Settoon named director of NSUBA library

BROKEN ARROW - Northeastern State University recently announced Paula Settoon will serve as director of the Broken Arrow campus library.

I spent much of my professional life in public libraries, where Ive learned the great value of customer service and how important it is for us to really be servants of each other, said Settoon. I hope that is what I can bring to the campus, a sense of community service, a sense of customer service and a way we can all work together to create a better university.

A native of Oak Grove, La., Settoon received her Bachelor of Art in English Education from Louisiana Tech University and her Master of Library and Information Science from Louisiana State University. Upon graduation, she accepted a position with Shreve Memorial Library in Shreveport, La. While living in Shreveport, Settoon also taught physical science and biology at C.E. Byrd High School.

I have always been interested in higher education, said Settoon. Leadership is serving. That is what I tried to do in my previous jobs. In terms of community work, I want us to look at how we can serve each other.

After moving to Tulsa, Settoon held a variety of jobs with the Tulsa City-County Library. She began her tenure as a reference librarian at Hardesty Regional Library and was quickly promoted to the position of subject specialist, where she developed and presented programs designed to introduce students to library resources. In addition to her work in reference services, she also developed the librarys website and managed the tech support desk before becoming associate director of branch services.

Settoon is a graduate of the Urban Libraries Councils Executive Leadership Institute, and is currently serving as president of the board of the Community Action Project of Tulsa County. She was also a member of a variety of professional organizations, including Oklahoma Library Association, American Libraries Association, Texas Libraries Association and Public Libraries Association. Most recently, she served as director of the Learning Resources Center for Platt College, where she oversaw library services and taught English composition.

Paulas leadership and management experience is extensive, and she is a committed community volunteer with vast experience in fundraising, community development and peer mentoring, said Dr. Sheila Collins, dean of NSU libraries. She is a web and tech savvy professional who is excited about the opportunity to continue her transition from public librarianship into academic librarianship.