In addition to leveraging my experience in public, academic, and state-level libraries, I gather inspiration from everywhere to inform human-centered practices for technologists and work on movements to push the library field forward. I study and speak about participatory design, management, and social issues in technology, challenging students and colleagues to fight for a more just, equitable, and livable future.
Recent Experience
Director of the Library
Olin College of Engineering, July 2019 - present
Leads the creation and execution of the library’s strategic plan, action plan, and vision
Supervises and sets priorities for a small staff of professionals and student workers
Strategizes for all aspects of the library’s budget and collection development, including vendor relationships and negotiation
Creates and teaches information literacy and research skills instruction in collaboration with faculty
Supervises the student-led peer training program in the library’s makerspaces including podcasting studio, borrowable cameras and tools, and library fabrication areas (sewing machines, vinyl cutters, etc.)
Co-teaches Context & Consequences, a two-credit critical theory seminar class
Advisor for assigned students; develops individual curriculum and degree plans
Regularly presents to faculty and participates in faculty meetings
Partners with students and staff to host and facilitate campus programming and clubs
Coordinates policies and programming with consortium partners, Babson College and Wellesley College
Assistant Library Director for Technology
Public Library of Brookline, November 2016 - July 2019
Created a strategic plan for upgrading and improving the physical technical infrastructure and online presence of three public libraries in Brookline, Massachusetts
Oversaw capital and repair budget for all library technologies, including 65 staff computers and 118 public-use computers in three buildings, RFID hardware and software, and digital signage
Worked with leadership team to renovate the Coolidge Corner Library in 2018/2019
Increased funding through grants and budget expansions to implement new technology initiatives, including a makerspace, loanable laptops and tablets, and improved fine and print payment options
Oversaw internal and external technology education and community outreach efforts
Web Coordinator
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC), June 2013 - November 2016
Designed, developed, and implemented new websites, including mblc.state.ma.us
Designed and developed content and interfaces for online library resources, including LibGuides, jobs board, and the Commonwealth Catalog
Trained agency staff on new web technologies, tools, and workflows
Reviewed Library Services & Technology Act (LSTA) and library construction grants
Provided support for MBLC web resources to library staff throughout Massachusetts
Supported colleagues on the Communications and Library Construction teams
Education
Simmons College Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Library and Information Science (2022-present)
Simmons College Master of Library and Information Science (2010-2011)
Syracuse University Bachelor of Science, Journalism (2006-2009)
Awards
New England Library Association Special Accommodation for Library Advocacy, 2021
LibraryJournal Mover and Shaker (Change Agent Category), 2021
Massachusetts Public Employee Performance Recognition (for introducing user experience design to public libraries), 2016
Professional Memberships & Committee Work
Library Freedom Project, 2019-present
▸ Alumna of Library Freedom Institute Cohort 3 (first half of 2020)
Massachusetts Library Association (MLA), 2015-present
▸ Chair, Library Information Technology Section, May 2019-June 2021
▸ Conference Committee Representative, May 2019-2022
"Increasing Diversity and Access to Shops, Makerspaces and Libraries Across a Hands-On, Project-Based Engineering Curriculum" (Presentation with Daniela Faas, International Symposium of Academic Makerspaces Conference, November 2022)
"Compelling Questions: Who is Most Impacted by Banned Books?" (Guest lecture for Chelmsford Public Library, October 2022)
"Solidarity As Strategic Plan" (LibraryJournal Social Emotional Librarianship workshop program, October 2022)
ALA Top Tech Trends (Panelist, ALA Annual Conference, June 2022)
"Libraries: Outsiders at the Heart of the Institution" (ACRL New England Conference, June 2022)
"Users at the Center of Everything (SLA Arabian Gulf Chapter Conference, May 2022)
"Increasing Diversity and Access through Makerspace Literacy & Education" (Presentation with Daniela Faas, Massachusetts Library Association Annual Conference, May 2022)
"Protecting Digital Privacy for Your Library & Community" (Panel presentation, Massachusetts Library Association Annual Conference, May 2022)
"Solidarity As Strategic Plan" (LibraryJournal Social Emotional Librarianship workshop program, March 2022)
"Libraries: Public Ambassadors for Technology" (A BETTER TECH Conference, October 2021)
"Best Practices for Protecting Library Workers" (New England Library Association Annual Conference, October 2021)
"Putting Users at the Center: Service Design for Rapidly Changing Libraries" (GALE Cengage Impact Live, September 2021)
"Library Director as Change Agent" (NELA Emerging Leaders Virtual Cohort guest lecture, August 2021)
Opening Keynote: "Turn and Face the Strange" (SEFLIN Annual Conference, July 2021)
"Users at the Center of Everything" (Niche Academy webinar series, July 2021)
"Practical Privacy for Library Advocates: Developing a Security Mindset in Uncertain Times" (ALA Annual Conference, June 2021)
"Nonprofit Partnerships: The Shared Mission to Bridge the Digital Divide" (LACONI Technology Section, June 2021)
"You Can't Predict The Future, But You Can Prepare For It" (NEFLIN, June 2021)
"We're All Librarians Here: How to Stop Talking Yourself Out of Things You Can Do" (Webinar for Massachusetts Library System, June 2021)
"Troublesome Tech Trends" (Presentation with TJ Lamanna, Massachusetts Library Association Annual Conference, May 2021)
