Margaret Ann Trotter (MAT) has worked for the Vanderbilt University Libraries since 1979. She began working in the Divinity Library, moved to several other positions around the system, then returned ‘home’ to Divinity in 1994. Her current position is Manager of Leganto Service; Coordinator of Divinity Reserves.
What is something about your job that you wish everyone knew?
Much of my time is filled with trouble-shooting; trying to figure out what went wrong and how to give our patrons the services they need. These days it mostly has to do with users and user records: visiting scholars, local (USN) users, post-docs, alums, VUMC staff not being loaded via daily feed, and other user related problems, etc. Additionally, learning the vagaries of Alma as it relates to course reserves (different product from the Course Reading List Tool, i.e., Leganto), how course reserves do or do not display in the Library Catalog, i.e., Primo VE, finding mis-shelved books needed for reserves.
What’s a professional accomplishment of which you are particularly proud?
The adoption of SIPX for e-reserves, and the migration to the Course Reading List Tool with the Alma implementation. Working with faculty to get copyright clearance for the items they wanted on electronic reserves, and the change that occurred with the adoption of Ex Libris software and the concurrent change in Vanderbilt’s copyright policy.
How many different roles have you had over your time at Vanderbilt?
I’ve worked in these units: Divinity, Library Administration, Technical Services, Science & Engineering, and the Annex, and now back in Divinity. I’ve worked in circulation and access control, stacks maintenance, managing periodicals and serials, copy cataloging from pre-56 LUC to OCLC, original cataloging of Divinity D. Min. projects, authority control, Blackboard and Brightspace support for faculty electronic reserves, copyright through SIPX, and reserves through the Course Reading List Tool (Leganto). My first job as a student assistant in the Divinity Library was filing main entry cards in the card catalog, and working the circulation desk
What is the most interesting or funniest thing you remember of your time here?
The most interesting thing was when the Vanderbilt Divinity Library hosted the annual meeting of ATLA (American Theological Library Association) back in 1995.
When you’re not at work, what’s your favorite thing to do to fill your time?
Watching British/Canadian/Australian police dramas and other television shows, mostly on Acorn TV.