questions. She now spends her Friday nights at Fort Desoto’s Dog Beach, with Wrinkles and his new sister, Holly Golightly, a dapple dachshund. Judy’s daughter attends the UF Pharmacy School at SPC’s Seminole Campus. Her son is teaching high school in Vienna, which expanded Judy’s travel from ALA cities to European destinations. Judy spent spring break in Vienna and is planning a return visit in December for Christkindlmart.

Andrew Breidenbaugh is a Chief Librarian with the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System, where he has worked since 1997. He currently manages the John F. Germany Public Library (the main library in downtown Tampa), system-wide Reference Services and Materials Selection. He has previously worked as an adjunct reference librarian at the University of South Florida, Tampa Campus Library (1996-1999) and as a Merchandising Manager for Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Inc. at several Tampa Bay area locations (1991-1997).

Geraldine Collins is a native Floridian with over 25 years experience in librarianship. She is a university librarian and heads the Reference, Research and Instruction Department at Florida Gulf Coast University. She also serves as Site Coordinator for FGCU’s participation in the AAL service. Previously, Geraldine served in various capacities at two other Florida state university libraries. Geraldine earned her MLS from Columbia University in New York and a MPA (Public Administration) from University of North Florida. While living in NY, Geraldine began her career at New York Public Library – The Research Libraries and has been interested in serving the scholarly community since that time. Library interests are: introducing new users to library resources while also assisting advanced researchers with their projects. Other interests include: customer services, special collections, digitization programs, information literacy, reference services and library administration.

Andrea Ginsky is the Manager of Public Services for the Sarasota County Library System. The position involves technology and building projects, strategic planning, staffing, staff development and a variety of this, that and the other. She came to Sarasota in 1975 to attend New College, and graduated from USF Library School in 1997. Like many librarians, she has a bevy of cats (5 at last count). Her husband, David, is a New College math professor. Her interests include architecture, food, fine wine and travel. In her next life she would like to be the restaurant critic for the New York Times.

Gregg Gronlund received his Bachelor’s degree from Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, and his Master’s degree from the University of South Florida-Tampa. Gregg joined the Orange County Library System in 1991. He became a Department Head in the Division of Reference & Information at the Orlando Public Library in December 1995, and is currently in charge of Questline (the Orange County Library System’s remote access to library service by telephone, chat, e-mail, videoconferencing, and text messaging). In his career at OCLS, he has served as librarian, branch manager, storyteller, and book talker.

Dan Lhotka is from the Bureau of Library Development and acts as a liaison to the State Library for Ask a Librarian

Dani has been with the Palm Beach County Library System since 1997, after a year as a hospital librarian at Columbia Hospital in West Palm Beach. Dani received her MLIS from the University of South Florida. She served as the Serials Librarian at the PBCLS Main Library until 2003, and is now the Manager of Research & Information Services, where she oversees reference services and interlibrary loan. Other duties include teaching classes and providing outreach on Internet skills, and electronic library resources. Dani has been the Ask a Librarian site coordinator since the library went "live” in October 2003, and enjoys every opportunity to cover the virtual desk. Dani shares her off-duty time in beautiful Tequesta with her husband of 25 years, son, daughter, and two cats.

John D Hales is the Director of Libraries at Suwannee River Regional Library.

John Lucy is at Florida Community College at Jacksonville in their Downtown Campus.

Chad Mairn has been an Information Services Librarian at St. Petersburg College since August 2004. Chad is also an adjunct instructor who teaches CTS 1101, LIS 2004, LIS 1002, LIS 1002 Honors and OST 1793. While an undergraduate studying Humanities at the University of South Florida (USF), Chad was awarded a Library of Congress Fellowship archiving Leonard Bernstein's personal papers. During his Library and Information Science (LIS) graduate work, also at USF, he became a technology liaison between the Bill Gates Learning Foundation and Florida public libraries. Chad’s hobbies are reading, composing/performing music, watching films, and spending time with his family.

Tina Peak is the Library Director of the Lake Wales Public Library. Lake Wales is located in Polk County.

Jana Ronan is at the University of Florida and has a long history in Digital Reference.

Mike Shell has worked reference with Jacksonville Public Library since August 2000. He joined JPL's Integrated Library Systems team as a trainer and webmaster from 2003-05, and he promoted to senior librarian just in time to move to the new Main Library in Fall 2005. Now he supervises JPL’s Remote Customer Services, including their countywide Call Center and a remote team of 30+ live chat and email reference staffers. Mike previously worked addictions treatment and then men's prison clinical counseling. He and spouse Jim have been together since 1985 and were married under care of their Quaker Meeting in 1994. Their two, year-old male cats have learned to TP the house.

Jill Simser has worked as a librarian at Brevard Community College since 2003. From 1998 until Aug. 2003 she was a part-time librarian at Valencia Community College in Orlando. Prior to that, she worked as a news librarian for 14 years at The Orlando Sentinel. During her stint at Valencia, she earned my Masters in Library and Information Science at the University of South Florida. She and her husband of 28 years have three children - ages 7, 19, and 21, a dog named Bella, a cat named Smokey and several fish. In her free time, she likes to travel, exercise, walk on the beach, go boating and of course, read.

Ken Venet, currently serving as Interim Director and previously as Assistant Director of Reference Services, has been at Barry University since January 2000. He has a BA in English/Journalism from Northeastern University and Master of Library Science/Instructional Technology from Southern Connecticut State University. Ken brought Barry onboard Ask a Librarian at the program’s inception and is the Site Coordinator. He has a long-standing interest in international librarianship, having spent two years at the University of the West Indies on St. Kitts as a Peace Corps volunteer as well as doing a volunteer stint in South Africa with the World Library Partnership.