"Preparing for the Future - Not Predicting It" (Keynote for Minuteman Library Network Tech Fair, May 2021)
"EdTech and the Surveillance State: Looking at Student Privacy in Higher Education" (Panel presentation, Cal Poly Pomona Choose Privacy Week, May 2021)
"Reframing Library Work: A Discussion on Centering Staff Agency, Advocacy and Well Being" (Panel presentation, BLOSSOM Conference, March 2021)
Meeting People Where They Are: Service Design in Rapidly Changing Libraries (Presentation with Lauren Stara for Long Island Library Resources Council, March 2021)
"Non-Negotiable Care Tactics: A Keynote Panel on Essential Wellness for Library Staff" (Opening Keynote, ER&L Conference, March 2021)
"Troublesome Tech Trends" (New England Library Association Information Technology Section Event, February 2021)
"We're All Technology Librarians Now" (Presentation for Long Island Library Resources Council, February 2021)
"Troublesome Tech Trends" (Pre-recorded video presentation, ALA Top Tech Trends, ALA Midwinter 2021)
"Building Solid Ground for Constant Change" (Presentation, Babson-Olin-Wellesley (BOW) Big Ideas, December 16, 2020)
"Ask A Manager" (Panel presentation, New England Library Association Conference, November 2020)
"Privacy, Labor Advocacy, and the Library" (Presentation/Webinar with TJ Lamanna, Urban Librarians Unite Conference, September 2020)
"Community at Work: LAM (Libraries, Archives, Museums) Mutual Aid & Solidarity" (Panel presentation, AWEFund, July 14, 2020)
"Troublesome Tech Trends: Bridging the Learning Divide"
(Webinar with TJ Lamanna, Library Information Technology Association [LITA], June 17, 2020)
"Libraries under a Pandemic: Counternarratives to Reopening and The Protect Library Workers Petition" (Presentation with Alison Macrina, Connecticut State Library Social Justice Roundtable, June 9, 2020)
"Troublesome Tech Trends" (Panel, Massachusetts Library Association Conference, May 2020 - CANCELLED due to COVID-19, rescheduled for May 2021)
"Leading with Compassion during the COVID-19 Crisis" (Panel presentation, National Libraries of Medicine, April 22, 2020)
"How Libraries Empower Communities With Innovation," (Presentation, SXSW Interactive, March 2020 - CANCELLED due to COVID-19)
"We’re All Tech Librarians Now" (Presentation, Public Library Association Conference, February 2020)
"Troublesome Tech Trends: Libraries in the Age of Surveillance" (Guest lecture, Simmons University LIS 532P: Intersectionality, Technology, and Information Professions, March 2019)
"Troublesome Tech Trends: Libraries in the Age of Surveillance" (Keynote presentation, New England Association for Information Science & Technology Winter Conference @ Simmons College, January 2020)
"Inspiration, Innovation, Information" (Presentation, Massachusetts Library Trustees Association meeting, November 2019)
"Oh God, We’re All Tech Librarians Now" (Presentation, New England Library Association Conference, October 2019)
"Patron First: Patron Focused Design and User Experience" (Presentation, Massachusetts Library Association Conference, May 2019)
"DIY Library Website Usability Testing" (Presentation, Massachusetts Library Association Conference, May 2019)
"Guess What? We’re All Tech Librarians Now" (Presentation, Massachusetts Library Association Conference, May 2019)
"Tech Instruction, Inside and Out" (Guest lecture, Simmons University LIS 408: User Instruction, March 2019)
"From Reference Desk to Genius Bar" (Ignite session, New England Library Association Conference, October 2018)
"Content Strategy for Librarians" (Webinar presented by the Massachusetts Library System, July 2018 | watch video
"Content Strategy for Librarians 2: From Planning to Practice" (Presentation, Massachusetts Library Association, May 2018)
"Cybertraps for Librarians" (Panel, Simmons College School of Library and Information Science Allen Smith Visiting Scholar Program, March 2018 | watch video
"Content Strategy for [Health Sciences] Librarians" (Presentation, Massachusetts Health Sciences Libraries Network Conference, March 2018)
"Universal Design, Accessibility, Usability"(Guest lecture, Simmons College LIS 408: User Instruction, Spring 2018)
"Handling the Interview & Negotiation Process Without Losing Your Head" (Presentation, New England Library Association Conference, October 2017)
"Design Thinking for Librarians" (Ignite session, New England Library Association Conference, October 2017)
"Content Strategy for Librarians" (Presentation, Massachusetts Library Association Conference, May 2017)
"#WomenInTech & Beyond - Salary Negotiation Process: How to Not Lose Your Head" (Presentation, code4lib Annual Conference, March 2017)
"Meeting People Where They Are: An Introduction to Service Design in Libraries" (Keynote presentation, New England Association for Information Science & Technology Winter Conference @ Simmons College, January 2017)
"Don't Just Turn it Off & Back On Again: How library IT workers can use reference skills on the job" (Panel, New England Library Association Conference, October 2016)
"Library User Experience" (Roundtable discussion, New England Library Association Conference, October 2016)
"Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners: Celebrating 125 Years" (Guest presentation for Springshare, ALA Annual Conference, June 2016)
"Elements of UX: A Librarian's Guide to User Experience Design" (Presentation, Massachusetts Library Association Conference, May 2016)
Publications, Interviews, & Media Coverage
Bignoli, Callan and Daniela Faas. 2022. "Increasing Diversity and Access to Shops, Makerspaces and Libraries Across a Hands-On, Project-Based Engineering Curriculum". 6th International Symposium on Academic Makerspaces: Paper 46. [link]
Bignoli, Callan, Sam Buechler, Deborah Caldwell, and Kelly McElroy. 2021. “Resisting Crisis Surveillance Capitalism in Academic Libraries”. Canadian Journal of Academic Librarianship 7 (December): 1-25. [link].
Bignoli, Callan, and Lauren Stara. Responding to Rapid Change in Libraries: A User Experience Approach. ALA Editions, 2021. [link].