Murphy Library News

Meet Kendall Morgan, our new Information Literacy Course Integration Librarian

Tell us a little about yourself.

I have two dogs and two cats, all of whom rode in the car with me while my husband drove the U-Haul from Oklahoma City up to La Crosse when we made the move this past spring. I'm very excited to be here and to be exploring the area. I'll always take recommendations for places to check out, and I could talk about my pets endlessly. They are Mahina (dog), Grenadine (dog), Waylon Jennings (cat), and Tuesday Morning (cat). I was born in Wisconsin but grew up in Illinois; it's great to be back!

What are you currently doing or working on? What’s something you really like about it?

I am currently working on designing instruction materials for courses that are integrating information literacy into their curriculum. In other words, I'm working with professors and instructors on what they teach and how they teach it, especially when it comes to research and how we evaluate and use information. One thing I really like about this work is that it is so collaborative. The information a person needs, how they analyze it, and the new information they create out of it can all look really different depending on the context. I learn a lot from the instructors I collaborate with, and then when we go to teach, I learn so much from the students, too.

How did you get interested in librarianship?

When I was an undergraduate, I worked at my university's library. I majored in Biochemistry, and as I got closer to graduation, I came to realize what I really enjoyed about the work I was doing was communicating the science. I found myself wanting a career when I could both help researchers and help the public learn about research. The library was a natural fit!

How would you explain to a martian what you do for work and why you think it’s important?

I just watched The Martian again last night, so this is apropos. I won't explain this as I would to Matt Damon, though.

People write things down (or record, or publish, or create) so we can remember them. We want to remember so we can learn. I think it's important to share what we create so other people can learn and do their own creating. For work, I help people find created things wherever they are shared or stored, and I learn and try to help people learn from these things. 

It’s the weekend and it’s raining. What’s on your agenda?

I am most likely binge-watching a show I've already seen before (my favorite shows to rewatch are Harley Quinn, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, The Great, Dickinson, the list goes on). I'm also likely multitasking; doing laundry or taking an unnecessary amount of time to cook a meal (I can make chili a day-long event). Otherwise, I happen to love going for a run in the rain. 

It’s the weekend and it’s sunny. The day is yours. What will you do?

Either taking the kayaks out on the river or taking the dogs for a hike!

What have you read or watched recently that you’d recommend?

I recently watched Renegade Nell and loved it! I also saw Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, which I felt like I waited too long to see. 

You walk into a bookstore with no agenda. Where will you head first?

Typically music biographies. I love Elton John's Me and Brandi Carlile's Broken Horses; lately I've been on the lookout for Linda Ronstadt's Simple Dreams. 

Fun fact about yourself?

I was named after my grandpa, Ken.

You just found out you can time travel. Where could we expect a postcard from?

Expect a postcard from Laurel Canyon, 1970.

Something spectacular you’ve discovered recently about the Driftless Region or La Crosse?

I discovered the road I live off (53/35) follows the Mississippi down on a drive I'm now obsessed with!

You can find Kendall in her office (123 Murphy Library), or at the Research/Reference Assistance Desk, teaching a class or somewhere else in the library!