Margot Collins m@informationdistillery.com www.informationdistillery.com Summary: I am a writer and researcher with extensive professional training and experience as a librarian. I specialize in doing the legwork of finding, organizing, compiling, analyzing, and communicating information. I have been professionally involved with the Internet since 1995 and am also familiar with traditional research methods and archival practices. I have worked for a variety of institutions, including the Library of Congress, the National Library of Canada, CanWest Global, and the CBC. Main strengths: a strong aptitude and background in research and information analysis the ability to effectively inform and persuade others through writing a high level understanding of online searching and how information travels online Work Experience: November 2004 - present http://www.informationdistillery.com Information Specialist Varied work as a freelance researcher, writer, and web consultant Projects include: digital content creation & management, online research, business writing, technical writing, blogging, promotional writing & online publicity July 2003 - September 2004 (contract) CanWest Interactive http://www.FPinfomart.ca and http://www.canada.com Toronto, Ontario Information Consultant Worked as a corporate trainer and online researcher for clients of the subscription media monitoring and financial information databases on FPinfomart.ca Wrote and designed digital content for parts of FPinfomart.ca and canada.com January 2003 - March 2003 (grant-funded contract) Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) Archives http://archives.cbc.ca Toronto, Ontario Media Librarian Researched the CBC television news archives to find relevant video clips for the award winning CBC Archives website July 2002 - December 2002 (freelance) The Mirak Knowledge System (MKS) Project Toronto, Ontario Information Science Consultant Wrote recommendations for the design of a web interface and subject hierarchy for a knowledge management software package January 2002 - June 2002 (contract) Toronto Public Library http://www.tpl.toronto.on.ca Toronto, Ontario Project Leader for the Canadian Theatre Record Managed a project to convert a large collection of photographs, playbills, and other artifacts related to Canadian theatre into digital form July 1999 - March 2001 Chapters Online http://chapters.indigo.ca Toronto, Ontario Web Project Manager Responsible for driving the overall process for a variety of web development projects related to books and music, managing multiple projects concurrently Designed and managed Chapters' search engines, including selection and implementation of features as well as the layout of search results and item pages Completed the Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF) management course Principles of Application Development June 1997 - November 2001 Cardlady Independent Web Producer Created all aspects of a large electronic greeting cards directory site including HTML coding, database creation, content development, publicity, and financial management Traffic peaked at about 500,000 visitors per month during 1999-2000, after being mentioned in Readers Digest The site was profitable starting in December 1997 and was sold in November 2001 December 1997 - July 1999 Geac Library Solutions (now owned by Infor Library and Information Solutions) Markham, Ontario Library Software Analyst/Corporate Trainer Provided onsite installation, HTML customization, and training to clients of GeoWeb, software that provides web access to electronic library catalogues using the Z39.50 search and retrieval protocol Served as an account manager for client libraries of the Advance integrated library system, providing support for a UNIX based software package that manages a library's circulation, acquisitions, accounting, serials, and online catalogue functions February 1997 - October 1997 (contract) National Library of Canada http://www.nlc-bnc.ca Ottawa, Ontario Unit Leader, Glenn Gould Digitizing Project Managed phase two of a project to digitize archival materials related to the Canadian pianist Glenn Gould Created a bibliography and other detailed research tools for the site October 1995 - January 1997 Library of Congress http://www.loc.gov Washington, D.C. National Digital Library Liaison Worked with other members of the National Digital Library team and personnel from the IBM Corporation's Watson Research Center Image Applications Group to digitize artifacts from the WPA Federal Theater Project Collection, an archive of materials related to Depression-era theatrical productions June 1995 - September 1995 and May 1994 - February 1995 Library of Congress http://www.loc.gov Washington, D.C. Music Specialist Chosen as a Junior Fellow in a very competitive internship program Assessed, wrote a work plan for, processed, did conservation of, wrote a finding aid for, and answered reference questions about the Damrosch family papers, an archive of correspondence, personal papers, and music manuscripts Hired as a music specialist to finish my project after the summer fellowship Hired again in June 1995 to do similar work on the Leonard Bernstein Collection February 1995 - June 1995 Infocurrent http://www.infocurrent.com Washington, D.C. Librarian Did original cataloguing using OCLC of: Aerospace and engineering technical reports for the Smithsonian Institution Libraries Financial and banking materials for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Library Travel guides and foreign language teaching materials for the World Bank/International Monetary Fund Joint Library February 1995 - May 1995 Gelman Library, George Washington University http://www.gwu.edu/gelman Washington, D.C. Reference Librarian Answered a wide variety of questions at a fast-paced reference desk, including many dealing with business and financial topics Helped students and faculty use the library's catalogue, LEXIS/NEXIS, and many other online and CD-ROM databases September 1993 - May 1994 McKeldin Library, University of Maryland http://www.lib.umd.edu/MCK/mckeldin.html College Park, Maryland Retrospective Cataloguer Did original and adapted copy cataloguing of books and microforms using OCLC September 1989 - May 1993 DeWitt Wallace Library, Macalester College http://www.macalester.edu/library St. Paul, Minnesota Cataloguing Aide Did cataloguing of books and sound recordings using OCLC Maintained the Dynix online catalogue system Classified music and Spanish language materials Processed library materials Supervised and trained student staff February 1988 - September 1989 (High School) Indianapolis Public Library http://www.imcpl.org Indianapolis, Indiana Library Clerk Maintained shelves and worked at the circulation desk Education: Masters of Library and Information Science University of Maryland, 1995 Received full scholarship and stipend due to my academic record and high GRE scores Bachelor of Arts, Magna Cum Laude Macalester College (St. Paul, Minnesota) 1993 English and Music Double Major (4-year university level program)