Jennifer A. Matters
[email protected]
EDUCATION: Masters in Library and Information Science, May 2012
University of Illinois, Champaign, IL
Focused on youth services, especially creation of information-based youth
spaces (both virtual and physical).
Masters in English Literature, May 2008
Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
Focused on youth and children’s literature. Master’s thesis discussed the
concept of food as a catalyst for growth in YA fantasy literature.
Bachelor of Arts in English Education, May 2003
Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois
EXPERIENCE: Youth Services Manager, July 2012 to current
Wilmington Public Library District, Wilmington, IL
Create and run programming and maintain collection development for patrons
aged birth to 18. Help run reference desk and supervise one assistant and the
pages. Act as manager on duty several times per week.
Freelance Book Reviewer, September 2010 to current
Horn Book Guide
Provide concise and relevant reviews of children's and young adult books.
Proofreader, Blogger, December 2011 to May 2012
Library Student Journal
Proofread LSJ articles for publication. Wrote monthly blog posts about creating
youth spaces in libraries.
Volunteer, Practicum, September 2011 to May 2012
Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club, Champaign, IL
Created of library space, assisted staff with activities, including
homework help, healthy diet, and citizenship.
English Tutor, June 2010 to July 2012
Smarthinking Online Tutoring
Provided asynchronous tutoring to high school and college students with
various levels of essay drafts.
Volunteer, August 2010 to May 2011, January 2012 to December 2012
Center for Children’s Books (CCB), Champaign, IL
Assisted the staff with organization, shelving, book sales, book lists.
Instructor, May 2010 to August 2010
Sylvan Learning Center, Bourbonnais, IL
Taught in low ratio (1-to-3) student environment for the summer reading
program held for local low-SES students.
Composition Instructor, January 2010 to August 2011
Joliet Junior College, Illinois Valley Community College (concurrent)
Organized and executed lesson plans for Freshmen and Sophomore Composition classes
English Teacher, August 2008 to June 2009
Ellicott High School, Ellicott, CO
Organized and executed lesson plans for six preps: Yearbook, Honors American Literature,
American Literature, Senior Writing, Dual Credit Composition, Honors British Literature
Graduate Teaching Assistant, August 2006 to June 2008
Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
Organized and executed lesson plans for Freshmen and Sophomore Composition classes.
Completed ENG 621, in preparation to teach remedial composition courses.
English Teacher, July 2003 to July 2006
Wooddale High School, Memphis, TN
Organized and executed daily lesson plans for 5 sections of 9th and 11th grade
One year teaching A.P. 11th grade English. English Department secretary.
Relevant Skills/Certifications:
- FSSMC (food service sanitation management certificate).
- Certified Notary Public
- Knowledge of Sierra cataloging system, PC Res, and FirstSearch interlibrary loan process.
- Intermediate to expert understanding of the following social networking tools: Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr.
- Intermediate to expert understanding of the following software: Flickr, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Publisher),
Prezi, anything Google (PicasaWeb photos, Google Docs, Google websites).
Memberships:
- Association for Library Service to Children, 2013
- Illinois Library Association member, 2012
- American Library Association member, 2010
- Young Adult Library Services Association member, 2010
Major Achievements:
[email protected]
EDUCATION: Masters in Library and Information Science, May 2012
University of Illinois, Champaign, IL
Focused on youth services, especially creation of information-based youth
spaces (both virtual and physical).
Masters in English Literature, May 2008
Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
Focused on youth and children’s literature. Master’s thesis discussed the
concept of food as a catalyst for growth in YA fantasy literature.
Bachelor of Arts in English Education, May 2003
Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois
EXPERIENCE: Youth Services Manager, July 2012 to current
Wilmington Public Library District, Wilmington, IL
Create and run programming and maintain collection development for patrons
aged birth to 18. Help run reference desk and supervise one assistant and the
pages. Act as manager on duty several times per week.
Freelance Book Reviewer, September 2010 to current
Horn Book Guide
Provide concise and relevant reviews of children's and young adult books.
Proofreader, Blogger, December 2011 to May 2012
Library Student Journal
Proofread LSJ articles for publication. Wrote monthly blog posts about creating
youth spaces in libraries.
Volunteer, Practicum, September 2011 to May 2012
Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club, Champaign, IL
Created of library space, assisted staff with activities, including
homework help, healthy diet, and citizenship.
English Tutor, June 2010 to July 2012
Smarthinking Online Tutoring
Provided asynchronous tutoring to high school and college students with
various levels of essay drafts.
Volunteer, August 2010 to May 2011, January 2012 to December 2012
Center for Children’s Books (CCB), Champaign, IL
Assisted the staff with organization, shelving, book sales, book lists.
Instructor, May 2010 to August 2010
Sylvan Learning Center, Bourbonnais, IL
Taught in low ratio (1-to-3) student environment for the summer reading
program held for local low-SES students.
Composition Instructor, January 2010 to August 2011
Joliet Junior College, Illinois Valley Community College (concurrent)
Organized and executed lesson plans for Freshmen and Sophomore Composition classes
English Teacher, August 2008 to June 2009
Ellicott High School, Ellicott, CO
Organized and executed lesson plans for six preps: Yearbook, Honors American Literature,
American Literature, Senior Writing, Dual Credit Composition, Honors British Literature
Graduate Teaching Assistant, August 2006 to June 2008
Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
Organized and executed lesson plans for Freshmen and Sophomore Composition classes.
Completed ENG 621, in preparation to teach remedial composition courses.
English Teacher, July 2003 to July 2006
Wooddale High School, Memphis, TN
Organized and executed daily lesson plans for 5 sections of 9th and 11th grade
One year teaching A.P. 11th grade English. English Department secretary.
Relevant Skills/Certifications:
- FSSMC (food service sanitation management certificate).
- Certified Notary Public
- Knowledge of Sierra cataloging system, PC Res, and FirstSearch interlibrary loan process.
- Intermediate to expert understanding of the following social networking tools: Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr.
- Intermediate to expert understanding of the following software: Flickr, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Publisher),
Prezi, anything Google (PicasaWeb photos, Google Docs, Google websites).
Memberships:
- Association for Library Service to Children, 2013
- Illinois Library Association member, 2012
- American Library Association member, 2010
- Young Adult Library Services Association member, 2010
Major Achievements:
- Creating library space for Boys and Girls Club, including setting up a LibraryThing catalog for the project: http://www.librarything.com/profile/DMBGC. Champaign, IL, January-April 2012.
- Assisted in creation of curriculum and textbook for DreamStep program at Daegu English Village, South Korea, November 2009.
- Completed Master's thesis on food as a catalyst for growth in the works of Lewis Carroll, C.S. Lewis, and F.L.Block, June 2008.
- Attended “Food, Glorious Food,” a week-long conference on the use of food in Children’s Literature at Simmons College, July 2007.
- Assisted in organizing and executing “Composing Ourselves,” a symposium held on Missouri State University Campus, March 2007.
- Assisted in editing the book that followed and accompanied the symposium, May-June 2007.
- As an undergraduate, an active member of Sigma Tau Delta, Golden Key, and the English Studies Association, 2001-2003.