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      ALMA C. ORTEGA
     

Assistant Professor/Librarian
University of San Diego
Copley Library
5998 Alcala Park
San Diego, CA 92110-2492
Tel. 619.260.2259 / Fax. 619.260.4617
alma@sandiego.edu

     
Curriculum Vitae (click for MS Word version)
   
EDUCATION
University of California, Los Angeles

Master of Library and Information Studies
2002
Specializations: Reference, Collection Development, and Comparative Librarianship
Master of Latin American Studies
2003
Specialization: Brazil
 
University of California at Berkeley
Bachelor of Arts Peace & Conflict Studies
1996
Specialization: Children's Rights
Bachelor of Arts Spanish
1996
Specialization: Iberian Languages and Literatures
 
Other Education
University of California, Los Angeles
Accelerated Romanian Language Study
Summer 2005
Universidad de La Habana, Havana, Cuba
Advanced coursework in language and literature
Spring 2002
Friedländer Schule, Berlin, Germany 
Immersion language course
Summer 1999
Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
Advanced coursework in language and literature
Summer 1995
Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Education Abroad Program
Spring 1994
 
Languages
Proficient in English, Portuguese, and Spanish
Reading knowledge of Catalan, French, and Latin
Basic German, Italian, and Romanian
 

ACADEMIC EMPLOYMENT
University of San Diego (USD) Copley Library, San Diego, CA
9/2003 – present
Reference Librarian/Bibliographer : Reference services, including digital reference, collection development/management, information literacy sessions, teach research methods, conduct workshops on Internet searching, scholarly research in foreign languages, databases, proper citing and plagiarism. Research as well as work with historical resources and archival collections. Areas of collection management are History; Iberia and Latin America's Languages, Cultures, and Literatures; Ethnic Studies, and trans-border regions. Liaise to departments of collection development responsibility and the USD Trans-border Institute. Coordinator and trainer for the askSALLY Digital Reference Service.
 
UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center Library, Los Angeles, CA
08/2002 – 9/2003
Library Director/Librarian: Reference including digital reference services, collection development, bibliographic instruction. Conducted workshops and tutorials, website development and maintenance. Researched, grant proposal writing, managed library budget, vendor liaison. Supervised archival program, provided reserves, interlibrary loan, and document delivery services. Supervised archivist, library assistants, library aides, interns, and volunteers.
 
Pacific Bell / UCLA Initiative for 21 st Century Literacies, Los Angeles, CA
03/2001 – 08/2002
Program Assistant : Website development and maintenance. Managed database for the e-literate? video distribution. Statistical set-up and analysis of surveys conducted by project. Trained fellow colleagues to use SPSS for their own survey analysis. Researched information literacy efforts for k-12 schools.
 
Asians in the Americas Project & Asian Canadian Bibliography, UCLA
03/2001 – 08/2002
Graduate Student Researcher : Searched for print and online information on Central and South American countries with significant Asian populations. Coordinated work of other student researchers. Bibliographer: Created print and web-based database of print and online bibliographic products. Searched for history materials on Asian Canadians on the Internet. Principal researchers Drs. Chu and Yu.
 
UCLA Career Center Library, Los Angeles, CA
09/2000 – 06/2001
Librarian (Intern): Reference for students, alumni and counselors. Bibliographic instruction for searching on the web, Bruin Trak and Bruin View. Supervised library assistant. Troubleshooting support for Bruin Trak and Bruin View to students at the Career Center
 
Young Research Library, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
09/2000 – 12/2000
Bibliographer (Intern) : Under supervision of Social Sciences Bibliographer selected materials and web resources in Political Science, Geography, Economics and Women's Studies.
 

