Insight_2nd Edition

Melanie L. Freese, MLS Associate Professor of Library Services Joan and Donald E. Axinn Library, Hofstra University North Baldwin, NY www.melanielfreese.com A professional with more than 55 years’ experience, Ms. Freese is currently active as an associate professor of library services with Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. Joining the university in 1984 as a senior catalog librarian, she alsoheld the role of assistant dean and chair of technical services for the Joan & Donald E. Axinn Library from 1999 to 2001. Prior to her tenure with Hofstra University, Ms. Freese served in a number of roles with the Swirbul Library at Adelphi University in Garden City, New York, from 1972 to 1983. She began her career as an elementary school teacher in Roosevelt and Massapequa, New York, notably working at the Grace Church Day School in Massapequa from 1969 to 1970. Ms. Freese has presented numerous training workshops on various aspects of cataloging and classification to faculty and staff in both technical and public service. Currently, she is mentoring a younger colleague who is learning to catalog materials for the Music Library at Hofstra University. She has also authored several articles concerning the Axinn Library, including “Missing Links: Smart Barcodes and Inventory Analysis at Hofstra University Axinn Library,” in 1989 and “Fostering Communication and Understanding at Hofstra University Axinn Library,” in 2002. How have you navigated disruptions in your industry to remain a top professional? You can get a plethora of different managers and deans. I find it especially true that they don’t understand the cataloging function. Their focus