feb05b.indd


Ann Wheeler 

Where
innovation
is
the
order
of
business



If you’re someone who is always coming up with ideas about how to make things better, 
then working at the National Institute of Stan­

dards and Technology (NIST) Research Library 

might be your job of a lifetime. Nancy Allmang 

has been a reference librarian at NIST’s Maryland 

campus for the last three years. As an agency 

of the Department of Commerce, “the National 

Institute of Standards and Technology develops 

technologies, measurement 

methods, and standards that 

help U.S. companies compete 

in the global marketplace.” 

The NIST Research Library 

supports about 1,500 scien­

tists and guest researchers 

working in laboratories focus­

ing on areas from materials 

science to physics, informa­

tion technology, and building 

and fi re research. 

Not just a desk job 
The popular concept of the 

duties of a reference librarian 

answering questions at a ref­

erence desk or at his or her 

own desk does constitute an important part of 

Allmang’s job. “I serve as a liaison to the Materials 

Science and Engineering Laboratory. If a scien­

tist from that area has an in­depth question that 

will require more than normal reference­desk 

assistance, he or she can contact me. I’ll meet 

with them, run the search, and do whatever else 

is required.” In addition to identifying informa­

tion, she also analyzes, packages, and delivers it 

to the scientists and management. “We very of­

ten do try to add value to information,” she ex­

plained. But in talking with Allmang, it quickly 

Nancy Allmang, reference librarian 
at the National Institute of Stan­
dards and Technology Research 
Library’s Maryland campus. 

becomes apparent that, at the NIST Research Li­

brary, outreach is an important reference activity 

that is broadly defined and vigorously pursued. 

She enthusiastically described some initiatives in 

which she has played a central role. 

“I was originally involved in establishing a 

library advisory board a few years ago and I 

continue to act as its monthly meeting facilitator. 

NIST is organized into operating units or labo­

ratories that perform research 

in a variety of fields in the 

“hard” sciences. Each unit has 

representatives to the advisory 

board. The collection breadth 

required to serve these diverse 

groups makes it a little like 

being the Library of Congress, 

only in science. We formed the 

board to enhance our contact 

with customers. Members act 

as liaisons to the library. At 

the same time they’re ambas­

sadors to their own labs, and 

carry back news about library 

resources and services. It has 

worked out very well. We’ve 

gotten some great ideas and 

feedback from them.” 

Sometimes it’s the little things 
It’s one thing to solicit feedback, another to 

have the support to respond. Allmang gave 

this example, which may seem small, but has 

proved a big boon to researchers. “An advisory 

board member mentioned how nice it would 

Danianne Mizzy is assistant head of the Engineering 
Library at the University of Pennsylvania. Have an idea 
for a “Job of a Lifetime” story? E-mail: danianne@seas. 
upenn.edu 

C&RL News February 2005  118 

http:upenn.edu


be if the library had a scanner that the scien­

tists could come in and use to create PDFs. The 

board member cited an ad hoc scanner setup 

in her building with a computer on one fl oor 

connected to a scanner on another. Getting it 

to work entailed walking back and forth and 

calling upstairs to ask somebody to ‘Push the 

button.’ We really hadn’t given much thought 

to providing a service like that. But as a re­

sult of that suggestion, we now have a PDF 

scanner near the entrance to the library’s main 

floor and people are using it like mad. For the 

most part they’re coming in, scanning an article 

they’ve found in the library, and e­mailing it to 

themselves to use at their desktops.” 

The NIKE (NIST Integrated Knowledge 
EditorialNet) project 
Allmang was chosen as 

added other features such as manuscript tracking 

and report generation. It was a very challenging, 

exciting, and rewarding experience.” 

A small cog in a large wheel 
When I asked Allmang what it was like to work 

in a government library, she laughed. “The only 

other library I’ve worked at was a small hospital 

library where I was a solo librarian. I can’t com­

pare it to working in an academic library.” After 

pausing for a moment, she reflected, “As a gov­

ernment librarian you’re aware that you’re part of 

a large organization. You’re also aware that what 

you’re doing has a place in your department—in 

my case the Department of Commerce—and 

you have a sense that in helping your custom­

ers you’re contributing to the overall good as 

a small cog of a very big wheel. As a hospital 

librarian, I felt I was help­

the team leader for an Government agency ing patients get better. As 
ambitious project. “We a librarian at the NIST Re­research librarian 
were tasked with analyz­ search Library, I feel on

What: The National Institute of
ing NIST’s editorial review some level that I’m aiding

Standards and Technology Research 
and publications processes the economy and moving

Where: Gaithersburg, Maryland 
and making recommenda­ the U.S. forward, though 

For more information, visit: tions for streamlining and in very tiny ways. I sup­
www.nist.gov digitizing the manuscript 

submissions workfl ow. This 

project evolved into NIKE—the NIST Integrated 

Knowledge EditorialNet, which is slated to go 

live by the end of 2005.” 

Allmang described that “the team was made 

up of seven staff members from across the 

Information Services Division who brought to 

the effort different types of specialized skills 

and knowledge in areas such as library science, 

knowledge management, electronic composition, 

and writing/editing.” She led them through gath­

ering customer requirements, examining software 

options, and developing functional and business 

requirements. “In the end, after looking at many 

search engines, we concluded that the most ef­

ficient search engine was our OPAC. We wrote up 

a huge document defining database, server, Web 

interface and other system requirements. We sub­

mitted this to our IT advisors. Now a new team 

and leader are working very closely with them 

to make NIKE happen.” She recalled, “As the 

team explored alternatives, we discovered and 

pose a huge number of 

small contributions is re­

ally what progress is all about.” 

Exploring emerging technologies for 
possible application 
Not everyone would embrace a charge like 

“exploring emerging technologies for possible 

application,” but it clearly suits Allmang. “It’s a 

wonderful thing to have as part of your perfor­

mance plan. The organization as a whole and 

the scientists who work here are driven by ideas. 

And there’s an important place in our library for 

ideas; looking at solutions, considering solutions, 

and dreaming up solutions. This is an exciting 

time. The library is being pushed and pulled by 

technology that is opening up new avenues. I 

didn’t expect as a reference librarian I would 

have so many opportunities to think of new and 

better ways to do things.” Allmang is currently 

working on implementing a pilot instant mes­

senger/virtual reference tool for the library. Her 

advice: “Don’t be afraid to take a chance.” 

February 2005  119 C&RL News 

http:www.nist.gov