TEACHING
- Introduction to the Internet and Microsoft Word Processing in Spanish 4-part workshop series through ITS Academic Computing
Summer and Fall 2006
-USD Library Science 199: Independent Study (2-units)
Fall 2005
-USD Library Science 101: Library Research Methods (1-unit)
Spring 2005
-Guest Lecturer at UCLA's Dept of Information Studies for IS 289: Multilingual Information Resources
June 2004
-Conduct workshops for the USD community through Information Technology Services (ITS) Academic Computing on Internet Searching Strategies, Using Databases as Research Tools, and Copley Library Resources
Fall 2003 - present
-Conducted workshops, tutorials, and orientations for researchers, students at UCLA, high school and community college students interested in knowing what resources are available at a major university's library and an ethnic center.
Topics: UCLA's Catalog Orion2, ILL & Paging materials, and How to Find Ethnic Studies Resources Materials Online
2002 - 2003
 

PUBLICATIONS
Peer reviewed:
- "A History of the National Library of Brazil and its role in the creation of National Reading Initiatives in Brazil " in World Libraries: An International Journal Focusing on Libraries and Socio-Economic Development - Volume 14, no. 2, 2004 (published Fall 2006)
- "Digital Preservation Efforts in Small Academic Libraries' Archives: a Case Study" in The International Journal for Technology, Knowledge and Society, Volume 1, no.1, 2005 (published Spring 2006)
 
Book:
- Buiding a Successful Archival Programme: a Practical Approach. by Marisol Ramos and Alma C. Ortega. Chandos (Oxford) Limited published in April 2006.
- Manual para establecer exitosamente un archivo: método práctico. Translation of Building a Successful Archival Programme forthcoming in 2007
 
Proceedings:

- "Performing Outreach Services to Spanish and Latin American Studies Faculty" in the Proceedings of the 51st Seminar for the Acquisition of Latin American Library Materials (SALALM) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic March 2006

- "La lucha de dos archivos por tener su lugar dentro del esquema bibliotecario" Proceedings of the IV Iberian American Colloquium; From Papyrus to the Virtual Library March 2005
- "País Desarrollado / Archivos Subdesarrollados." Translation of "First World Country / Third World Archives" by Diane Maher, University Archivist, University of San Diego. Proceedings of the IV Iberian American Colloquium; From Papyrus to the Virtual Library March 2005
- "Proyecto 24/7 Consulta Digital" in Memorias del II Coloquio Iberoamericano: del papiro a la biblioteca virtual March 2001
 
Articles Currently Working On:
Individual:
- Botafogo's Development during the Nineteenth Century
- The Challenges of Catering to the Info-Bite Generation
- Collection Management for Study Level Collections
Team:
- Article: New Library World - Multiculturalism Efforts within Library Associations Worldwide
- Book translation into Spanish of Building a Successful Archival Programme: a Practical Approach
 
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
- MLA International Bibliography - Three-year Indexing Fellowship
2005 - 2008
- Hispanic American Periodical Index (HAPI) - Indexer
February 2005 - March 2007
- Judge for the USD Agora Public Speaking Competition
May 2005, May 2006
- Referee: Journal of International of Technology, Knowledge & Society Summer 2005
- Outside Professional Reviewer for Master’s in Information Studies graduation portfolio at the University of California, Los Angeles Spring 2006
 
Conference Papers, Presentations, and Workshops
   
- Forthcoming - The Process to establishing a Digital Reference Service at a Small Academic Library
March 2007
   
- Winn, J. and Ortega, A.present workshop "Faculty Outreach" at the California Library Association (CLA) in Sacramento, CA
10 - 13 November 2006
   
- Invited speaker on "The Role of Academic Library Services in Students Research Process" at the Festival de la lectura y el libro at Centro de Investigación Científica y Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE) in Ensenada, Mexico
9 November 2006
   
- Invited speaker "Tell me, how may I help you? " at the Joint Conference of Librarians of Color (JCLC) in Dallas, Texas
12 - 15 October 2006
   
- Ponencia "Los retos para adquirir y establecer una colección de temática fronteriza en la Universidad de San Diego" en la Primera Jornada de la Asociación de Bibliotecarios de Baja California, ABIBAC en la Ciudad de Tijuana, México
31 March 2006
 
- Paper "Performing Outreach Serivces to Spanish and Latin American Studies Faculty" at the Seminar for the Acquisition of Latin American Library Materials (SALALM) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
18 - 22 March 2006
 
- USD's International Education Week Fair poster session on Multiculturalism and Professional Library Associations
November 2005
 

- Invited speaker "Library Services anytime, anywhere in your language!" organized by the Chinese American Librarians Roundtable at the California Library Association (CLA) in Pasadena, CA
Case study: ¿En qué lo puedo ayudar?: Digital Reference in Spanish

