Mary Ross

Mary Ross has over 25 years of experience working in public libraries and managed the staff training and development program at the Seattle Public Library for eight years. In addition to an MLIS, she has certificates in online learning design and in online classroom facilitation. Under contract to the Washington State Library, she designed "Anytime, Anywhere Answers" and "The Virtual Reference Adventure," online training programs for virtual reference providers. She has also designed courses for WebJunction and LibraryU. She is co-author of Virtual Reference Training: The Complete Guide to Providing Anytime, Anywhere Answers, published by ALA Editions in 2004. Currently continuing education coordinator for the Washington Library Association, she also served on the board of directors of the Learning Round Table (LearnRT) and was a delegate to ALA’s 2nd and 3rd Congresses on Professional Education. She is a member of the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) and has done presentations on reference services, and staff training and development at PLA, PNLA, NJLA, AzLA, ILA, VRD, ASIST and WLA Conferences.