Andrea Mercado

Andrea Mercado is the Reference and Techie Librarian (her official title) at Reading Public Library [http://www.readingpl.org] in Reading, MA, where she works the reference desk, plans the library’s technology goals and implementation, liaisons to the town on technology issues, and teaches technology classes to staff and patrons. 

She is also a manager for the PLA Blog:  The official blog of the Public Library Association [http://www.plablog.org], where she writes content, manages the blog software, wrangles volunteer bloggers at conferences, and collaborates with PLA staff and initiatives.

She received a Bachelors degree in English from Wesleyan University in 1996, and a Master of Science from the Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science in May 2004.  Her professional history before librarianship is steeped in technology, where she worked as a Web developer, quality assurance and usability specialist, technical writer and editor, project manager, process refinement specialist, and technical support specialist.

Presentation: Uncovering the Secrets of Successful Library Web Sites

The do’s and don’ts to improving your library web site -- the online branch of your library -- with limited staff and financial resources, to better meet the needs of your staff and your patrons.