November 2005
 

- Ortega A., Rinka M., Winn J. co-presented workshop: "Forging Alliances: Models of Successful University Faculty and Librarian Collaboration" at the California Library Association (CLA) in Pasadena, CA

November 2005
 
- Invited speaker in the "Riding the electronic rooster: equal access anytime anywhere in your language" Digital Reference presentation of the Chinese American Library Association (CALA) at the American Library Association ( ALA) Annual Conference in Chicago, IL
June 2005
 
- "La lucha de dos archivos por tener su lugar dentro del esquema bibliotecario" at the IV Coloquio Iberoamericano: del papiro a la biblioteca virtual La Habana, Cuba
March 2005
 

- Virtual Participation in the first International Conference of Technology, Knowledge & Society, Berkeley, CA
Topic: Digital Preservation Efforts in Small Academic Libraries' Archives

February 2005
 
- Conferencia del Departamento de Bibliotecas en la Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH) Santiago, Chile
Topic:Taller - Políticas de desarrollo de colección y calidad total en bibliotecas universitarias
August 2004
 
- Poster Session at the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) Conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Topic: Multiculturalism in Action: An International Survey of Library Associations
August 2004
 
- Presentation to the Library Services to Multicultural Populations Section at the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) Conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Topic: International List of Multicultural Professional Library Association Groups and Activities
August 2004
 
- Ortega, A. and Besnoy A. presented “An Opportunity or Playing Catch-Up? Ethnic Studies/ Interdisciplinary Collections” at the National Diversity in Libraries Conference in Atlanta, GA
Roundtable: Diversity in Library Collections
May 2004
 
- Co-presented at USD's Faculty and Curriculum Development Programs - Women's Dinner
Topic: Information Literacy and Accessing Library Services
April 2004
 
- Invited Speaker at San Jose State University's LISSTEN Career Tips Forum at the California State University, San Marcos
Topic: Getting the most out of Internships
March 2004
 
- Planned, organized and executed workshop at the UCLA Career Center
Topic: Job Resources for Library and Information Studies Students
April 2001
 

AREAS OF RESEARCH / INTEREST
- Library and Information Studies: Collection Development/Management, Archives in Libraries, Digital/Virtual Reference, Information Literacy, Comparative Librarianship
- Latin American Studies: Brazilian Culture and Historical Geography, Mexican Politics and Society, Just Development in the Third World
- Romance Languages: Philology, Dialectology - Portuguese and Spanish

Professional Development  
   
Society of American Archivists 70th Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.
August 2006
University of California, Los Angeles , Los Angeles, CA
June 2006

- Social Sciences Librarians Databases Workshop

 
Association of Collegeand Research Libraries (ACRL)
March - April 2006

- Web Design Class (CSS style sheets and standards focus)

 
LACASIS Workshop, Orange, CA
November 2005

- Search Forward: Emerging Internet Capabilities

ALA Midwinter Boston, MA
January 2005

- ACRL's Workshop Standards for Libraries in Higher Education

OCLC Western Traning Center, Ontario, CA
November 2004

- Cataloguing Traning

24/7 AskNow Workshop Los Angeles, CA
June 2004

- AskNow Virtual Reference & the Road Ahead

 
ALA Midwinter San Diego, CA
January 2004

- BRASS Workshop Business Resources

Virtual Reference Desk Conference, San Antonio, TX
November 2003

- The Reference Round-Up

 
 
Committee Work
- ALA Annual Program Coordinating Team for the 2007 Conference in Washington DC - Team Member  2006-2007
   
- Copley Library's Periodical Classification Committee - Member Fall 2006 -
   
- Copley Library's Space Redesign Committee - Member 2006 -
   
- College of Arts and Sciences- Budget Task Force - Member
2005 -
 

- College of Arts and Sciences- Committee on Undergraduate Teaching and Learning - Member  (Elected to a two-year term), elected Chair for Spring 2007

2005 - 2007
 
- Chair: Copley Library's Mission Statement Rewriting Committee
Fall 2005 -
 
- Chair: ALA's Office for Literacy and Outreach Services (OLOS) Website Redesign SubCommittee
2005 - 2007
 
- Co-Chair: Committee "35th Anniversary of OLOS Celebration" at ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA
2005 - 2006
 
