MEDIA, Pa. — Catherine Orochena joined Penn State Brandywine as the library support associate in October. Coming from the Gladwyne Public Library, Orochena said she is looking forward to interacting with students and working in an academic library.
Orochena received her bachelor’s degree in art history from Penn State and went on to work for the University in its library for five years. After moving to the Philadelphia suburbs, she then worked for Ludington Library and the Gladwyne Library before finding herself in her current role.
She said she wanted to join Penn State Brandywine because it combines her experience in an academic library with a public library.
“The position is a really good mix of all my previous experience. When I was at University Libraries, I got used to working in an academic setting, but I wasn’t at the front working with students. I was working in the background with collections,” she said. “Since then, I’ve been working in public libraries where I was in the front row of everything. I was working the circulation desk and doing outreach. This job at Brandywine is like a perfect mix of those. I’m back to working for an academic library, but I now get to see students and work with them in person.”
In terms of her goals, Orochena said she wants to get the technology circulation more organized in the library.
“My biggest goal is handling the circulating technology collection. We have laptops, cameras, recording equipment and other different pieces of technology that students can check out. I’m currently trying to get a working procedure to make sure things are charged and data gets wiped properly,” she said.
Outside of work, Orochena said she enjoys crafting, specifically knitting and lace-making, and spending time with her cat, Herbie.