Professional
Kyle M. L. Jones, MLIS, is currently a Ph.D. student in the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Library and Information Studies in Madison, WI. Originally from Byron, IL, Kyle received his BA in English literature and secondary education with honors from Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, IL in the spring of 2007. Directly following his graduation from Elmhurst, he began his Masters degree at Dominican University in their Graduate School of Library and Information Science where he worked closely with his mentor, Dr. Michael Stephens; Kyle received his MLIS in the spring of 2009 with honors at the top of his class and was given the Helen Cohen Outstanding Student award as bestowed by the faculty of the graduate school.
Professional experience in the field of library and information studies includes work at the ACRL Excellence in Academic Libraries award winning A.C. Buehler Library at Elmhurst College. As the library and information technology specialist, Kyle created innovative uses of web technologies and content management systems to deliver information to the Elmhurst College community, worked with the reference and instruction team to lead reference interviews and teach technology sessions, and co-taught a First Year Seminar course on the history of Chicago, IL. After his tenure at Elmhurst, Kyle moved to Connecticut to work with the superb staff at the Darien Library in Darien, CT. In his position as a knowledge and learning services librarian, Kyle worked with his peers to provide excellent desk, roving, and online reference services, implemented library-wide instant messaging user services, and taught a variety of technology courses on social media and computer applications. Darien Library continues to be ranked nationally in the top ten of its comparatively-sized institutions in both the HAPLR Index and Library Journal’s Index of Public Library Service.
Kyle continues to work as a consultant by teaching technology courses to public library users during his coursework at UW-Madison. Additionally, clients from across the county have sought him out to develop social online learning systems using the WordPress content management system and BuddyPress suite of plugins for diverse online learning needs.
Personal
Kyle is an autosport enthusiast who enjoys spending time at historic Road America next to scenic Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. He owns a 2011 MINI Cooper S in British Racing Green that is washed, waxed, and looked at way too often. While his reading time is currently consumed by his studies and research projects, he enjoys a good classic American novel – especially anything by Hemingway. Much of his free time is spent with family and friends.