- USD's Copley Library Exhibit and Display Committee - Member:
2004 -
Fall 2006: Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker  
Fall 2005: El Quijote 400th Anniversary; International Children's Day
Spring 2005: Habermas Lecture
Fall 2004: Women Peace Makers 
Spring 2004: Irish in America
 
- Nominated and elected to the OLOS of the American Library Association (ALA) as an Advisory Committee Member
2004 - 2006
 
- Elected as a new Member-at-Large for the Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange (EMIERT) Roundtable of OLOS to a two year term
2004 - 2006
 

- Assistant to the Chair and Secretary for the Memoria, Voz y Patrimonio: The First Conference on Hispanic Film, Print, and Sound Archives held at the University of California, Los Angeles August 15 - 17, 2003

2003 - 2004
 

- OLOS of ALA - Advisory Committee Intern

2002 - 2004
 
- Member of the Chicano Studies Hunger Strike Commemorative Exhibition Committee
Spring 2003
 
Bookdealers, Reference, Collection- & Website-Development Consulting
- Librarians/ Spanish Publishers Encounters in Washington, D.C. Unveiling of the "America Reads in Spanish" LIteracy Campaign at the Embassy of Spain
May 2006
   
-Consultant for InfoSud Digital, a bilingual Virtual Reference Service (Catalan/Spanish) at the Universitat de Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
January 2006
   
-Feria del Libro de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Professionals' meetings and collection development of Spanish language materials.
April 2005
 
- Feria Internacional del Libro (FIL) - Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Collection development of Spanish language materials
November 2004, November 2006
 

- OCLC's Question Point 24/7 Reference - Digital Librarian for the AskNow/OCLC Digital Reference effort. Answer reference questions and virtually teach users how to find information on all topics with online and library materials. - Spanish Language Consultant since November 2004

December 2002 -
 
- Created Conference Website for The Maquiladoras Murders or, Who is Killing the Women of Juárez? held at UCLA on 31 October and 1 - 2 November, 2003
June - December 2003
 
- Assisted UC Riverside's Latin American/Humanities and Social Sciences Bibliographer on book and video buys while in Cuba.
March 2001
 

AWARDS
   
  • UCLA's Latin American Studies Center - Summer Research Grant ($1,500)
Summer 2006
  • American Council of Learned Societies - Accelerated Romanian Language Study Scholarship at UCLA ($2,400)
Summer 2005
  • USD Faculty Internationalization Grant ($1,000)
May 2004
  • Haynes Foundation Archival Grant ($28,000)
April 2003
  • UC Regents Conference Travel Scholarship ($500)
April 2002
  • Department of Information Studies Travel Fellowship to California Library Association ($500)
November 2001
  • Information Studies Horn Travel Award ($750)
March 2001
  • Pacific Bell Travel Fellowship to California Library Association ($1,000)
November 2000
  • Camões Institute Scholarship - Lisbon , Portugal ($1,200)
Summer 1995

COMPUTER SKILLS
Programs: Microsoft Word, Power Point, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Netscape Communicator, Safari, WordPerfect, SPSS, FileMaker Pro5, Outlook, Eudora, Entourage, Visio, HTML, Dreamweaver, Front Page
Databases: Expanded Academic ASAP, Academic Search Premier, Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, Ethnic NewsWatch, PsycInfo, HAPI, MLA International Bibliography, Factiva, Dialog, California Digital Library, Online Archive of California, YBP-GOBI 2
Operating Systems: Windows XP, 2000, Me, NT, Mac OS
 

MEMBERSHIPS
American Library Association (ALA)

Divisions:

  • Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL)
  • Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS)
  • Reference and User Services Association (RUSA)

Roundtables:

  • Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange (EMIERT)
  • International Relations (IRRT)
  • Maps and Geography (MaGRT)
California Academic and Research Libraries (CARL)  
California Library Association  (CLA)

Round Tables: Collection Development and Library History

Catholic Library Association (CLA)

Academic Library Services Section

Preservation of American Catholic Materials Round table

Seminar on the Acquisitions of Latin American Library Materials (SALALM)

Subcommittees: Library/Bookdealers/Publisher, Cataloguing and Bibliographic Technology, Electronic Resources 

 
American Historical Association (AHA)
Modern Language Association (MLA)

 

       
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