University of North Georgia Libraries

At the University of North Georgia's Oconee campus, Ashley Gibson (UNG ‘24) is making a significant impact as a part-time library assistant. Having previously worked as a student worker for a year, she has been in her current position for almost six months. Her journey at the library began with a desire for practical experience before pursuing a Master's in Library and Information Sciences, but it has given her much more.? "Working here as a student worker was a great experience," Ashley shares. "My colleagues at the Oconee campus made me feel like a part of the community immediately, and every library person I interacted with over Teams or email was open and welcoming."? After graduating in May 2024, Ashley was determined to return to UNG Libraries in an official capacity. Thanks to a timely job listing sent by her colleague Renee, she secured her current role in August 2024. "Applying to be a student worker at UNG Libraries was one of my best decisions in undergrad," she reflects.? The best parts of her job are the people. Ashley loves helping students print and find materials in the library, chatting with her coworkers, and working in Access Services under Austina's management. "Everyone that I have met in UNG Libraries has been kind, knowledgeable, and willing to help me stumble through my first year employed here," she says. "They are also supportive and encouraging of me as an individual, with my goals, dreams, and future here."? Ashley is currently enrolled at Valdosta State University in the Master of Library and Information Sciences program, with an expected graduation in May 2026. In her free time, she enjoys playing video games, having recently completed The Witcher III and now playing Baldur's Gate 3. She also loves reading and often listens to audiobooks while driving or doing chores.? Her family includes three pets: a scruffy Lhasa Apso type dog named Chewy, a sweet fluffy orange cat named Lulu, and a misbehaved black cat named Mortimer. Ashley and her husband, who recently celebrated their 8th wedding anniversary, are both born and raised in Athens. Their love story, which began in high school and rekindled years later, is a testament to the idea that sometimes good things take time and a little bit of luck. "I've technically known him since we did The Best Christmas Pageant Ever play in 8th grade, but that is just how Athens is. Everyone knows everyone," she recalls fondly.? Ashley’s dedication to her work, studies, and family life exemplifies her commitment and passion in all aspects of her life at UNG.? Ashley’s story was generated from her individual responses to interview questions. Co-Pilot was utilized to put them into the form of a newspaper story.?? “Microsoft CoPilot. Accessed 2025-2-18. Prompt: ‘Using present tense put these responses into the form of a newspaper story including quotes from Alisha and Ashley and include quotes from each of them.’ Generated using https://lnkd.in/eUNYCRG4?

At the University of North Georgia's Dahlonega campus, Alisha Kline (UNG ‘27), a dedicated library staff member, is making a significant impact on both students and colleagues. Having worked in the library department for just over two years, Alisha, an avid reader, finds immense joy in the academic environment and the opportunity to work with books. "The best part of my job is being able to help students," Alisha shares. "I enjoy showing them the tools they have access to, like Galileo, printing services, and room reservations, to be successful here at UNG."? The supportive and friendly coworkers also contribute to making the library a pleasant place to work. In addition to her role in the library, Alisha is a full-time student majoring in Middle Grades Education. Despite a busy schedule, she cherishes spending her limited free time with her five children, engaging in family game nights with favorites like Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza and Scategories. She also enjoys working out at the Dahlonega Campus Rec Center, hiking with her boyfriend, and reading. Currently, Alisha is reading "No Such Happily Ever Afters," a book written by UNG student Ema Chester. Inspired by an article in the Dahlonega Nugget, she wanted to support a fellow student pursuing their dreams.? Her family includes a Great Pyrenees named Luna, who serves as a service animal for her daughter, Karlee. Luna accompanies Karlee to school every day, becoming an integral part of their daily routine. Before moving to Dahlonega, Alisha homeschooled her five children, demonstrating a strong commitment to education and family. Balancing work, study, and family life, Alisha exemplifies dedication and passion in all aspects of her life at UNG. Alisha’s story was generated from their individual responses to interview questions. Co-Pilot was utilized to put them into the form of a newspaper story.? “Microsoft CoPilot. Accessed 2025-2-18. Prompt: ‘Using present tense put these responses into the form of a newspaper story including quotes from Alisha and Ashley and include quotes from each of them.’ Generated using https://lnkd.in/eUNYCRG4?

We loved hanging out (and sharing Rollos) with you at #RefreshingU! If you didn't have a chance to stop by our table, you can still participate in our SIFT-ing for Gold activity - give it a shot here, and see if you can fact-check like a librarian: https://lnkd.in/eYeSDHEM #NighthawkNation #UNG #UNGLibraries

There’s still time to register for this week’s workshops!

Get to know your library faculty & staff! Monique and Cameron at the McGruder Library on the Cumming campus are here to help you with research and finding the resources you need. Stop by and say hi (and maybe meet the gnomes)! #UNGLibraries #NighthawkNation #libraries #UniversityofNorthGeorgia

During the Libraries' Post-It Pointers event, we asked you to share your best research hacks and biggest stumbling blocks, and you delivered! Over the course of the semester, we'll be highlighting some of your responses. Today's poster laments the pain of finding what seems to be a great source... and then realizing the source isn't credible. But the big question is - how do you determine if a source is credible or not? We recommend researching like a journalist and using lateral reading. This means looking outside the source itself for verification. Open up a new tab and look for other reports on the same topic from sources you do trust. Take a moment to look into the author's credentials and to find out if they're considered a trusted source. Look into any vested interests your source may have to present the material a certain way. A great way to organize your lateral reading is through the SIFT method: ?? STOP: Pause and remember to research before sharing the source ?? INVESTIGATE: Look into the publisher and author - their credentials and potential biases ?? FIND: Look for other reputable coverage of the same topic ?? TRACE: Find the original source of the claim And if you're ever in doubt, you can also talk to one of your UNG librarians to find trusted sources! We've got your back

We have two AI workshops coming up this spring. We're offering both workshops in the Gainesville and Dahlonega libraries as well as virtually. They are free and open to anyone interested. We'd love to see you there! https://lnkd.in/eqX5SRJD