Wex is an open-access legal encyclopedia and dictionary. Wex uses a tagging system adapted from a homegrown system used by LII staff in the late 1990s. Over time, terms have been added/indexed but the tagging system has remained the same. Currently, the organization and navigation for the Wex subject categories is confusing for users to navigate. Due to some constraints, the taxonomy cannot be overhauled completely and research on law taxonomy is limited. This project is the first step in improving the findability of terms for everyday users by updating the Wex taxonomy by adding, deleting and updating categories.

The Longview Public Library’s adult collection required a diversity audit to assess current representational proportions and discover areas for improvement. By expanding the representation in Longview Public Library’s collection, we aimed to bolster patron engagement with the library by ensuring that everyone feels represented and welcomed there. We also hoped to encourage patrons to expand their perspectives by engaging with materials and lived experiences that differ from their own. Ultimately, we utilized the results of the audit and local/national demographic data to identify areas of focus for future purchasing and weeding efforts.

Syllabi analyses have long been used by librarians to inform collection development and information literacy instruction. However, time-intensive manual syllabi analyses have only been viable in smaller institutions with dedicated librarian capacity. Community college librarians, who tend to serve large institutions with limited capacity, have been unable to benefit from this approach. I collaborated with liaison librarians at Portland Community College (PCC) to develop an accessible and automated syllabi analysis method. I successfully identified and customized an open-source text mining tool to create PCC-specific query templates, and developed detailed documentation to empower librarians to use and customize the tool themselves.

At a local elementary school, there has been interest from students, parents and staff in a library makerspace but the program is limited due to staffing and time constraints. Working with the organization reDiscover, we expanded the makerspace program at the school library. We developed lesson plan curriculum, activity guides, and a catalog of children’s literature that support making. Our project led to expanded opportunities for hands-on learning and for students to develop their creativity, greater integration of makerspace ideology into the library activities, alternative ways for students to build connections to literature, and resources for a continued maker program.

Our Project in the Ballard High School Makerspace focused on planning passive crafting programming and workshops in collaboration with student-led groups. Acknowledging the need for self-led, simple crafts, that students can use to destress during lunch, we shifted focus to smaller, more accessible activities. We facilitated 12 successful lunchtime passive programming craft activities, which engaged 272 students. Collaboration with student groups guided our facilitation of in-depth workshops. We hosted workshops with three student organizations. Challenges included scheduling conflicts, materials acquisition, and skills transfer. Despite obstacles, our project enhanced student engagement and offered meaningful creative opportunities that spoke to student passions.

I’ve worked with an independent video store, Movie Madness, to clean their database of 90,000+ film titles to ensure consistency, accuracy, and completeness of every record. They acquired a new POS system in 2015 that acts as their film database which made it simple for them to input new film information. However, they had a backlog of film data that was not moved over with a consistent framework in mind. My work to clean this data has made their reports more accurate, created a consistent cataloging schema, and made the online search experience for their customers much smoother and enjoyable.

With a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Santa Fe Public Library’s Big Read event focused on “Circe” by Madeline Miller. This meant that affiliated programs and displays during this time would follow a Greek Mythology theme. My capstone project was focused on assisting with this collaborative, community-building event in two main ways: to develop and hold a writing contest, and to create an engaging display at the Southside Branch location. Both were a huge success in terms of participation in the contest – the most they have ever had – and by making it a more immersive experience.

For this capstone project, we explored a collection development challenge for Washington State's open data program. Specifically, we investigated data selection practices at leading government open data programs in the United States. “Selection” in this context refers to the range of practices that determine what and how much data is opened and ultimately published on open data portals. Our final report, which summarizes the state of data selection and best practices across the United States, will help Washington State Library connect individuals and communities to data that will help them flourish.

Because of the rarity of their collections, archives are notoriously inaccessible. For most of their history they were reserved for curators and researchers. But history should be accessible to everyone, regardless of background or geography. Digital technologies are the best way to do this, but their application takes a level of funding that is not always available to archives. The purpose of this project is to add an open source tool that libraries and archives can use in the process of creating digital collections. It turns digital scans into searchable documents, allowing for ease of browsing.

This project investigates the integration of Third Iron's LibKey suite into the University of Washington Libraries, focusing on LibKey Discovery and LibKey Nomad to enhance academic research accessibility. User testing revealed that while LibKey significantly streamlines research by providing quicker access to articles and easier citation management, many users are unaware of its full capabilities and have concerns about data privacy. By addressing these issues with targeted marketing and educational resources, this integration can profoundly improve research efficiency and user satisfaction, making academic resources more accessible and reducing the workload on library services.