Talia Mathews, Science and Engineering Librarian
Professional Overview
Talia Mathews is a seasoned Science and Engineering Librarian with over 15 years of experience serving academic and research institutions. She is currently responsible for providing specialized information services, reference support, and collection management for the science and engineering departments at Floyd|Snider, a leading environmental consulting firm.
Experience Summary
Current Role
As the Science and Engineering Librarian at Floyd|Snider, Talia is instrumental in supporting the firm's research and consulting activities. In this role, she:
- Curates and maintains a comprehensive collection of scientific journals, technical reports, and e-resources to meet the evolving information needs of the engineering and environmental teams.
- Provides in-depth literature searches, data analysis, and customized research support to assist with client projects and internal initiatives.
- Collaborates with subject matter experts to develop and deliver training sessions on effective information retrieval, citation management, and data visualization tools.
- Contributes to the development of best practices and standard operating procedures for the firm's knowledge management systems.
Career Progression
Prior to joining Floyd|Snider, Talia held several librarian roles, including:
- Adjunct Reference Librarian at Bellingham Public Library, where she expanded public access to scientific and technical resources.
- Librarian at the Washington State University Energy Program Library, where she developed specialized collections and research guides in the areas of renewable energy and sustainable technologies.
- Public Services Assistant and CBA Librarian at the Whatcom County Library System, where she supported general information services and managed the county's business-related collections.
Academic Background
Talia holds a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree from the University of Washington, with a focus on science and technology librarianship. She also earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Western Washington University, which informs her deep understanding of the technical disciplines she supports.
Areas of Expertise
- Science and engineering information services
- Collection development and knowledge management
- Literature searching and data analysis
- Instructional design and training facilitation
- Collaboration with subject matter experts
Professional Impact
Throughout her career, Talia has demonstrated a commitment to providing exceptional information services and contributing to the advancement of her field. Notable achievements include:
- Implemented a new interlibrary loan system at the WSU Energy Program Library, increasing access to specialized technical resources by 25%.
- Developed a series of workshops on scientific literature searching and citation management that were adopted by the Bellingham Public Library and attended by over 200 community members.
- Spearheaded the creation of a comprehensive research guide on sustainable building design, which has been widely used by engineers and architects in the Pacific Northwest region.
Conclusion
Talia Mathews is a versatile and accomplished Science and Engineering Librarian with a proven track record of delivering high-quality information services and contributing to the success of the organizations she has served. Her combination of technical expertise, research skills, and instructional abilities make her a valuable asset to any team seeking to optimize its knowledge management and information-driven decision-making capabilities.
