Personal Information
Alex Byrne
they/them/theirs
Tacoma, WA
albyrne@umich.edu
Work Experience
Pierce County Library System
Tacoma, Washington
Youth Services Librarian – September 2007-present
- Reference and Reader's Advisory Services for all ages.
- Story Time and other Youth programming for ages 0-18, both in branch and system wide.
- Editor for the Book Buzz, a nearly-monthly publication of recommended books produced by youth services librarians in the library system.
- Idea Originator, Project Lead, and Chief Editor for Training Manual and documentation to help new hires (and old hands) find valuable information.
- Worked with schools on assignment requirements, promotion of programs, tours, and visits about library services, during the school year and during summer.
- An (Unofficial) Techie: Supporting users and staff in a variety of software and hardware questions at assigned branches.
- Maintainer of image slideshow proclaiming programs and services of the library system.
- Part of Teen Summer Challenge Grand Master team, planning teams, and content creation teams.
- 2013-2015: Part of the Scout Experience Team and content creator for the complete run of Scout.
- 2016 Summer Reading Program Chair
- 2017 Teen/Tween Summer Reading team chair
- 2017 Culture Opportunity Team presenter, presentation creator, data analyist, and co-creator of survey questions
- 3D printer Traveling Road Show presenter and team member
- 2019 Summer Reading Program Communications Committee Chair
- 2019-2021 Public Technology Committee Member, Tech For Youth Project
Ann Arbor District Library
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Public Library Associate - May 2006 – August 2006
- Worked with other staff planning, preparing, and presenting programming to users.
- Independently tasked to select and arrange thematic materials to assist full-time staff at the Ann Arbor Creativity Camp.
- Engaged in desk, telephone, and stacks reference and reader's advisory services to youth, teen, and adult users.
- Provided technical support to users.
Ypsilanti Public Library
Whittaker Road Branch, Ypsilanti, Michigan
Youth Services Intern - June 2006 – August 2006
- Performed desk, telephone, and stacks reference and reader's advisory services to youth, teen, and adult users.
- Dispensed technical support to users.
University of Michgan - School of Education - Information Resources and Instructional Support / Technology Services
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Media Assistant I - June 2004 – September 2005
- Performed reference services for education-specialized print and audiovisual collections.
- Mastered set up and troubleshooting of complex audiovisual equipment.
- Formatted, reimaged, and upgraded Macintosh and Windows computers for deployment into classrooms.
Presentations
2023
Washington Library Association Annual Conference:
- STEAM Programs For Every Budget - Slide Images + Commentary.
- STEAM Programs For Every Budget - Commentary without slide images.
2022
Seattle GNU/Linux User Group Conference (SeaGL):
- The Fediverse @ Your Library - The Presentation
- The Fediverse @ Your Library - Slide Images + Commentary.
- The Fediverse @ Your Library - Commentary without slide images.
Washington Library Asssociation Annual Conference:
- Process Over Product: Two Years (Almost) of Programming (and Anxiety) - Slide Images + Commentary.
- Process Over Product: Two Years (Almost) of Programming (and Anxiety) - Commentary without slide images.
- Okay, Libraries, Let's Destroy Facebook! - Slide Images + Commentary.
- Okay, Libraries, Let's Destroy Facebook! - Commentary without slide images.
2020
Washington Library Asssociation Annual Conference:
2017
Washington Library Association Annual Conference:
Open Source Bridge:
2016
Open Source Bridge:
Storytime Extravaganza:
2015
Open Source Bridge:
- The Public Library As an (Almost) Open Source Institution
- The Public Library As an (Almost) Open Source Institution - The Presentation
2013
Washington Library Association Annual Conference:
2008
American Library Association: TechSource: Gaming, Learning, and Libraries
Articles and Publications
2023
Alki: The Washington Library Association Journal
- v. 39, n. 2, July 2023: WLA All Day: The Perils of Letting Sand Think For Us: Automated Decisions Using Conflicting Principles
- v. 39, n. 1, March 2023: Accessibility Matters: Accessibility, Not Accommodation
Chapter in Trans and Gender Diverse Voices in Libraries
2022
Alki: The Washington Library Association Journal
2021
Alki: The Washington Library Association Journal
2020
- The Library Workplace Idea Book: Proactive Steps for Positive Change: Chapter author: Gender Identity: When Good Intentions Fall Short
2019
Alki: The Washington Library Association Journal
2018
Alki: The Washington Library Association Journal
- v.34, n.2, July 2018: What No One Ever Tells You About Working in Libraries: It's a Lot Like Calvinball [PDF]
2016
2015
Comics, Cosplay, and Geek Culture In Libraries
- Geeky Gadgetry: A MaKeyMaKey Experiment
- Geeky Gadgetry: Raspberry Pi
- Geeky Cadgetry: Squishy Circuits
- Makerspace Project: Light Painting
- Hackerspace Project: PirateBox / LibraryBox - picked up by ALA Libraries Direct Newsletter in April 2015!
2014
2013
Writing credits:
Education
University of Michigan - School of Information
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Master of Science in Information, Libraries and Information Services Specialization, April 2007
Cumulative G.P.A. 7.142 / 9.0
University of Michigan - College of Literature, Science & Arts
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Bachelor of Arts, Medieval and Early Modern Studies, April 2005
Cumulative G.P.A.: 3.871 / 4.0
Technical and Computer Skills
- Polaris ILS
- XHTML/CSS/HTML5
- Ruby/Rails
- Paint.net
- Debian-based and Arch-based Linux
- Microsoft Office Suite - MOS certifications in Word and Poewrpoint February 2017
- Microsoft Windows