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10 Things to Know About Jennifer Macaulay
The head of the MacPháidín Library shines a light on her career history, her love of books and her vision for the future.
Jennifer Macaulay ’92 currently serves as director of the MacPháidín Library.
As director of the MacPháidín Library, Jennifer Macaulay ’92 is responsible for overseeing one of Stonehill’s intellectual hubs and implementing practices designed to support modern learning at the College. Despite having a lot on her plate, Macaulay always makes time for one of her favorite activities: curling up with a good book.
“I read like a fiend,” she said. “Before I became library director, I read a book per day. Now, I only read about 20 books per month.”
Though her workload and her literary appetite are both quite robust, Macaulay recently joined us to chat about her role at the College. Here are 10 things to know about her.
Jennifer Macaulay poses in front of the computers in the College's Digital Innovation Lab.
1. She has worn many hats. Prior to becoming director in July 2021, Macaulay served as the library’s government documents assistant, systems technician, systems librarian, and, most recently, associate director. She joined the College in 1994 and much of her work over the past two decades has focused on ensuring that the library’s information systems operate properly. “I really enjoy the backend and technical aspects of cataloging books, understanding search terms, understanding machine readable cataloguing records, and entering titles into our system,” she said. “There’s so much going on in the backend to make these things work that people don’t even realize.”
2. She has her eyes on the future. Macaulay notes that she foresees many growth opportunities in the library’s future. “As Stonehill expands, the library needs to reimagine how it supports students and faculty,” she said. “Right now, one area of focus is the new Engineering Program. We’re doing a lot of research to make sure we provide what people need in terms of course materials, study spaces and research assistance.”
3. She is a multi-tasker. Macaulay earned a master’s degree in library sciences at Southern Connecticut State University while also working full-time at Stonehill. She began the program in 2005 and graduated in 2008.
4. She wants to help you express yourself. When most folks think of librarians, they picture people shushing anyone who speaks while others are reading quietly. Macaulay does not fit this stereotype at all. “I see the library as a place where students can study, but I also want to offer them the chance to play,” she said. She notes that the library’s podcast studio, located in the Digital Innovation Lab, offers community members a space to be creative and express themselves. She invites students, staff and faculty to take advantage of the studio, whether they are working on a school assignment or a passion project.
5. Her library’s collection contains items other than books. Stonehill’s Library of Things is another initiative Macaulay hopes students take advantage of. This program offers patrons the opportunity to borrow items other than books. Among the objects in this collection are board games, sports equipment, a portable projector, musical instruments, cookware and a sewing kit. “The Library of Things provides students access to things they might not be able to afford or keep in their dorm rooms,” Macaulay said.
Macaulay has worked at Stonehill for over two decades.
6. She has a sweet tooth. Macaulay is perhaps one of the luckiest employees at Stonehill because her office is a stone’s throw from Ace’s Place, a small café located in the library. “I’m a very big fan of their giant cookies,” she said.
7. She is used to commuting to Stonehill. Another reason Macaulay is so lucky is that her commute to campus is short. She lives in Easton with her husband. When the history major attended Stonehill as a student, she also commuted to campus every day.
8. She remembers Stonehill’s old library. In college, Macaulay balanced her schoolwork with a work study job in the library, which was then in Cushing-Martin. “I don’t think there were computers in that building when I was a student,” she said. “And we didn’t have an online catalogue until 1995, so we had to use a card catalogue system to find books. It’s amazing how much things have changed.”
9. She has good book recommendations. If you search the College’s online catalogue, you may come across a book that Macaulay donated. Written by author Kit Rocha, Deal with the Devil: A Mercenary Librarians Novel follows information brokers who partner with a super-soldier squad to use their knowledge to help society’s downtrodden as the United States falls. “There are all these metadata references in the book that speak to me because of my role at the College,” Macaulay said. “It brings joy to my librarian heart.”
10. She is a photographer. Macaulay enjoys snapping pictures of Stonehill’s grounds. “The campus is beautiful. It’s so inspirational, especially in the spring. Taking photos on campus during my lunch break also gets me away from my desk for a little bit, which I think is an important part of being productive.” You can view some of Macaulay’s photography here. You can also find her work on the MacPháidín Library’s Instagram page.