Pratt Institute

Education

B.A., Eugene Lang College the New School for;
M.L.S., Queens College, City University of New;
M.F.A., City College of New York

Biography

Jason Baumann is currently Coordinator of Collection Assessment and LGBT Collections at the New York Public Library. He was previously Special Assistant to the Director for Programs for the Research Libraries, working in statistics analysis. Mr. Baumann began his career working as a YA specialist for Brooklyn Public Library, and later as a Bibliographic Instruction Librarian at the Humanities & Social Sciences Library. He has his MLS from Queens College, his MFA in poetry from City College, and is currently pursuing a PhD in English at the CUNY Graduate Center.

Doctoral candidate in English CUNY Graduate Center Pursuing concentrations in Gay & Lesbian Studies and Africana Studies. Expected graduation 2013. MFA City College, CUNY, 2006 Creative Writing: Concentration in Poetry Thesis: “EVERYTHING MUST GO!”—A cycle of poems on drag, family and Nuyorican history that interweaves sonnets, blues, and prose poetry. Thesis Advisor: Marilyn Hacker

MLS Queens College, CUNY, 2001 School of Library and Information Science Research Project: “A Retrospective Case Study of the South Bronx Project”—a study of innovations in library services to the Puerto Rican community in the Bronx during the 1970s.

BA Eugene Lang College, The New School for Social Research, 1994 Concentration: Feminist Theory Senior Work: “What Can a Body Do? Concepts of Embodiment in Early Modern Philosophy and Contemporary Feminism.”

? Additional graduate studies in philosophy pursued through the Graduate Faculty of the New School for Social Research, 1994-1997.

? Private instruction in vocal technique, performance, and Jazz repertoire with Ira Siff, Director, La Gran Scena Opera Company, 1995-2001.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Visiting Associate Professor, 2006-Present Pratt Institute, Graduate School of Information and Libraries Science Teach seminars on special topics in librarianship, and the key course in PrattÂ’s Project M-LEAD in partnership with the Brooklyn Museum, an IMLS funded project preparing Information Professionals for careers in Museum Libraries and Archives in the Digital Age. Courses taught: ? Cultural Diversity and Libraries ? Library and Museum Education Outreach EXHIBITIONS

1969: The Year of Gay Liberation The New York Public Library, Stokes Gallery, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, June 2009. Curated exhibition of archival materials and photographs chronicling the pivotal changes in LGBT activism in the year 1969-1970, including selection and research of materials, authoring exhibition text, collaborating with exhibitions staff on design and promotional materials, and working with publicist to promote exhibition. Online exhibition and travelling panel version available at www.nypl.org/research/chss/1969/.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Coordinator of Collection Assessment and LGBT Collections June 2008-Present. The New York Public Library ? Lead year-long project to assess the LibraryÂ’s research collections to identify priorities for collection development, processing, digitization and fundraising in light of budgetary constraints and library reorganization. ? As member of the LibraryÂ’s Circ Working Group, oversees collection and analysis of statistics on branch libraries usage to better understand community needs and maximize library circulation. ? Manages LibraryÂ’s LGBT Committee, which raises over $100,000 annually in individual gifts, in addition to foundation and corporate support. ? Collaborates with Development staff on proposals to corporate and foundation funders, identification of potential donors, and cultivation events. ? Bibliographer for Gay & Lesbian Studies in the LibraryÂ’s General Research collections. Oversees purchasing of LGBT materials and negotiates gifts of ephemera and small press materials for research collections. ? Advises and assists LibraryÂ’s special collections divisions in acquisition of LGBT materials. Recent acquisitions include Martin Worman archive of Cockettes materials and erotic sketches of Cuban artists Emilio Sanchez. ? Teaches public classes in literature research and LGBT studies through the Bartos Education Center. ? Collaborates with Library staff in the creation of onsite and online exhibitions on LGBT history, and with programming staff to create public programs featuring the LibraryÂ’s LGBT collections. ? Oversees Martin Duberman Visiting Scholars program which awards three travel fellowships annually to support emerging scholars researching LGBT history in the LibraryÂ’s research collections.

Special Assistant to the Director/Manager of the LGBT Committee The Research Libraries, The New York Public Library, 2001-2008 ? As Manager of the LGBT Committee, worked with private donors to cultivate LGBT community bringing them into the Library as both users and donors. Oversaw creation of LGBT@NYPL website (http://lgbt.nypl.org) including selection and digitization of 2,000 images from LGBT history collections, creation of visual identity, writing and editing website content. Lead Committee, with private donors and Library’s Development Office, to raise $1.7 million in individual memberships, corporate support, foundation grants, and bequests to support library collections and services for the LGBT community. ? Produced “Art & Activism: Contemporary LGBT Art and Culture” program series, a collaboration of The New York Public Library; The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center; and the Lambda Literary Foundation. 19 programs, including readings, performances, panels, and films, at five locations attended by 2,650 in June 2006. ? Member of the Research Libraries Planning Team that drafted the 5-year plan for the future directions of the Research Libraries. Chaired collection development working group. ? Oversaw revision of Research Libraries statistics collection and reporting. Managed statistics collection and analysis across all Research libraries units. Reported statistics to City and State agencies, and national library organizations such as ARL and IRLA. ? Produced presentations on the Libraries’ collections and services for City and State government, trustees, national associations, and international audiences.

Poetry Outreach Instructor City College, CUNY, 2005-2006 ? Designed and taught curriculum on blues prosody and history for 4th grade class at PS 50. ? Contributed to selection of student work for anthology and student poetry festival.

Instructional Services Librarian Humanities & Social Sciences Library, The New York Public Library, 2001 ? Designed bibliographic instruction curricula and taught research classes for college and high school students. ? Conducted outreach to metropolitan-area college students and faculty. ? Initiated revision of LibraryÂ’s research guides and migration from print publishing to online presentation. ? Reference services in General Research and Art & Architecture Divisions.

Librarian Trainee, Librarian, Assistant Branch Librarian Stone Avenue Branch, Brooklyn Public Library, 1999-2000 ? Conducted outreach for local elementary, middle, and high schools for the Connecting Libraries and the Schools Project (CLASP). ? Contributor to Young Adult Services and Young Adult Web Services Committees. ? Revitalized Spanish-language collections and outreach to local Latino community. ? Coordinated ESOL and GED programs. ? Conducted internet and resume workshops for adults, seniors, and Spanish speaking audiences. ? Adult, young adult, and Spanish collection development.

COMMITTEES ? Representative on the LibraryÂ’s Ethics Committee, 2007-present, which adjudicates professional ethics and conflicts of interest at the Library. ? Research Libraries representative on the LibraryÂ’s Safety Committee, 2001-2007, which oversees patron and workplace safety issues in concert with the LibraryÂ’s Health and Safety Officer and insurance providers.

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS ? Moderator, “Gay Liberation Front Alive.” Panel discussion in conjunction with 1969 exhibition, at the New York Public Library, 6/24/09. ? “NYPL GLBT Manuscripts & Archives.” Presentation for GLBT Archives, Libraries, Museums, and Special Collections Conference, 5/9/08. ? “This is the Beat Generation.” Public lecture on Beat literature at the New York Public Library in conjunction with the exhibition Beatific Soul: Jack Kerouac on the Road, 2/23/08.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION ? Awarded “Best Poem” in CUNY Arts Gala, Center for the Humanities, 2006. ? Selected reader for CUNY Arts Gala, 2004.

LANGUAGES Spanish—proficient

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS American Library Association Modern Language Association