About Us

Hoover Library has 12 full time employees and 2 part time employees ranging from 4 months of service to 42 years.

Jessame Ferguson

Jessame Ferguson
Library Director
ferguson@mcdaniel.edu
(410) 857.2281

About Jessame:

How long have you worked at Hoover?: Since July 2008

A little about your job: I provide leadership for and manage the library, including the building and its services.  With the help of the librarians and staff, we do everything possible to provide for the research and learning needs of the college community.

Favorite book: This is so hard to answer.  Several novels by Anthony Burgess, Woman on the Edge of Time by Marge Piercy, Caucasia by Danzy Senna, A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Shakespeare, Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand, and so many others.

Favorite TV show: Right now I’m enjoying catching up on all the Futurama episodes I missed.  I recently finished watching the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Favorite place you’ve traveled & why: Hawaii, because it is as wonderful as everyone tells you. If you take time to get to know it you discover all the beauty in the world around you.

Place you want to travel and why: I’m looking forward to going to Ireland next, I haven’t been yet and I look forward to learning more about the people, the culture and the landscape.

Interesting fact about you: I hate flying but I have traveled a lot despite that fact.  Whenever the opportunity arises to experience a new place, I’ll usually take it.

Most important thing you’ve learned over the years: To listen more than speak whenever possible.

Personal motto: Do what you can to make the world around you a better place and make a difference for the greater good.

Debbie Green

Debbie Green
Assistant to the Director
dgreen@mcdaniel.edu
(410) 857-2281

About Debbie:

How long have you worked at Hoover?: 2.5 years

A little about your job: Basically I’m the library’s equivalent to an office manager

Favorite book: Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Favorite TV show: The Office

Favorite movie: Peggy Sue Got Married

Hobbies: Reading and Painting

Favorite place you’ve traveled & why: Oregon-It’s just a really beautiful state

Place you want to travel and why: Europe/Germany- I was born here and would like to return

Interesting fact about you: I can make a song out of anything!

Most important thing you’ve learned over the years: Eat your vegetables!

Personal motto: Don’t sweat the small stuff or any stuff at all!

Barbara O'Brien

Barbara O’Brien
College Archivist
bobrien@mcdaniel.edu
(410) 857-2793

About Barbara:

How long have you worked at Hoover?: 10 years this August – but I started out as part time.

A little about your job: I administer the historic records of the college.  This includes minutes of the Board of Trustees and its committees, Minutes of the Faculty and their committees, papers of the College Presidents, student newspapers and publications.
There are also special collections in the archives.  These collections were donated to the college by alumni\ae, faculty, and friends of the College.

Favorite book: Secret Knowledge of Water by Craig Childs

Hobbies: Knitting and reading are the two hobbies I do most consistently, however I also enjoy working in my garden and on my fish pond.  When I can I like to travel.

Favorite place you’ve traveled & why: Right now my favorite place is Ireland.  The country is beguiling.  From forested mountains – to balds – to seaside cliffs, the scenery is breath taking.

Place you want to travel and why: I would like to go to Japan.  As an undergraduate I was just a course shy of a double major – it was unintentional.  I took a course on Japanese history and I was hooked.  I took every available course on Japan – art and history. 

Most important thing you’ve learned over the years: That there is so much more to learn.

Personal motto: Chance favors a prepared mind.

You can also visit Barbara’s Archives blog at: http://mcdanielarchives.wordpress.com/

Jane Sharpe

Jane Sharpe
Access Services Librarian
sharpe@mcdaniel.edu
(410) 857-2278

About Jane:

Jane Sharpe has been working at Hoover Library for 38.5 years. She is the Access Services Librarian, in charge of Circulation. She is also the liaison for numerous departments, including English, Education, Math, Psychology, Women’s Studies,  and the Graduate Program. For the last 17 years she has also put on the forum, “Books Sandwiched In”, held every November that assists people in finding the best books to give during the holiday season.

Angie Bachtel

Angie Bachtel
Desk Supervisor
arasche@mcdaniel.edu
(410) 857-2744

About Angie:

How long have you worked at Hoover?: This is my 2nd school year in this position.  However I also worked as a student worker while completing my undergrad degree.

A little about your job: I work closely with our student workers in assigning them daily tasks and helping to supervise the work that they do.

I also assist our Access Services librarian.

Favorite TV show: Dancing with the Stars, American Idol

Favorite movie: Sister Act II–I am also a sucker for pretty much ALL romantic comedies!

Favorite place you’ve traveled & why: 1.)    St. Lucia—I traveled here with my husband for our honeymoon.  It was truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen and it was just a very calm and relaxed environment.

