Campus News

Librarian Ashlynn Maczko excited to build bridges with student body, faculty members

Ashlynn Maczko, Great Falls College MSU librarian, is excited about her role and finding ways to make students and faculty members engage more with the Weaver Library.

GREAT FALLS, Mont, -- Shhhh!

There's a new sheriff in the Weaver Library as Ashlynn Maczko took the reins as librarian earlier this month, and she has something she wants you to know: Whispering is not required.

"Libraries get that bad stereotype of you have to be absolutely silent," she said. "That's not how I view libraries. I view libraries as places people can gather and share their ideas and to just have a space to be able to do the things that they need to do in their academic and personal lives."

Maczko took over the librarian duties and will work with Mandy Wright, director of teaching and learning innovation at Great Falls College MSU, who will continue to oversee the library as well as the Teaching and Learning Center and assessment.

"It's going to be so nice to have an actual librarian," Wright said. "As a lover of libraries, I enjoy being in here, but there are a lot of things I don't know how to do. It's going to be great to have someone here who has current experience and fresh ideas and is willing to try things out."

Maczko, who is from suburban Chicago, just graduated with a master's of science degree in library and information science from the University of Illinois-Urbana in May after getting an English degree from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. She is a member of Beta Phi Mu, the international library and information studies honor society.

"I was immediately attracted to the fact that this is a smaller school," she said about coming to Great Falls College. "Especially for my undergrad, I went to a small school, so I know how important individual attention is between faculty and students. I like the flexibility you get with a smaller institution to try new things and to get to know your community and your students in a way you don't always get at a larger institution."

Maczko is just settling into her role, but she has a couple of ideas she knows will be a priority as librarian.

"We are going to work on getting our student communities back into our space in the library, and we're still thinking about some methods we can use to do that," she said.

Maczko also will be instrumental in bolstering support for and community with the students who take online classes.

"From when I was faculty, I thought we needed to do more for those students," Wright said.

Maczko also is interested in increasing knowledge and interest in open educational resources for students and faculty.

Open educational resources, according to EducationWeek, are materials for teaching or learning that are either in the public domain or have been released under a license that allows them to be freely used, changed or shared with others.

"I'm personally interested in open educational resources and finding alternative resources that our students can use that don't require them to shell out textbook costs when they are doing their coursework," Maczko said.

Maczko's expertise will allow her to help faculty members find open educational resources as textbooks, homework or lab assignments, for example, as a way to save students from needing to purchase expensive textbooks.

"Open educational resources were a big thing for a while, but I always had trouble finding good OER, and Ashlynn will be able to help with that," Wright said.

These are the kinds of ideas Wright said will help her area become more vibrant.

The Teaching and Learning Center with instructional designer Becky Sullivan and Wright have moved into the spot next to the Weaver Library that was vacated when Lifelong Learning moved to the south of campus inside the Career and College Readiness Center.

"We want to create a space that is inviting and fun, where faculty want to come and hang out and exchange ideas," Sullivan said.

Wright said Maczko's hire will be a big part of creating an inviting space.

"I'm really excited about some of her ideas about instruction and helping students learn more about information literacy and research," she said. "I think one thing is because she is a recent graduate, she has that student experience as a really immediate thing. So, I was excited about the opportunity for her to connect to our students in that way."
When asked for her favorite past times, Maczko said she likes to do the common things like watch television, listen to music and – surprise – read.

Favorite book?

"I do not have a favorite book," she said. "I read a lot of fiction, fantasy, historical fiction. One book I think everyone should read, I'm not saying it's my favorite book, is 'The Book Thief.' It's a great book by Markus Zusak. It's technically YA (Young Adult), but I think anyone should read it."

Favorite band or artist?

"Again, I don't have a favorite artist," Maczko said, with a laugh. "But my favorite genre is Classic rock. None of my friends listen to the same music I listen to."
Why Great Falls?

"I got to come out here on my interview," she said. "And I thought everyone was really nice and welcoming, so I thought the work environment would be comfortable. And I thought 'Let's try something new. Why not. Let's just take a chance.'"

Wright answered immediately.

"We're glad you took a chance."