Karen R.

Harker
3128 Harbinger Lane • Dallas, TX 75287 • 972-662-3233 •
karen.harker@utsouthwestern.edu

Digital Librarian | Digital Projects Manager | Research & Development

SUMMARY
 High-energy, self-directed librarian with a data-centric background and over eight years experience
with library information management.
 Recent experience implementing commercial library Web-based portal.
 Strong skills in analysis, planning, problem-solving and customer service.
 Experience in developing and managing critical-mission library systems.
 Organizational leader in data- and systems-analysis and modeling.
 Strong advocate of formal documentation of systems and processes.
 Recent emphasis on portability and standardization of information.

EDUCATION
1993 – Associates of Arts and Sciences, Brookhaven College
1995 – Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, Regents College, University of the State of New York.
1999 – Master of Library Science, Texas Woman's University
 Emphasis on electronic librarianship
 Coursework in research and statistics
 Participated in doctoral seminars and independent studies
 Research paper: An analysis of World Wide Web sites and links using statistical and
bibliometric measurements.
2007 – Master of Public Health, UT Houston School of Public Health, Dallas Campus
 Broad background in scientific research and clinical trials
 Emphasis on statistical analysis
 Coursework in multiple regression techniques and GIS tools and resources.
 Master’s thesis: Measuring the quality of life of patients with diabetes: validating the tool and
determining the effects on quality of life.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas Library
2000 - Current: Digital Infrastructure Analyst/Librarian
1996 - 2000: Reference Librarian
Carrollton Public Library, Carrollton, Texas
1987 - 1995: Library Assistant (Interlibrary Loan and Periodicals)

EXPERIENCE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Digital Library Development
 Led the implementation of a digital library portal integrating dozens of third-party resources.
 Integrated data repositories and mapped their data elements.
 Developed a unique data model to manage electronic journal metadata which enable multiple
versions to be centralized under the same title.
 Assisted in the development of a customized Web interface utilizing XSLT, HTML, and
Javascript.
 Converted a locally-developed database of metadata to conform to internationally-recognized
standards.
 Participated in implementing a third-party link-resolver, including development of the Web
interface, creation and documentation of standard measurements of usage, and
documentation of processes and settings.
Planning / Leadership
 Currently leading initiative to utilize tools to more quickly and easily gather client feedback
and interest in systems.
  Developed and implemented a standard set of documentation for locally-developed systems
which is used as a model for other units.
 Participated in structured research to gather client input on the organization the Library’s
home page and the vocabulary used by clients to describe our resources
 Assisted in developing a documented collection development policy for freely-available Web
resources based on ACRL collection development standards.
 Managed the Web Services Unit during a recent re-organization effort, transitioning to
separate development and production environments.
 Led several project teams in the development of specialized Web-based systems which
enabled greater and easier access to library resources by clients.
Research and Development
 Conducted independent research initiatives to shed light on client information-seeking
behaviors and their impact on our resources.
 Investigated numerous information management innovations for potential integration into the
library’s systems, including:
o TeamSpot for student collaboration
o LibGuides for online resource guides
o Microsoft SharePoint Office 2007 for intranet
o Meta-searching and digital collections systems (Encompass, Meta-Lib)
 Successfully transferred several products from development into production, including
development of documentation, measuring standards, and regular product reviews.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Technical
Database Systems: Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, dBase/FoxPro
Programming Languages: SQL, XSLT, Cold Fusion, VBA, Javascript
Data Modeling Tools: XML (DTDs and schemas), UML, ER Models
Metadata Models: Qualified Dublin Core, RDF, EAD, METS
Support Software: Microsoft Visio, XMLSpy, MS Access, Word, Excel, Project
Soft Skills
Extensive experience working within and leading teams
Flexibility in shifting assignments, duties, and priorities
Proven leadership of teams, task forces, and other working groups
Excellent communication and presentation skills

KNOWLEDGE
 Library standards and methods
o Cataloging: MARC, AACR2, Dublin Core, FRBR
o Library Systems: MARC, Z39.50
o Reference: Controlled vocabularies, query formulation, structured reference interview
o Medical Librarianship: MeSH, biomedical literature resources, scientific process
 Information Management standards and methods
o Data modeling: Unified Modeling Language, Use Case Analysis, XML
o Information exchange: XML, data mapping, Z39.50
o Software Engineering: IEEE, Capability Maturity Model (CMM)
o Database Development: SQL, ODBC, Relational Database Development

PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS

 “Library Assessment: From Accountability to Improvement,” (co-developer) MLA-approved CE
course presented at the 2007 Annual Convention of the South Central Chapter of MLA.
 “Duck Soup: Using a Blog to Provide Product Support,” online tutorial presented as part of the
Five Weeks to a Social Library, February, 2007.
 "Collaborative Development: Building a Web-based Family Practice Subject Guide," poster
session with Helen Mayo, Robert D. Frey, MD, and Cassie L. Murphy-Cullen, PhD at the 103rd
Annual Meeting of the Medical Library Association, May, 2003.
  "Gathering Customer Input Prior to Home Page Redesign: An Ontological Study, " poster
session with Katherine Alexander, Karen Harker, Helen Mayo, Shelley McKibbon, and Mori
Lou Higa Moore at the Annual Meeting of the Medical Library Association, May 2002 and at
the 29th Annual Meeting of the South Central Chapter/MLA, October 2002 (Second Place
Research Award).
 "Collaborative Development: Building a Subject Guide with Faculty Input,"
poster presentation with Helen Mayo at the 29th Annual Meeting of the South Central
Chapter/MLA, October 2002.
 "Is there a usage gap? " paper presentation at the 102nd Annual Meeting of the Medical
Library Association, May 2002.
 "A Searchable Library News Archive," poster presentation with Sharon Giles and Lynne Jacobs
at the 28th Annual Meeting of the South Central Chapter/MLA, October 2001.
 "What to Do Before the Webmaster Leaves: Documentation and Planning of Web
Development Projects, " paper presentation with Mitch Walters, Judith Hill, and Brenda
Berkins, at the 101st Annual Meeting of the Medical Library Association, May 2001.
 "Personalization of a Web Site: the 'My Library' Project" paper presentation with Brenda
Berkins, Jon Crossno, Judith Hill, Michelle McConoughey, and Mitch Walters at the 26th
Annual Meeting of the South Central Chapter/MLA, October 1999.
 "A World Wide Web Bibiometrics Study: Co-citation Analysis of Health Sciences Libraries’
Links, " paper presentation at the 99th Annual Meeting of the American Medical Association,
May 1999.
 "A Comparison of the Characteristics of the Most-linked and Least-linked Academic Medical
Library Web Sites" paper presentation with Judith Hill at the 25th Annual Meeting of the South
Central Chapter/MLA, 1998 (Research Special Commendation Award).
 Harker, Karen. 1999. Order out of chaos: Using a Web database to manage access to
electronic journals. Library Computing, vol. 18(1):59-67.

CONTINUING EDUCATION
 Data Mining Tools & Searching for Information, CHLA/ABSC Canadian Health Libraries
Association/Association continuing education online course, November 1-December 3, 2007.
 Understanding the Data Around Us: Gathering and Analyzing Usage Data, NISO Workshop, November
1-2, 2007.
 Emerging Technologies for Information Management, MLA, Site Coordinator, November 1, 2006.
 Do It Yourself Metrics: Developing Practical Metrics, EDUCAUSE Full-Day Seminar (6 contact hours),
October 9, 2006.
 HigherEd BlogCon, various sessions, April-May, 2006.
 Podcasting Possibilities, EDUCAUSE Web Seminar, March 4, 2005
 An Update on Digital Libraries, EDUCAUSE Web Seminar (1 contact hour), November 30, 2004.
 Usability: Designing for User Success, ARL Web-cast (1 contact hour), October 28, 2004.
 MLA Journal Club on Institutional Repositories (June-December, 2004)
 World Bank Video-conferencing Education, Social Capital Assessment Tool (SOCAT), Institute for Faith-
Based Research of Dallas (16 contact hours), September 29-30, 2004.
 CHARTing Health Information for Texas, UT School of Public Health Library workshop (2 contact
hours), April 2004.
 Information Retrieval: Grand Challenges for the 21st Century, Priscilla M. Mayden Lecture, University of
Utah Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library (1 contact hour), October 15, 2003
 Introduction to SAS, UT Southwestern Academic Computing Services (6 contact hours), September
2002.
 Introduction to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Electronic Information Resources,
CE 331 (4 contact hours), 2002 Annual Meeting of the Medical Library Association, May 17, 2002.
 What is this thing called Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) and why do I care? CE 453 (4
contact hours), 2002 Annual Meeting of the Medical Library Association, May 18, 2002.
 Information Services for Public Health: Extending the Reach, Samuel Lazerow Lecture Series, Texas
Woman's University (1 contact hour), April 9, 2002
 Molecular Biology Information Resources, Medical Library Association (8 contact hours), February 27,
2001
 Myth and Reality of Electronic Publishing: Effects of E-Journals on Your Library (MLA Satellite
Teleconference), Medical Library Association (1.5 contact hours), November 15, 2000
 Introduction to Encoded Archival Description, Society of American Archivists workshop (12 contact
hours), Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, 2000.
 Advanced Cold Fusion Development, Allaire training course (24 contact hours), October 2000.
 Participated in Collaborative development of public health informatics curriculum and Web resources
for public health faculty, students, and practitioners in Texas study, which was funded by a Partners in
Information Access grant from the National Library of Medicine, 1999/2000.
 MLA Journal Club on Leadership (1997)
 Various article in UT Southwestern Information Times: News & Technology Update:
o MyLibrary, version 2.0. February/March 2002.
o Library home page: Access electronic journals from you desktop. April/May 1999.
o Library updates its home page. October/November 1998.
o Library Internet guide to free MEDLINE sites. June/July 1998.
o UT Southwestern Library offers new service. December/January 1998