2.)    New Orleans—this was a very exciting town to visit, with lots of culture to experience

Place you want to travel and why: I have always wanted to travel to Rome, Italy.  Every picture that I have ever seen of this city intrigues me.  The beauty and historic value of Rome has always made me want to experience it at some point in my life.

Most important thing you’ve learned over the years: Value the importance of family and friends.

Personal motto: “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.  You can say to yourself, ‘I have lived through this horror, I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Trixie Belden

Sally Jones
Reference Librarian
sajones@mcdaniel.edu
(410) 857-2287

About Sally:

How long have you worked at Hoover?: Since January of 2003

A little about your job: Mostly I assist the students with their research, but I also teach library instruction classes, participate in collection development, and help manage our electronic resources.

Favorite book: Reading is my passion, so it’s hard for me to list just one book, but these are the ones I reach for over and over again:
The Catcher in the Rye, Dracula, Rebecca, To Kill a Mockingbird, Ethan Frome, The Johnstown Flood, Gone with the Wind, The Trixie Belden Series, The Little House Books, Little Women, Eat, Pray, Love, The Historian, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, ‘Salem’s Lot, The Death of a President, and anything by Rosamunde Pilcher.   

Favorite TV show: I’ve long since given up on regular network TV, so I Netflix television shows. I’ve watched the Gilmore Girls, Six Feet Under, West Wing, Monarch of the Glen, Rebus, Vicar of Dibley, To the Manor Born, etc. Oh, and I rarely miss Frontline on PBS.

Favorite movie: Again, I just can’t name one, so here’s a list!
Witness, The Reader, The Sound of Music, My Name is Joe, The Hunt for Red October, All that Heaven Allows, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Oklahoma, All the Right Moves, Animal House, Meet Me in St. Louis, White Christmas, Silverado, Brigadoon, Summer Stock, Desk Set, Mrs. Brown, etc.

Hobbies: I’m a political junkie, a newshound, and a bookworm. And when I’m really on the ball, which only happens in spurts, I walk a lot. (See motto.)

Favorite place you’ve traveled & why: I would have to say Utah. It’s just so beautiful and different compared to the east coast. The mountains just blew me away.

Place you want to travel and why: I would love to go to Scotland because I’m Scots-Irish on both sides of my family, and I feel a real affinity with the people and the culture.

Interesting fact about you: I was once filmed in a movie with Tom Cruise.

Most important thing you’ve learned over the years: Owning your failures, along with your successes, is the first step to maturity.

Personal motto: Solvitur ambulando, or loosely translated, “the solution is in walking.”

Rhonda Stricklett

Rhonda Stricklett
Reference Librarian/Webmaster
rstricklett@mcdaniel.edu
(410) 857-2283

About Rhonda:

How long have you worked at Hoover?: 3.5 years

A little about your job: I provide reference help, manage the technical aspects of the library’s online resources, manage the library’s website, and teach instruction classes.

Favorite book: The Solace of Open Spaces by Gretel Ehrlich

Favorite TV show: 6 Feet Under, Prime Suspect

Favorite movie: Harold & Maude

Hobbies: Hiking, kayaking, trail running, biking, traveling, and of course reading

Favorite place you’ve traveled & why: This is hard because I LOVE to travel, but probably Utah. It’s an outdoor lover’s paradise! Although my heart belongs to the mountains in VA!

Place you want to travel and why: I really want to go backpacking through Iceland! It’s so incredibly beautiful!

Interesting fact about you: My greatest dream in life is to backpack the entire Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine.

Most important thing you’ve learned over the years: To always greet the world with a sense of curiosity and openness.

Personal motto: Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, magic in it. –Goethe

Lisa Russell's alter ego

Lisa Russell
Interlibrary Loan Supervisor
lmrussel@mcdaniel.edu
(410) 857-2288

About Lisa:

How long have you worked at Hoover?: 5 years

A little about your job: Obtaining research materials for students/faculty/staff and lending research materials to other libraries.

Favorite book: The Stand by Stephen King

Favorite TV show: CSI

Favorite movie: The Hunt for Red October

Hobbies: Horseback riding, hiking and taking naps

Favorite place you’ve traveled & why: Australia, because the people and landscape are so fabulous.

Place you want to travel and why: Europe because of the history, landscape and architecture.

Interesting fact about you: I see dead people

Most important thing you’ve learned over the years: To hold my tongue

Personal motto: Take no prisoners

Flowers for Leona

Leona Shockey
Government Documents Assistant
lshockey@mcdaniel.edu
(410) 386-4679

About Leona:

How long have you worked at Hoover?: 42 years

A little about your job: Receive, check in, label and shelve govt. docs.

