Introducing Ann Kaste, Minitex E-Resources Librarian

Hello! I am the new Electronic Resources Librarian on the Cooperative Purchasing and Electronic Resources Services (CPERS) team. I am coming to Minitex from a large public High School where I served as the Digital Learning Coordinator, but I have had a wide array of library experiences including academic, K-12, special, and (a sprinkle of) public libraries. I tend to gravitate toward the electronic resources and systems side of librarianship, so I’m thrilled to be able to take on this new role to support the work of CPERS with Anne Hatinen and Tim Peters.

Over the course of my career I have always been involved in information management and libraries in some form or another. My first job out of college, a day job as I pursued my library degree, was actually as a mainframe computer programmer at an insurance company. Although computer programming is certainly not my calling, the job gave me confidence with technology and technology support, which has really influenced my career in libraries. I took on several part time library experiences as I transitioned out of programming and into librarianship to see where I most fit. Among these experiences were subbing at the Dakota County Libraries reference desks, working in a small two year vocational college library, and working at the U of M as the librarian on a grant-funded project. I finally settled into a wonderful role at the University of Nebraska Medical Center Library, where I served as the Electronic Resources Librarian in the Systems department for many years.

I am always curious and up for a new challenge, however, so a few years ago, I decided that I should pursue my school library media specialist license and try School Libraries on for size! I have spent the last seven years working in a High School environment, and have learned so very much from the time. Although I enjoyed the fast paced school culture, when I thought about the possibility of working at Minitex I became intrigued by the opportunity to bring all of my different experiences together into one new role. Minitex’s many wonderful units and resources help all kinds of libraries and all kinds of users, and I feel like I could not have found a better home for my wide-ranging love of libraries and library services in all of their forms. I am excited to be able to work with everyone who uses Minitex services and products to make their library lives better. In my spare time I love to hang out with my family, my husband Karl and our three teenagers, along with our 2 big standard poodles Franklin and Freya. I love to travel, run, cook, and read, and I love audiobooks and podcasts because I can run and cook while ‘reading’!