University Park, PA -- Jennifer Gilley was recently appointed head of the Elisabeth S. Blissell Library, Penn State New Kensington, where she previously worked as reference librarian. Before coming to Penn State, she gained library experience serving as technical services librarian at the Whitehall Public Library in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

As head, Gilley's focus has been to increase usage of the library's resources, both in the library and on the Web (www.nk.psu.edu/library/index.html). Through an online tutorial still in development, Gilley hopes to raise the level of information literacy among New Kensington students. "The tutorial will familiarize incoming students with the library, its services, and concepts basic to information-seeking, as well as teach how to use our online catalog," Gilley said.

Additionally, Gilley is working with her staff to assess and improve the library's collection. She is also promoting the library's new status as a Federal depository library.

Gilley earned a B.A. in English from Hiram College, Ohio; an M.A. in women's studies from Ohio State University; and an M.S. in library and information science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.