She has also presented at various state library associations and national conferences, such as the Special Libraries Association and the Association of College and Research Libraries.
WOODLAND PARK, CO, September 11, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Maryhelen Raciti Jones has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Ms. Jones is a distinguished researcher, writer and independent non-commercial blogger, the creator of the blog--WristwatchRedux.net. Since 2012, she has dedicated her time to researching and writing about wristwatches, with the intention of sparking interest in individuals who may not have knowledge or understanding about the history and significance of timepieces.
Ms. Jones started her career as the chief information specialist and assistant to the executive director at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Los Angeles, California from 1985 to 1986. She then accepted a position at Central Michigan University, where she served as an off-campus library services librarian from 1986 to 1991. She then became the director of off-campus library services at the same institution from 1991 to 1998. In that capacity, she was instrumental in leading a team of librarians located across the country that provided essential library services to adult learners through distance education. This groundbreaking work continued at the College of Santa Fe, Santa Fe, New Mexico where she was the library director from 1998 to 2000.
From 2000 to 2002, Ms. Jones served as director of off-campus library services at the University of Houston System Libraries. She then became associate academic library director at Florida State University from 2002 to 2005. Her career continued at the Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico as the scientific/technical library manager from 2005 to 2012. Throughout her career, she has been committed to ensuring that information remains accessible and free, addressing challenges related to misinformation and the influence of artificial intelligence.
Ms. Jones earned a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with a minor in history from Central Michigan University in 1971. She obtained a Master of Library Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1973 and a Master of Political Science with a concentration in international relations, focusing on international law, politics and organization from East Carolina University in 1978. Additionally, she holds certifications in Fashion and Sustainability from the London College of Fashion at the University of the Arts London through Future Learn and Fashion as Design by The Museum of Modern Art through Coursera, completed in 2018.
Her professional affiliations have included memberships in the Horological Society of New York since 2020, the Art Libraries Society of North America since 2016, the National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors from 2014 to 2022, the American Library Association, the Association of College and Research Libraries and the Special Libraries Association. Ms. Jones has also served as an adult tour docent for general collections and special exhibitions at the Houston Museum of Fine Arts Houston and the Houston Contemporary Arts Museum Houston.
Ms. Jones' achievements include receiving the Zbigniew Herbert Poetry Award for her poem "I Love the Word Refer," published in Oberon Poetry Magazine 2023 Issue, and the Information International Associates Impact Award for her work at the Air Force Research Laboratory. The author of numerous articles and poems, she has also presented at various state library associations and national conferences, such as the Special Libraries Association and the Association of College and Research Libraries.
Ms. Jones' dedication to her profession as a librarian has been both fulfilling and rewarding. She especially respects librarians who work in the public sector for their efforts in making information accessible despite challenges such as misinformation and questioning credibility. Her passion for knowledge continues to drive her contributions to both her field and community.
In her personal life, Ms. Jones enjoys writing poetry and reading non-fiction works. She draws inspiration from her parents' background in higher education and credits her success to her unwavering professionalism, empathy and commitment to learning. To honor her father's legacy, she has contributed to the establishment of a business student scholarship in his name at North Carolina Wesleyan University where he spent his post retirement academic career. In 2024, she endowed a scholarship for marketing students in her own name at the same institution as a second generation legacy donor. Looking ahead, she aims to maintain resilience, curiosity and a willingness to be challenged by new things while helping others recognize and pursue their potential. She also is working on a manuscript explaining to women in particular the allure of wristwatches emphasizing that one does not need to be an expert to understand and appreciate their history, artistry, and technical significance.
About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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