| Company History |
| MBK CONSULTING was founded by Miriam
Kahn, MLS in 1991. The company specializes in providing consulting
and educational services to libraries, archives, historical societies,
museums and other cultural institutions. In addition, MBK CONSULTING
provides reference services on a consulting basis to businesses, law firms
and individuals. We do have partnerships with other librarians who
assist when needed. |
|
| Current Activities and Interests |
| Public Records and Archives are the
focus of our business these days, in between consulting on Disaster
Response and Preservation. Some of our recent projects include
studies in the history of geographical areas from the founding of the
State of Ohio to the present, another involved researching early history
and exploration of the Northwest Territory and the Midwest United States.
These projects involve work in historical and archival repositories,
public records centers, and historical preservation resources and
collections. |
| We are continuing our work to enhance
and improve Genealogy and Local History Reference Service provided by
libraries and archives by providing targeted research methods workshops.
While expanding these workshops, Miriam works actively retrieving
information and history from libraries, historical societies, genealogy
organizations and court houses. This is our most popular workshop. |
| As always, Miriam is writing.
This time the publication looks at security and safety issues for cultural
institutions' collections and users. It is scheduled for publication
with ALA in spring 2008. Our previous work
is about protecting electronic data. It was published by ALA
in February 2004.
We have revised "Disaster
Response and Planning for Libraries" which is published by ALA. A new
expanded edition was published by ALA in December 2002.
|
| MBK CONSULTING teaches workshops that
focus on fundamental reference skills for librarians. Two of these
workshops are Readers' Advisory - Evaluating and Recommending Books, and
Multicultural Literature for Librarians - Understanding and recommending
books by other cultures.
Our most popular workshops are
Disaster Response
Planning and Book Repair
for Circulating Collections.
|
| We regularly teach workshops for
librarians at the Kent State University School of Library and Information
Science as well as at OHIONET, the state's library consortium, and many
other library and genealogy groups.
In the summer of 2002, Miriam
taught Preservation Management for the School of Information Science at
the University of Pittsburgh.
Since the summer of 2006, Miriam has been teaching
courses at the Graduate School of Library & Information Science at Kent
State University (http://www.slis.kent.edu
). She offers four different courses,
Preservation Management,
Introduction to Rare Book
Librarianship, Genealogy
& Local History Research Methods, and
The History
of Libraries in the Western World.
|
| |
|
| Educational Background |
| BA -History from University of
Wisconsin at Madison |
| MLS - Specializing in Research and
Reference - Queens College - CUNY |
| MA - History from Hunter College -
CUNY |
| Currently enrolled in PhD program in
History at Kent State University |
| numerous workshops and seminars in
librarianship, archives and history. |
|
| Former Work Experiences |
| State Library of Ohio -
Preservation Consultant - developed a statewide program for preservation,
disaster response and education for the academic, special and public
libraries of Ohio |
| University of South Dakota -
Coordinator of Online Bibliographic Services - taught on-line searching
and bibliographic instruction to students and faculty at the University. |
| New York Public Library -
Humanities and Social Sciences Department at Mid-Manhattan Library -
Reference Librarian; also Reference Librarian at Circulating Branch
system. |
|
| References: contact
MBK
directly for a list of people and organizations who regularly contract
with MBK CONSULTING |
| Workshop requirements:
Fees for workshops and consultation
vary depending upon location and duration. For workshops, AV
requirements vary depending upon the topic. All require a
blackboard or white board or writing pad. Many require direct
Internet access for instructor and all students. Overheads and
projectors may be requested. |
| Contact Miriam Kahn at
MBK CONSULTING
directly for specifics. |
| |
|
| Hobbies & Personal Activities
Miriam has been teaching
book repair for over 10 years and has branched out to work with fibers as
well as paper. Her newest endeavors involve preservation &
conservation of fiber art as well as the creation of such pieces.
Miriam is involved with the CML Appliqué Group and is currently managing their newsletter
and website.
Of course, Miriam reads voraciously both physically and aurally.
She has been reviewing audio books in many formats for over 15 years for
AudioFile Magazine www.audiofilemagazine.com |
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