Summey

Terri Summey, head of Access and Children Services in the William Allen White Library and associate professor of library services, has been worked at Emporia State for more than 22 years. And she is still passionate about her time with libraries and archives.

“Helping people use the library and helping people do research is sometimes like doing detective work,” Summey said.

Summey grew up in Nebraska and received her bachelor’s degree from Dana College, a master’s degree in library science from North Texas State University and a master’s degree in history from ESU.

“I really enjoy what I am doing, I never have change my mind of devote my career,” Summey said. “The nicest thing of my job is that I work a lot with students, that is why I become a librarian and an professor ,and I really enjoy the peace of working with people.”

Currently, she is working on her doctorate in library information management at ESU. In 1987, she took her first career-related position in the White Library.

“I wanted to be a librarian since I was in the high school,” Summey said. “I am interested in exploring history. It showed the different perspectives of the world.”

During college, Summey came across knowledgeable professors and the interaction with the professors and the vigorous atmosphere made her determined to become a librarian.

“Throughout our lives, a lot of people have influenced us” she said, “you pick up a little bit here and there, that all those experiences are what makes people who they are”

Terri emphasized that her job was not teaching students how to use the library but teaching students how to find the useful information they need.

“For the library, my job includes managing the department of Access Reserves which is circulation in the Reserves Inter-library loan, monitoring the operation of the coffee shop, check the supply or shortage of books,” she said. “As a manager, I help make day to day decisions to make the department run fluently. As a faculty member, I do research in my field. I try to do presentations and publish articles in journals on the research that I am doing.”

Summey also teaches on a part-time basis on the National Faculty for the School of Library and Information Management. She has taught one class for the library school for 13 years called on print and electronic resources and services.

“To be a good role model and a good mentor to people who want to be in this field, sharing my knowledge and my enthusiasts for what I do,” Summey said. “Things are always changing, there is a lot of things going on. The ability to influence my teaching profession seems to be passed on in my knowledge and my experience to new people who want to become librarians.”

Students that work with Summey said they benefit a lot from her teaching style which takes them out of the classroom and into the libraries to put theories into practice.

“She is a great boss to have,” said Dana Carter, SLIM graduate teaching assistant. “She is very dedicated with students, always being in contact with her students and always available to inspire you with professionalism.”

Summey also does story time to the primary school student four times a month.

“Reading to them, getting them excited about books is something new we are trying to do. They grow up and they will know how to use the library,” Summey said. “It is probably like teaching which allows me to mentor those kids, let them know that the library is a fun place.

“Some people are scared by libraries. If we can take some fears away and have people want to be in the library, it is good. We can make the library a comfortable place for people to come, with children, we can open a world of reading, a good place to escape. Open up a book you can go to a different world and you could learn something”

Colleagues of Summey’s remarked about her focuses on the job.

“She is very helpful to the students, she does good job with kids and the kids really like her,” said Candy Johnson, interlibrary loan supervisor. “She is always in good mood and full of energy. She is very knowledgeable, usually up to date on what is going on in the access world.”

Summey also had some advice for students about how to choose a career to pour their heart into.

“Find out what you really like with your passion, sometimes you need to not listen to the outside influences,” Summey said. “I am not getting richer being a teacher. But I am rich in another way – teaching in the classroom, being able to help people and teaching students is a good reward. Looking good and positive things in our lives, then you will be happy in doing that career.”

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