At the University Libraries, faculty and staff bring diverse backgrounds and interests to their roles, elevating the Libraries’ culture of interdisciplinary collaboration and lifelong learning and curiosity. We asked Stacks Manager Gloria Henning a few questions about her work, to find out more about the inspiration behind her contributions to the campus community.
Q: In your own words, what is a quick overview of your role at the Libraries?
A: I take care of the University Libraries’ print and microform collections, making sure everything stays organized. With the Libraries’ space and collection goals in mind, I plan and manage projects like deaccessioning materials (weeding), shifting, and shelf reading. I work with several divisions, including Access Services, Resource and Discovery Services, and Academic Engagement, to decide which items should be kept, moved to offsite storage, or withdrawn from the collection. I also search for missing items and identify damaged materials. To support all of this work, I hire, train, and supervise several student employees.
Q: Talk a little about the work you’re most passionate about. Why have you chosen to pursue this work within a library setting?
A: I have long enjoyed acquiring information and sharing knowledge. Before joining CMU, I worked at Chemical Abstracts Service (a division of the American Chemical Society) in the Library and in the Marketing Division, promoting print publications.
At the University Libraries, I have had the opportunity to assist patrons from around the world. From 1996 to 2022, I staffed a public service office on the third floor of Hunt Library and managed the periodicals collection. As print journals transitioned online, I often helped users access and navigate databases.
Now, as Stacks Manager, I focus on collection maintenance and supervise student employees, training them to use Alma, our library management system. While my job responsibilities have changed, I continue to enjoy sharing my knowledge with others.
Q: Share an experience or skillset that people might not expect a librarian/library worker to have. How is it a game changer for the work you do at CMU?
A: One thing people might not expect a library worker to be interested in is robotics. I have read articles about how some libraries in Asia use robots for inventory projects and for tasks like shelf reading, scanning the stacks to identify items that are out of place. These are excellent examples of how tech can support everyday library work.
This interest has shaped how I approach my work. I often look at routine tasks and ask whether there is a more efficient or more accurate way to handle them. Shelf reading, for example, is important but also repetitive and easy to mess up after a while, no matter how careful you are. Thinking about technology as a partner in that kind of work is exciting.
More broadly, it shows how automation can take on routine work, allowing library staff to focus on areas where they have the most impact, like working directly with patrons or offering instruction sessions. It has definitely shifted my mindset toward being more open to innovation in libraries.
Q: The Libraries serves as a neutral convening space to bring different areas of campus together. How do you value collaboration in your work? Can you give us an example of a recent collaboration that has helped a project reach new heights?
A: In 2025, a six-month weeding and shifting project at Hunt Library cleared the Frew Street side of the fourth floor and made it possible to convert 780 sq. feet of floor space into a collaborative study environment. Reclaiming space on the fourth floor was a complex process. Parts of the collection had to be moved offsite, shipped to a book reseller, or relocated to another floor. Before materials could be moved within Hunt Library, multiple collection shifts had to take place.
Planning weeding and shifting projects requires careful thought and coordination between multiple departments including Access Services, Resource and Discovery Services, Academic Engagement, and Facilities. Cross-departmental collaboration was key to the project's success.
Q: What’s an area that you want to innovate and push boundaries in? Why is it exciting to you?
A: I would be excited to see robots applied to collection maintenance tasks like shelf reading. I have read articles about libraries in Singapore and Malaysia that already use this kind of technology: after closing, a robot moves through the stacks, scanning materials and producing reports on items that are out of place. Shelf reading is repetitive and boring, and it is difficult for people to maintain accuracy over lengthy periods without errors. It would be great if the University Libraries could collaborate with CMU’s Robotics Department to develop a shelf-reading robot.
Q: What’s something in the Libraries that speaks to you personally? This can be a book, something in the Archives or Special Collections, a space in one of the buildings — anything you want to highlight!
A: The Reading Room at Mellon Institute Library is a wonderful place to spend some time. The space captures the essence of a traditional library, with wooden tables and bookshelves, plush carpeting, high ceilings, and expansive windows that flood the room with natural light. When I am there, I leave behind thoughts of computers and cell phones, and my mind drifts back to a simpler time. It is a place on campus where you can relax and enjoy pure quiet.