TS-SIS Long-Time Member Profile:
Patricia Turpening

Current Position
Head, Preservation and Archives
University of Cincinnati Law Library
Pat.Turpening@Law.UC.Edu

On this page:

Place And Date Of Birth

3-1-52 Columbus, Ohio.

Educational Background

Interests/Hobbies

Travel, Photography, Reading, Fitness walking.

Inspiration For Becoming A Law Librarian

It was serendipity. I happened to get the job at the Ohio Supreme Court Law Library almost by chance. I learned of the job through an employment agency and I was the person on their roles with the best qualifications for the position. When I later applied to libraries during library school, my only interview was here, another law library, since I had previous experience at one law library. My other applications all went to public libraries. Although I became a law librarian by serendipity, I can’t imagine working in any other type of library.

Jan Merrill-Oldham, Malloy-Rabinowitz Preservation Librarian, Harvard University and Harvard College Library, has been an inspiration for me since I became involved in preservation issues, over 20 years ago. She has been active in library preservation in ALA as a presenter and author and within her institutions, the University of Connecticut previously and now at Harvard.

Current Position Challenges

It would have to be the balancing of my professional responsibilities with those of my position. In addition to my activities in preservation in AALL, I am also involved in the local chapter of the AAUP, and I am currently the secretary of the Library Faculty on campus. All of these take time and I have to balance those needs with those of my job duties.

Prior Positions/Employment

'Crazy' Non-Professional Activity

Since I’m having so much trouble thinking of an answer, I must not have done anything very crazy.

Life's Passion

Planning and taking vacations abroad with my husband.

Earliest Childhood Memory

Playing in our backyard with my brother.

Where In Five Years?

I retire next year. I plan to be a consultant in library preservation, to be active in AALL, attend ALA meetings on preservation, and make presentations and write about preservation. I want to be a student and a teacher of preservation for many more years.

Memberships

Awards

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