Minitex Oral History Project

Minitex Oral History word cloud.

As part of the Minitex 40th Anniversary celebration (July 2011-June 2012), we are interviewing library staff in the region to help tell the story of Minitex and participating libraries. These oral interviews also capture the voice and experience of some of our library innovators in the Minitex region. Interviewees were asked to reflect on the early years of Minitex; from the two-year pilot project that was the Minnesota Interlibrary Teletype Experiment (1969-1970) to the present.

More interviews will be added throughout the year and we will highlight them though various Minitex communication channels. If you have questions or comments related to the project, contact Sara Ring, Minitex.

Bill DeJohn Interview

  • Bill DeJohn
    Minitex Director (1984-2012)
    Interviewed on May 13, 2011

Oral History Project Interviews

  • Helen Stub
    Librarian, Minneapolis School District (1955-1980)
    Past President (1977-78) of the Minnesota Educational Media Organization (MEMO)
    Twin City Library Club secretary-treasurer and historian
    Interviewed on July 28, 2011
  • Dave Paulson
    Minitex Resource Sharing Manager (early 1970s to present)
    Interviewed on June 15, 2011
  • Cecelia Boone
    Editor and, then, Assistant to the Director for Communications & MULS, Minitex Union List of Serials (1978-2011)
    Assistant to the Director for Communications (2011-present)
    Interviewed on June 9, 2011
  • Kathy Drozd
    Manager, Minitex Delivery, MLAC, Support Staff (early 1970s to present)
    Interviewed on June 7, 2011
  • Suzanne Mahmoodi
    Continuing Education Coordinator, Library Development and Services, Minnesota Department of Education (1978-2001)
    Interviewed on June 3, 2011
  • Mary Rae Oxborrow
    Reference/ILL Librarian, Plum Creek Library System, (1981-2011)
    Minitex Staff, (1969-1980)
    Interviewed on May 26, 2011
  • Mary Treacy
    Director, Metronet (1981-1999)
    Interviewed on November 18, 2010
  • Charlene Mason
    Minitex Interim Director (1983/1984)
    University of Minnesota Libraries (1976-2001)
    Interviewed on October 11, 2010
  • Bill Asp
    Minnesota State Librarian (1975-1996)
    Interviewed on September 17, 2010
  • Doris Ott
    North Dakota State Librarian (2002-2010)
    Interviewed on September 10, 2010
  • Mike Kathman
    Director of Libraries, College of St. Benedict and St. John's University (1980-2006)
    Interviewed on August 6, 2010

Minitex Reference Podcasts

The interviews linked to below were recorded and presented as part of a series of podcasts from Minitex Reference Outreach & Instruction. The links will take you to the Reference Outreach & Instruction blog, where you can find more detailed descriptions of each interviewee and links to download the audio. These podcasts focused on the experience of each librarian interviewed; and most reflect on their careers, aspirations, and retirement plans.

  • Sue Colten
    Hennepin County Library
    Librarian (1965-2008)
  • Connie Van Blarcum
    Jefferson High School, Bloomington, MN
  • Tom Shaughnessy
    Metronet Executive Director (2005-2007)
    University Librarian, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (1989-2001)
  • Beth Kelly
    Director, Duluth Public Library (1994-2007)