MU | N e w s
Jill Lichtsinn
Jill Lichtsinn ’79
Funderburg Library director
Q & A
What are your responsibilities as library
director?
I provide the administrative leadership of the
Funderburg Library, overseeing its staff, budget,
resources and services. All of us at the library
support learning and teaching at Manchester
University by exploring what’s innovative and
what changes we can make to help students
and faculty.
I also work to ensure access to online resources
through collaborative arrangements and
through management of the library website.
How has Funderburg changed since
you were a student?
The Internet has completely transformed
how we access, store and share information.
Funderburg Library is now both a physical and
virtual location. Whiteboards have replaced
blackboards. The card catalog was replaced by
an online public access catalog. Students can
now text, chat, Facetime or email a librarian
with their questions.
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When I was a student, no food was allowed in
the library. Now we have Wilbur’s, an in-house
café, and we serve popcorn and coffee during
finals.
Also, we now have fewer print resources,
such as periodicals, because most of them
are online. That leaves us more room for
individual and group study.
Tell us about your education?
Why did you want to return to
Manchester for a career?
I enjoy working with young adults and have
always been a student at heart. I also wanted
to work in an Indiana academic library at a
school with plenty of heart, and Manchester’s
mission statement certainly reflects that.
What is the most valuable thing you
learned in college?
I graduated from Manchester (College)
University with a bachelor’s degree in
secondary education. I also have a Master
of Library and Information Science from
Indiana University, and a Master of Education
in Instructional Systems Technology from IU. Two words: Just ask! It’s good advice for
learning and may help explain why I became
a librarian. Also, learning does not stop
after you graduate. Learn to listen before
you speak, but don’t shy away from a good
conversation. The world needs more civil
discourse, beginning with each of us.
What’s an interesting memory from
your undergraduate days? What is your favorite part of working
at Manchester?
I lived in Calvin Ulrey (CU) Hall, which was a
co-ed dorm. This was long before cell phones
or landlines in the rooms. All the phone
calls came into CU’s front desk. A student
on duty there used a buzzer system that
sounded in the room. There was a code for
whether it was local or long distance. When
the buzzer sounded in your room, you went
to a “telephone closet” in the hallway to take
the call.
Students! Mentoring, employing, learning,
laughing, listening.
When you’re not working, how do you
enjoy spending your time?
I love to spend time with my family and enjoy
biking, gardening and Pinterest. When I
need an escape, I retreat to my “off-the-grid”
treehouse.