John Beckham RESUME

BECKHAM RESUME


John W. Beckham
643 Hampton Ridge
Akron, OH  44313

jbeckhamlat@gmail.com.com



OBJECTIVE
Research and/or Library position.

EMPLOYMENT
Reference Librarian, Bierce Library, The University of Akron. March, 2008 to Present.
Division Coordinator, Research and Learning Services, Aprl 2014 to Present. Enhanced responsiblities include scheduling staff and faculty coverage of the Reference Desk, assisting with training of new employees and current staff, Planning Committee participation, and interfacing with other libray division.

Assist faculty, students and community patrons in finding information in article or book format using varoius databases, the Internet, and print resources. Critiqued and suggested potential online sources for future subscription, recommended books to subject bibliographers. Maintain Reference Department's social media, including  Facebook and Twitter.
          Responsible for managing and training 12 student assistants. Directed installation of Makerbot          3D  printer and trained students in its use. Experience in trouble shooting assorted software                   issues and interacting with IT and vendors.

June 1994 to July 2007:  Los Angeles Times, Senior Researcher, Midwest Bureau, based in Chicago. Responsible for research using commercial databases, the internet, and telephone interviews. Evaluated agencies and experts for informational purposes. Regular scanning of web sources for story ideas. Contributed to National and Foreign staff. Fact checking. Set up RSS reader feeds for efficient current awareness updates for beat reporters.
February 1990 to June 1994 and   November 1984 to May 1988. Senior Information Specialist, Supervisor Weekend Services; ABC News Research Center (New York, NY). Responsible for quick reference, preparation of comprehensive information packages and briefing books network news show staff. (Night-line, 2020). Set up first research center online book catalog (1984).

May 1988 to January 1990:  Editorial librarian, the Los Angeles Daily News. Responsible for providing information to reporters, indexing and formatting various sections of the paper for online services. Instructed staff in database use.

April 1984 to October 1984:  Library aide, U.S. Court of International Trade, Responsible for O.C.L.C cataloging and searching, filing and mail.

September 1983 to December 1984. Graduate student teaching assistant, Division of Library and Information Science, St. John's University. Responsible for conducting online search labs for database and reference classes.

1979 – 1983. Graduate Student Teaching Assistant, Department of History, The University of Akron. All aspects of classroom Instruction.

1976- 1979. Student assistant – Department of Peace Studies, The University of Akron. Worked on the construction of an international bibliography of Human Rights.

SKILLS
Skilled in conducting reference interviews; locating and interviewing experts; highly experienced in searching Lexis/Nexis, EBSCO, Factiva, and people finders. Extensive internet searching. Conducting phone and small group instruction in research techniques. Familiar with a variety of softwares ranging from Word 2013 to Windows Live Movie Maker.

EDUCATION

M.L.S. St. John's University, 1984

Masters Level work History, Economics, and Spanish, The University of Akron, 1979 - 1983

B.A. History The University of Akron, 1979


MEMBERSHIP American Library Association

INTERESTS Computers, research, reading, current events.

LANGUAGE Spanish (reading).

AWARDS

1993 Dialog Information Services, Grand Prize Winner, RANK command contest
for the most innovative application of the RANK COMMAND.

AKNOWLDEGEMENTS:

On air credits:

"Tell Them Who You Are” (2004), Research
credit, a documentary (tv and theater) by Mark Wexler

ABC
NEWS NIGHTLINE

Research acknowledgment for Steve
Braun’s MERCHANT OF DEATH on international arms trader Victor Bout,
published by Wiley (2007).


ARTICLES

At Wal-Mart, Clinton didn't upset any carts; As a board member, she touted women and the environment but didn't fight anti-union efforts.
Los Angeles Times, May 19, 2007 Saturday Correction Appended, MAIN NEWS; National Desk; Part A; Pg. 1, 2124 words, Stephen Braun, Times Staff Writer, Research by John Beckham.

THE NATION; Katrina Aid Far From Flowing; A year after the hurricane, some federal agencies are dispensing available funds at a trickle: $110 billion has been approved, $44 billion spent.
Los Angeles Times, August 27, 2006 Sunday, MAIN NEWS; National Desk; Part A; Pg. 1, 2141 words, Ann M. Simmons, Richard Fausset and Stephen Braun, Times Staff Writers, Research by John Beckham.

THE POLITICS OF FLOOD CONTROL; Levees Weakened as New Orleans Board, Federal Engineers Feuded
Los Angeles Times, December 25, 2005 Sunday, MAIN NEWS; National Desk; Part A; Pg. 1, 4057 words, Stephen Braun and Ralph Vartabedian, Times Staff Writers, Research by John Beckham.

THE RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE; An Agile Pilot Who Flew Under the Radar; After a promising start in a coveted Guard slot, George W. Bush nearly dropped out of sight.
Los Angeles Times, September 27, 2004 Monday, MAIN NEWS; National Desk; Part A; Pg. 1, 4055 words, James Rainey, Stephen Braun and Ralph Vartabedian, Times Staff Writers, Research by John Beckham.

IRAQ PRISON SCANDAL; A Combustible Mix at Iraq Prison; At the Abu Ghraib facility, the combination of MPs' poor training and heavy demands on interrogators resulted in a disregard for rules.
Los Angeles Times, May 8, 2004 Saturday, MAIN NEWS; Foreign Desk; Part A; Pg. 10, 2148 words, Richard A. Serrano and Greg Miller, Times Staff Writers, Research by John Beckham.

Picking Nits with Frank Deford; In the Hyperbolic World of Sports Journalism, the Sports Illustrated Icon Is Considered a Master Storyteller. And Most of the Time, He Gets It Right.
Los Angeles Times, January 11, 2004 Sunday Correction Appended, LOS ANGELES TIMES MAGAZINE; Lat Magazine Desk; Part I; Pg. 12, 7279 words, Glenn F. Bunting, Research by John Beckham.

L.A. Priest Blamed for Legacy of Pain; Ten, including relatives, say the Jesuit molested them. Hedenies it and has not been charged.
Los Angeles Times, December 14, 2002 Saturday, MAIN NEWS MAIN NEWS; Part 1; Metro Desk; Pg. 1 , 4619 words, Glenn F. Bunting, Times Staff Writer, Research by John Beckham.

SUNDAY REPORT; On the Trail of a Man Behind Taliban's Air Fleet; Authorities say Victor Bout supplied combatants in hot spots around the world. The elusive entrepreneur is free in Moscow.
Los Angeles Times, May 19, 2002 Sunday, PART A MAIN NEWS; Part 1; Foreign Desk; Pg. 1 , 5652 words, Times Staff Writers Steve Braun and Judy Pasternak, Research by John Beckham.

DO YOU NEED?



Available for: library work, freelance, historical research, reference, story idea generation by topic or area.

by the week, month, or project.


would you like one of these, devoted to your region or subject area? http://08candidatenews.blogspot.com/ or based on RSS feeds in the google reader, http://www.google.com/reader/shared/user/13672695236396171624/label/ohio-news