Staff Tuesdays: Allison Sharkey, Reference and Archives Librarian

Every Tuesday during the Fall semester, we will be introducing, or re-introducing, you to the wonderful (and adorable) Library staff that work to help students make the most of their academic experiences here at Rosemont College. 

This week, we'd like to introduce Rosemont alumna, and keeper of the history of Rosemont College, Allison Sharkey, Reference and Archives Librarian.

As Reference and Archives Librarian, Ms. Sharkey works with the other Reference Librarians to assist students and faculty with their research, both at the Reference Desk in the library and in library instruction sessions for individual classes. Additionally, she manages all of the archives for Rosemont College. She is responsible for maintaining and organizing all sorts of items from Rosemont's past, such as yearbooks and newspapers, meeting minutes, photos, President's journals, even the old mascot costumes! Let's learn a little bit more about Allison:

 If I run into you in the library, what would you typically be doing? Most likely you’d run into me at the reference desk, as that’s where I’m able to stay put for long stretches of time. I like that my job keeps me busy and all over the library, but I also really enjoy getting some time to slow down at the reference desk and getting to interact with Rosemont students.

What is your favorite spot on campus, outside of the Library? Hands down the garden behind the library. I love sneaking out there on my lunch break to read.

Where do you spend most of your time while working in the Library? I’m all over the place-- I spend about half my time at the reference desk, and the other half is split between my office and the archives, both tucked behind the third floor stacks. I’m also teaching this semester so I can be found downstairs in room 107 too.

What do you like to do when you're not working? I love trying new restaurants and am so lucky to live in the foodie haven that is Philadelphia. I’ve been to 22 of this year’s top 50 restaurants in Philly, but I’ve got a lot of work to do before next year’s list comes out!

What is your favorite part about working in Kistler Library? The staff! We’re a really close knit group and really care about each other both personally and professionally. It really makes coming to work a joy when you care about the people you spend so much time with during the week.

What is a fun fact about yourself? I’m seriously really good at parallel parking- like better at it than normal parking lot parking. It’s a skill I picked up from living in Center City for so long.