Meet Christina Gaydos

How long have you been an OLC member?
I have been an OLC Individual Member for eight years.

Why did you become involved with OLC?
I became involved with OLC after attending a conference and seeing first-hand the incredible programs and the dedicated people behind them who work so hard to create meaningful, useful content for our profession.

OLC showed me that there is a welcoming space where I could connect with others who truly understood what I was talking about, especially when I start enthusiastically rambling about MARC fields and ISBN punctuation!

How has OLC membership contributed to your professional development and career success?
Currently, I serve as the Secretary for the Technical Services Division Action Council, a role that suits me perfectly since I genuinely enjoy taking minutes and detailed notes. Being an OLC member and an Action Council member has expanded my knowledge of cataloging while also allowing me to learn more about adjacent technical services fields.

Membership has also connected me to a broader professional network of like-minded colleagues, some doing the same work I do, and has provided a built-in support system I can rely on for questions, advice, or idea sharing.

What is your favorite OLC memory?
My favorite OLC memory is my first Technical Services retreat, where I gave my first presentation on supervising cataloging workflows while working from home during the pandemic. As a new supervisor at the time, I was incredibly proud of what my staff and I were able to accomplish through an adapted remote work model.

What is the best professional advice you have been given?
Join as many professional organizations as you can and talk to people. The many spontaneous conversations I’ve had at events, sparked by simple questions like, “How do you catalog DVDs?” or “What do you do with your board books?” have led to valuable personal connections and countless practical ideas I’ve been able to bring back to my library. And always carry business cards!

Where can you sometimes be found in your free time?
In my free time, you’ll usually find me listening to an excessive amount of K-pop and pop culture podcasts, knitting lacework, or reading one of my many, many books—either at the Metroparks or relaxing in my living room.