Library Team
The Library staff is committed to making our extensive resources and services readily available to the entire Guttman community. Our team comprises: librarians expert in reference and research practices and information literacy; OER specialists who manage and expand the Library’s online collection of free-of-charge materials known as open educational resources; and the operations staff who keep the Library organized and running smoothly and create an inviting, accessible atmosphere while serving students, faculty, and staff directly.
Specific courses are supported by an Embedded Librarian, who collaborates with the course instructor to improve the research skills and experiences of students. The librarian is embedded in the Blackboard course shell to connect students to resources relevant to their research and to assist them with their questions.
Embedded librarians do not interpret an instructor’s assignments for students, discuss the marking rubric with students, or grade any assignments. They will refer any non-research, course-related questions to the instructor.
Guttman Embedded Librarians: Prof. Alexandra Hamlett and Prof. Meagan Lacy
Librarians
Meagan Lacy
Chief Librarian (on sabbatical 2023-24 academic year)
Email: Meagan.Lacy@guttman.cuny.edu
Prof. Meagan Lacy earned her Master in Library and Information Science at the University of Washington. She also holds an M.A. in English at Indiana University at Indianapolis and a B.A. at Seattle University, with majors in philosophy and English. She became a librarian primarily because she is attracted to the profession’s core values – its democratic mission and commitment to lifelong learning through information literacy (IL). As an Information Literacy Librarian at Guttman, Prof. Lacy’s main task is to empower students to use information critically to learn and to create new knowledge. Having previously worked in public and private K-12 schools, she saw firsthand the difference information makes, the advantage of better access.
Whether Prof. Lacy is meeting with a student for a research consultation, teaching IL in the classroom, or posting faculty work to CUNY’s online intuitional repository, her goal is to narrow the information divide.
Alexandra Hamlett
Assistant Professor, Information Literacy Librarian (Interim Chief Librarian)
Email: Alexandra.Hamlett@guttman.cuny.edu
As an Information Literacy Librarian at Guttman, Assistant Professor Alexandra Hamlett is passionate about empowering students to critically evaluate information and to recognize themselves as scholars and knowledge producers. Her research interests include exploring the intersection between information literacy instruction, technology, and student interaction. Specifically, Prof. Hamlett is interested how the rapidly changing culture of our information society has urged educators to assess information literacy instruction and alter the ways we use innovative pedagogy to impact student success. She holds a Master of Library Science degree from Queens College, CUNY, a Master of Arts in English and American Literature degree from Hunter College, CUNY, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Cal Poly.
OER Specialists
Lauren Elisa Capellan
College Assistant
Email: Lauren.Capellan@guttman.cuny.edu
Lauren Elisa Capellan is a proud New Yorker, born and raised in the Inwood area of Manhattan. She is an alumna of Bronx Community College (BCC) and the CUNY Baccalaureate Interdisciplinary Program through the Graduate Center, where she focused on Africana and Latinx Studies. Lauren is currently pursuing a Master in Library and Information Science at Queens College, CUNY. She has worked across CUNY campuses, including BCC, Lehman College, and John Jay College of Criminal Justice. In her role as an ePortfolio Tutor at BCC, Lauren collaborated with faculty to help students use Digication to build digital portfolios to showcase their academic work and share it online with their peers, professors, and potential employers. She also interned for TED Conferences Education (TED-Ed), fostering relationships with both educators and students globally. As a College Assistant at the Guttman Library, Lauren works with OER Specialists and librarians to make open educational resources accessible for all Guttman students.
Library Operations Staff
Joan Kelly Castro
Access Services Coordinator
Email: Joan.Castro@guttman.cuny.edu
Joan Kelly Castro is a dedicated member of the Library staff, who joined the team just after the College first opened its doors in 2012. She received her B.A. in Anthropology from Hunter College, CUNY, in 2010. Kelly contributes her great creativity, critical thinking, and attention to detail to all of her responsibilities at the Library.
Samantha Wong
Library Bibliographic and Acquisitions Facilitator
Email: Samantha.Wong@guttman.cuny.edu
Born in New York, Samie Wong was raised in Queens by Chinese-Malaysian immigrant parents. She is a graduate of Hunter College, CUNY, with a Bachelor’s degree in Media Studies and a minor in Asian American Studies. Samie has been working at the Library since 2012, primarily aiding students and faculty with course reserves and other needs at the front desk. A music enthusiast, Samie enjoyed going to concerts and traveling pre-pandemic. In her free time, she explores her interests in photography, crafting, and learning historical facts.