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Somnath Siddappa Biradar

Email: ************@*****.*** Phone: +1-862-***-**** Montgomery Village, MD 20886 US Summary

Highly accomplished and culturally proficient Librarian with 29 years of progressive experience in international acquisitions and collection development, specializing in South Asian languages and publishing landscapes. Seeking to contribute to the Library of Congress office in New Delhi. Proven ability to identify, procure, and process diverse materials from complex regional markets, manage cooperative acquisitions programs, and ensure timely delivery of high-quality resources for the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., and participating US research institutions. Currently a Freelance Librarian, providing tailored solutions, information literacy instruction, and support for school, college, and community libraries. Professional Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

● International Acquisitions: South Asia Cooperative Acquisitions Program (SACAP), blanket order plans, vendor management, negotiation, exchange/gift programs, on-site acquisition trips, foreign currency management.

● Collection Development: South Asia area studies, research /rare /government/ commercial/non-commercial materials, preservation microfilming, serials management, digital resource acquisition, collection analysis.

● Cataloging & Metadata: MARC, RDA, AACR2, LC Classification (LCC), LC Subject Headings (LCSH), original/copy cataloging, authority control, metadata creation.

● Language & Area Expertise: Fluent in English, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, and Telugu. Deep understanding of South Asian publishing trends, cultural nuances, and socio-political factors.

● Integrated Library Systems (ILS): Proficient in ILS, Voyager, OCLC WorldCat, acquisitions modules, serial control.

● Research & Information Management: Advanced database searching, bibliographic verification, research methodologies, digital preservation principles.

● Communication & Collaboration: Cross-cultural communication, stakeholder engagement, inter-departmental coordination, training, and mentoring.

● Information Literacy & Training: Workshop facilitation, curriculum development, source evaluation, plagiarism prevention, citation management.

● Digital Resources: Open Educational Resources (OERs), digital preservation, online databases, e-resource management, digital libraries.

● Technical Tools: Library Management Systems (Voyager, Koha, Alma), Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams), Zoom, research databases (EBSCOhost, ProQuest, LexisNexis).

● Soft Skills: Attention to detail, time management, accuracy, cultural nuance, adaptability, communication, independent work, problem-solving, research.

● Technical Skills: Voice recording, transcription, quality assurance, proofreading, file management, Google Workspace, Microsoft office, Teams, and Zoom. Project Skills

● Filming Project: Coordinated and acquired filming materials from Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi, and Sapre Sangrahalaya Library, Bhopal, for the University of Washington, Seattle, US.

● The South Asian Literary Recordings Project: Coordinated this language, literary, and cultural project, overseeing voice recordings of 80 authors (over 64 hours) reading their works in 22 South Asian languages for the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

● Awarded the Group Meritorious Honor Award by the Library of Congress in recognition of the intellectual contribution to the successful completion of the South Asian Literary Recordings Project.

● Secretary : As Secretary of the Delhi Kannada Education Society, I played a pivotal role in providing highly organized administrative, secretarial, managerial, and operational support to both the Society and its affiliated Delhi Kannada Senior Secondary School. My responsibilities encompassed a wide range of critical functions, ensuring the smooth and efficient running of both organizations.

A key aspect of my role involved the recruitment of essential personnel, from teaching staff to administrative support, ensuring that the school was equipped with dedicated and qualified individuals. I was directly responsible for the comprehensive management of school operations, overseeing daily activities, resource allocation, and maintaining a conducive learning environment. Additionally, I managed the school library, ensuring it was a well-stocked and accessible resource for students and faculty. Beyond day-to-day operations, I provided crucial support for various school projects and events, contributing to their successful execution. Furthermore, I initiated and organized a series of workshops, including information literacy and Kannada learning programs, aimed at enriching the educational experience and fostering a deeper appreciation for the Kannada language and culture within the school community. My efforts were consistently focused on enhancing the overall educational and operational excellence of the Delhi Kannada Education Society and its school. Additionally, my responsibilities extend to actively nurturing students' educational journeys, encompassing comprehensive support throughout their learning process, guidance during the school admission procedures, teaching students, and organizing parent-teacher meetings.

Professional Experience

Freelance Librarian 2020 – Present

● Provides quality customer services and delivers tailored information literacy workshops/seminars to students and community groups (advanced search techniques, critical source evaluation, academic integrity).

● Offers research coaching to graduate students, improving research methodology and thesis development.

● Develops customized resource guides on topics like Open Educational Resources (OERs) and specialized database navigation.

● Consults on collection development strategies for emerging special libraries, recommending key resources.

● Provides expert guidance on library technology solutions, encompassing the evaluation and selection of suitable Library Management Systems (LMS) for various organizations. Librarian (Acquisitions) Library of Congress, New Delhi office, India October 1989 – May 2019

● Built and maintained a research collection of commercial and non-commercial publications from South Asia for the Library of Congress and 50 American university libraries participating in its South Asia Cooperative Acquisitions Program (SACAP).

● Managed all aspects of library work including acquisitions, selection, IBC creation, circulars for new titles, email queries, vendor monitoring (28 appointed vendors), recording project coordination, and managing storage, binding, and shipping research materials.

● Mentored country bibliographic representatives.

● Provided in-depth, qualitative coverage of library materials in all subjects and languages from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Mongolia, and Tibet.

● Collaborated with Field Director Mrs. Lygia M. Ballantyne to organize the Library of Congress bicentennial celebration at the US Embassy in New Delhi, launching the South Asian Literary Recordings project.

● Rendered services for POTUS (President, Vice-President and Secretary`s visit to India) and other high level State Department visits to India on numerous occasions. Language and Literary Skills

Linguistic Proficiency:

● Kannada: Native and fluent in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

● English: Fluent in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

● Hindi: Fluent in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

● Marathi: Basic proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

● Telugu: Basic proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Awards and Honors

● Recognition of Service: 29 years of service and dedication to the Government of the United States of America.

● Meritorious Honor Award: For intellectual contribution to the successful completion of the South Asian Literary Recordings Project.

● Certificates of Appreciation: For supporting Presidential visits to India (Jan 2015, Nov 2010).

● Customer Service Award: For exemplary service and extraordinary effort.

● Extra Mile Award: For exemplary service and extraordinary effort.

● Meritorious Honor Award: For outstanding performance resulting in a 100% increase in acquisition of primary source, non-commercial publications.

● Meritorious Honor Award: For exceptional teamwork and initiative in planning and executing a major acquisitions trip to Sri Lanka.

● Meritorious Honor Award: For outstanding performance and exceptional personal initiative in acquiring important research materials for the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress.

Education

B.A., B.Lib.Sc., M.L.I.S., M.A., M.Phil.

● Master of Library and Information Science (M.L.I.S.) Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, India 2008 – 2013

● Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.), Political Science Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India 1988 – 1991

● Master of Arts (M.A.), Political Science Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India 1985 – 1988

● Bachelor of Library Science (B.Lib.Sc.) Gulbarga University, Gulbarga, Karnataka, India 1983 - 1984

● Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Political Science, History, Hindi, Kannada, English Gulbarga University, Gulbarga, Karnataka, India 1980 – 1983

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