Notable News from University Libraries

Ohio University Libraries is pleased to announce the hiring of three new staff members; Justin Isaac, manager of Library Services for the Zanesville regional campus, Michelle Hahn, metadata librarian and Kate Kingery, library support specialist.

Justin Isaac earned his bachelor’s degree in English and humanities from Shawnee State University before earning his master's degree in library and information science from Kent State University. While this is his first academic library position, Isaac has worked in public libraries for nine years.

With five years in library management positions and two years of adjunct English instruction at Shawnee State University, Isaac is ready to be a Bobcat at OHIO’s Zanesville campus (OUZ). 

“I wanted to re-enter the library field and work for a progressive organization that has a great impact on the community,” Isaac wrote in an email. “I also liked the unique nature of the OUZ manager of Library Services position because it also works for Zane State College.”

Although she’s new to the University Libraries’ staff, Michelle Hahn is no stranger to Ohio University. Having gotten her bachelor’s degree in music education from OHIO, Hahn is back after getting a master’s degree from Indiana University in library science with a specialization in music librarianship, and a master’s of science degree from Southern New Hampshire University in project management and operations.

A born and raised Ohioan from the greater Cleveland area, Hahn has been a librarian for 15 years and has worked in different sized universities and towns that include Southern Methodist University, Indiana University and Salisbury University.

“Since I know the [Ohio] University and the town fairly well from my time as a student, I know that Athens and OHIO can be the right balance of the best parts of my experiences,” Hahn wrote.

Kate Kingery, is also an OHIO alumna. Kingery graduated in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in English, specifically cultures, rhetoric and theory. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in library and information science through Kent State University’s remote program.

Kingery began her journey in libraries as an undergraduate student assistant in the Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections. Since then, she has worked in the Athens County Public Library system, and then returned to work at Ohio University Libraries in the spring of 2020. 

Having worked as a late-night supervisor in the User Services department of Alden Library, Kingery learned a lot about what library work looks like in a post-pandemic world. She now is excited to utilize the experience she gained and apply it to her new position within the Collections and Content Strategies department.

“Library work is not just libraries, but it's museums, archives and everything else, so I learned a lot then fell in love with it,” Kingery said.

Once again, the staff at Ohio University Libraries is happy to welcome these three individuals to the University Libraries’ team.