Jed Phillips

I graduated from Simmons College in Boston, MA, with a masters degree in Library and Information Sciences. Currently I work at the Ames Free Library in North Easton, MA in the position of Head of Technology & User Experience. I was brought on board to oversee the opening of Queset House, a historic mansion on the library grounds converted into meeting and programming spaces, a full Digital Media Lab, a Maker Space, and I am currently implementing a Podcast and A/V editing room. Thanks in large part to these expansions, Ames Free Library was a Best Small Library in America Finalist for the second time in 2016 with Library journal & the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It was my great honor to attend PLA that year in Denver, CO, and to represent my organisation at the awards dinner. Being Head of Technology & User Experience, I am a jack of all trades, master of none type of person. My responsibilities range widely from big picture type duties such as guiding and achieving the library's long term organizational technology goals to the technical minutiae of website design and maintenance, networking, and A/V work, to staff training. I am fascinated with emerging technologies and the way in which we can leverage them to improve our efficiencies, strengthen our connection to the communities we serve, and foster the growth of information seeking behavior in our patrons. Most recently, I've implemented streaming audio guide for various items in our collection, on our grounds, and in the community.

Computers in Libraries 2018