Library units

Access Services

Unit Head: Scott Pfitzinger, Technology and Public Services Librarian

Access Services is responsible for circulating general and reserve collections, shelving and stacks maintenance, facilitating Resource Sharing services, creating and maintaining patron records, compiling circulation and building use statistics, and providing basic information and assistance to students, faculty and staff, and the community. The unit also maintains staff and guest computers and provides assistance to library staff with computer, application, or network issues. 

Circulation Desk General Contact: cirser@uwlax.edu - 785.8507

• Liz Bass
• Dirck Nagy
• Dwayne Webb
• Terry Stika

Administration

Unit Head: John Jax, Library Director 

• Sean Hurtubise
• Jonathan Majak

Administration manages all library budgets, compiles statistical data, completes statistical surveys, prepares reports, coordinates building services, and manages all aspects of student employment.

Cataloging 

Unit Head: Mike Olson, Cataloging Librarian

• Jonathan Majak

The Cataloging Unit ensures that library materials are accurately described and easily discoverable. We provide original and enhanced cataloging for books, archival materials, and locally significant resources such as undergraduate and graduate theses and dissertations. Our work supports Murphy Library, Special Collections, and Department Libraries by highlighting unique materials and maintaining high metadata standards. We collaborate closely with other library units to support collection development, improve access, and ensure consistency across discovery platforms.

Classroom Instruction

Unit Head: Sarah Bakken, Information Literacy Instruction Librarian

The Information Literacy Instruction unit coordinates classroom instruction requests and provides teaching tools and resources for information literacy instruction within the library department.

Collection Development

Unit Head: Michael Current, Collection Planning and Development Librarian

Collection Development works with academic departments and library faculty to identify and select information resources to be made available at UWL and the UW System. This unit manages the resources budget including the allocation of funds for materials held and accessed by Murphy Library. Collection Development also analyzes data about information resources (print and electronic), so informed decisions can be made with regard to collections (monographs, periodicals, and electronic resources).

Curriculum Center

Unit Head: Teri Holford, Education Liaison Librarian

• Lauren Klitzke

The Alice Hagar Curriculum Resource Center contains a variety of collections to support the School of Education and pre-service teachers. Books and materials for grades K-12, curriculum guides, and children's literature (picture books, easy reader, and young adult books). The curriculum center also houses the STEMSS (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Social Sciences) collection.

Digital Collections 

Unit Head: David Mindel, Digital Collections Librarian

• Nikki Pegarsch

The Digital Collections unit is responsible for creating, capturing, preserving, and displaying online digital content related to UWL and the surrounding community. The Digital Collections unit puts its resources into in-house digitization efforts, which are largely aimed at digitizing historical and visual materials, working closely with Special Collections. The University Repository area deals with collecting academic content produced from within or about UWL or the surrounding community. This UWL produced content is then placed into the Minds@UW repository, which is open to the public, and serves as a location for academically produced materials within the UW System to be visible to the rest of the world.

Electronic Resources and Acquisitions

Unit Head: Madan Mohan, Electronic Resources and Acquisitions Librarian

• Lauren Klitzke

The Electronic Resources and Acquisitions unit manages access to Murphy Library's electronic resources and the acquisition of all formats. The library offers access to over 300 databases, hundreds of electronic reference books, and tens of thousands of electronic journals. Ensure that electronic resources are widely accessible and available. Coordinates the library's response to any access issues related to these resources. Responsible for the comprehensive management and oversight of the library's collection budget, which includes tracking and analyzing financial resources, processing orders for new materials, and coordinating the renewal of existing subscriptions. Negotiate with vendors to secure favorable terms and pricing for library materials and services. Maintain detailed reports documenting budget expenditures, resource allocations, and financial forecasts to ensure transparency and facilitate informed decision-making.

Information Literacy Course Integration

Unit Head: Kendall Morgan, Information Literacy Course Integration Librarian

The Information Literacy Course Integration unit develops trainings and tools for course instructors and collaborates with instructors to ensure student learning of information literacy is embedded in their curriculum. 

Interlibrary Loan

Unit Head: Michael Current, Collection Planning and Development Librarian

General Contact: illoffice@uwlax.edu - 785.8636

• Kevin Dinsmore

The interlibrary loan unit is responsible for Murphy Library’s integrated library system, discovery interface, other library servers and systems, and facilitating interlibrary loan services. The unit is also responsible for cataloging print and electronic library materials as well as the metadata used on digital projects, which appear in Murphy Library’s various search services such as Search@UW.

Student Engagement & Outreach 

Unit Head: Jason Anfinsen, Student Engagement & Outreach Librarian

• Shealyn McMahon

The Student Engagement & Outreach unit leads efforts to advocate for awareness of and cultivate interaction with library resources and services by enhancing visibility and engagement with all stakeholders.

Reference

Unit Head: Scott Pfitzinger, Technology and Public Services Librarian

General Contact: refemail@uwlax.edu 

The Reference unit helps users find quality information they need and save users time in the process. The unit also assists users in finding resources, using the services of the entire library, and helping them navigate and utilize the whole world of information resources at UWL's disposal.

Special Collections

Unit Heads:

• Laura Godden, Special Collections Historian
• David Mindel, Digital Collections Librarian

• Sam Steingraeber

Special Collections collects, preserves, and provides access to rare book and local history collections as well as oral history collections, maps, photographs, and university archives. This department houses the La Crosse Area Research Center, which holds archival records of local governmental bodies and personal papers of people and businesses.

Web & Systems 

Unit Head: Kelly Peter, Web & Systems Librarian

The Web & Systems unit manages the evolving web and integrated systems infrastructure across multiple platforms, including the maintenance of the library website with a focus on user-centered design.