Favorite book: Jane Austen’s EMMA

Favorite TV show: NCIS

Favorite movie: Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Hobbies: Needlework – I am on a knitting frenzy

Favorite place you’ve traveled & why: England – Nice country, people & very civilized.

Place you want to travel and why: England, again.

Most important thing you’ve learned over the years: Just keep on learning

Personal motto: Try!

Mary's cat Sylvia

Mary Wilson
Technical Services Librarian
mwilson@mcdaniel.edu
(410) 857-2284

About Mary:

How long have you worked at Hoover?: 3 years

A little about your job: I supervise 3 full time administrative/staff positions and student assistants.  We order new books, DVDs, article databases, etc. for the collection, manage the library’s materials budget, organize the collection, handle book donations, and keep track of new magazine and newspaper issues received.  I troubleshoot our library system (the software that runs our online catalog, circulation, and other services), in conjunction with the Carroll Library Partnership consortium. I also work at the Reference Desk answering research questions, occasionally conduct library instruction classes, and work with several academic departments on collection development.

Favorite book: Just about any book by Stephen King

Favorite TV show: Star Trek, The Outer Limits, The Twilight Zone, etc.

Favorite movie: Too hard to choose – I like adventure, science fiction, horror, fantasy, and any other genre with a good story.

Hobbies: Website, blog, wiki, and newsletter editing
Graphic design
Virtual worlds
Computer/IT gadgets & gizmos
My cat Sylvia
(and reading – no big surprise there!)

Favorite place you’ve traveled & why: Puerto Rico – beautiful beaches, landscapes, and people.  Good rum, too.

Place you want to travel and why: Alaskan cruise in the summer – love the wide open spaces and beautiful scenery.  I’d say the Amazon, but way too many bugs & snakes & stuff!

Interesting fact about you: I went to a Star Trek convention and George Takei (Mr. Sulu) sang to me when he autographed his photo.

Most important thing you’ve learned over the years: People are the most important resource (and the most complex) – respect them and value their diversity.

Personal motto: “Not all those who wander are lost.”–J.R.R Tokien

Linda Garber

Linda Garber
Acquisitions Supervisor
lgarber@mcdaniel.edu
(410) 857-2285

About Linda:

How long have you worked at Hoover?: 13 ½ years

A little about your job: Procure materials for the library as well as maintaining fund accounting

Favorite author: Janet Evanovich (She  is fun)

Favorite TV show: None

Favorite movie: None

Hobbies: Reading, Gardening, Grandchildren

Favorite place you’ve traveled & why: Disney World–It’s a fantasy place and for a short while you can forget about the trials of everyday life.

Place you want to travel and why: No particular destination, just cruising.

Interesting fact about you: I was a teacher for 11 years, stopped to raise my children and now have my library job.

Most important thing you’ve learned over the years: Don’t worry in anticipation – just deal with things as they occur (It’s hard to do but I try and am getting better)

Personal motto: One that I would love to live by “DON’T WORRY” but that doesn’t always happen

Roxane Brewer

Roxane Brewer
Cataloging Supervisor
mbrewer@mcdaniel.edu
(410) 857-2747

About Roxane:

How long have you worked at Hoover?: 22.5 Years

A little about your job: I am responsible for getting bibliographic information into the database to better locate materials in our library.

Favorite book: It’s too hard to pick one!

Favorite movie: It’s a tie between Brigadoon and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Hobbies: Reading, gardening, playing Scrabble, watching movies, crossword puzzles

Favorite place you’ve traveled & why: New England–I love the small towns and rocky beaches.

Place you want to travel and why: I would like eventually to say I have visited all 50 states.

Most important thing you’ve learned over the years: I am still learning

Personal motto: Philippians 4:6

Lorri Pickett

Lorri Pickett
Technical Services Assistant
lpickett@mcdaniel.edu
(410) 857-2789

About Lorri:

How long have you worked at Hoover?: 8 months

A little about your job: Maintain periodicals collection and assist with cataloging

Favorite book: Anything by Dean Koontz and the Harry Potter books

Favorite TV show: Amazing Race, Dancing with the Stars, Angel and Buffy

Favorite movie: Too many to name

Hobbies: Reading, crafts and walking

Favorite place you’ve traveled & why: Utah – beautiful country, arches are breathtaking.

Place you want to travel and why: All over the U.S.  So many wonderful places to see right here in our own country.

Interesting fact about you: Used to collect bones and kept a dead brown bat in a jar for years.

Most important thing you’ve learned over the years: If it’s meant to be; it will happen.

Personal motto: One day at a time

Joanna Peregoy
Weekend Supervisor
jperegoy@mcdaniel.edu
(410) 857-2744