Beginning in August 2006 I will take a one year leave of absence to start my doctoral degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This is an exciting opportunity where I plan to work toward integrating library theory and practice.

At Purdue I am the Digital Reference Services Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Library Science. I am responsible for managing Ask a Librarian, Purdue's chat and email reference service. I also work within the Hicks Undergraduate Library where I provide face-to-face reference, library instruction, and I am responsible for reference collection development. Within the library system I have worked on the Reference Services Team, the Electronic Access Support Sub Team, the libraries Seminar Committee, Inside Scoop Editorial Board, and the Libraries Marketing Advisory Committee.

Previously I worked at the Virtual Reference Desk where I helped administer the Virtual Reference Desk Learning Center a reference service for students K-12. My duties included daily management of the service, answering reference questions, and training new experts. I also worked at the F. Franklin Moon Library at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. There I worked the reference desk, taught a one credit information literacy class, and I cataloged graduate theses and dissertations.

I have a Master of Library Science degree from the School of Information Studies at Syracuse University. When I started my degree I worked in the E.S. Bird Library in the reserves department and media services department. Later on I worked as a Graduate Assistant for professors Scott Nicholson and Abby Goodrum. As a student, I served on the 21st Century Librarian Award committee and was the MLS Liaison as part of the Information Studies Graduate Organization representing the student body to the faculty.

I live in West Lafayette with my wife Kate, who is also a librarian at Purdue and my dogs Bella and Reggie.

Curriculum vitae available upon request by sending me an email at: mbejune@purdue.edu.