Maly Library Welcomes Two New Librarians
The story below was originally published in The Athenaeum, MTSM’s bi-annual magazine. The Athenaeum is published twice a year for alumni, patrons and friends of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology. To be added to the mailing list, contact: Heidi Walsh at 513.233.6159 or hwalsh@athenaeum.edu.
Visitors to the Eugene H. Maly Memorial Library on the MTSM campus may have noticed two new faces recently added to its staff. In November, the library welcomed Kayla Morrell and Drew Timmons to the staff after the retirements of Karen Berno and Margie Wallace.
“We were blessed with years of faithful service from Karen and Margie,” Connie Song, Director of Maly Library said. “I am grateful to have two new, early career librarians who are familiar with Catholicism and are eager to learn more.”
A native of Indiana and now living in Dayton, Morrell received her bachelor’s in History and master’s in Library and Information Science from the University of South Florida in Tampa. Her stepfather is currently in formation to become a permanent deacon for the Diocese of Venice in Florida. Morrell sees her Catholic upbringing and education and experience in library sciences as a good combo and fit for MTSM, and enjoys the beauty of the campus.
A graduate of nearby McNicholas High School, Timmons completed his Master’s Degree of Library and Information Sciences at Kent State in December 2021 after receiving his bachelor’s in anthropology from Northern Kentucky University. He comes to the seminary with a background of working in both academic and public library settings. Timmons is looking forward to using his time at MTSM to hone his librarian skills and learn new ones, especially involving rare book librarianship.
There will be plenty for them to do and learn. Over the summer, Maly Library (and all other OhioLINK libraries) will be transitioning to a new library services platform. There will be a learning period between the old and new systems, to care for the collection and connect students to the works of saints and scholars past and present in whatever format the works are available.
“Kayla and Drew bring some fresh, young energy to the library,” Song noted. “Together, we will continue the work of the library to provide information sources and services that support the formation of faithful followers of Christ here at MTSM.”