VANCOUVER — Washington State University Vancouver’s library reference coordinator was named a “Mover and Shaker” this spring by the Library Journal.
Rachel Bridgewater was recognized in the professional journal as a national expert in bringing high tech in to the old stacks. This came on the heels of her participation in the 2007 American Library Association Emerging Leaders program.
Bridgewater’s passion is the protection of fair use under copyright laws. She has helped teach online courses and organized CopyNights, where librarians and others with an interest in copyright can share information.
She is a former software developer, and makes use of her skills in her second career, educating campus staff and giving speeches to library groups around the world on the uses of the “emerging web” — social software, and emerging modes of knowledge creation.
“I’m lucky to work in such an intimate, dynamic environment. There is a lot of opportunity to try new technology as we grow,” she said. “I couldn’t be as multi-faceted on a larger campus where each job is more specialized.”
Bridgewater describes her job as teaching, helping maintain the library’s Web site, coordinating copyright clearance for reserve materials, providing copyright expertise for the library and campus community, and “just generally pitching in where needed.”
For the Library Journal article, visit https://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6423419.html.
