Meet the Consultants
Marianne Hartzell
Marianne Hartzell has worked both in, and in support of, libraries for thirty years. For almost ten years she was on the staff of the Willard Public Library in Battle Creek (MI), leaving that position to become the Executive Director of the Michigan Library Association. During her almost eighteen years with the Association, membership nearly doubled and revenues grew by over 400 percent.
In 1999 she left the Michigan Library Association and in partnership with Joseph Mika, began two new firms to serve the library community. Library Jobs Network has focused specifically on securing highly qualified candidates to fill positions in public, academic, and special libraries. Library Training Network has developed and delivered training for all levels of library staff, as well as library trustees. Both www.libraryjobs.net and www.librarytraining.net have merged into Hartzell-Mika Consulting.
Ms.Hartzell served as a consultant to Karoub Associates, a Lansing-based multi-client lobbying firm. Ms.Hartzell is a nationally-recognized speaker and trainer, specializing in the areas of management, leadership, organizational culture, and strategic planning.
She is active professionally, most recently serving as Chair of the Membership Committee of the American Library Association. She is a past president of the International Council of Library Association Executives (ICLAE).
Email Marianne at: marianne@hartzell-mikaconsulting.com.
Joseph J. Mika
Joseph J. Mika is Professor Emeritus from the School of Library and Information Science
(SLIS) at Wayne State University in Detroit (MI). He came to
Wayne State in 1986 as Director of the Program. Under his direction
(1986-1993 and 2002-07), the faculty grew from five to fifteen full-time
positions, the student body increased from 79 to over 500, nine endowed
scholarships were established, and the LISP received accreditation from
the American Library Association. He retired from Wayne State University on August 31, 2011.
Prior to coming to Wayne State, Dr. Mika served as assistant dean and associate professor of library science at the University of Southern Mississippi, was assistant librarian and assistant professor at Johnson State College (VT), and was Assistant Director of the library at Ohio State University’s Mansfield Regional Campus.
Dr. Mika is an author and editor, and makes numerous presentations to library organizations, focusing on customer service, personnel issues, leadership, and strategic planning.
Dr. Mika’s professional activities include numerous American Library Association committee appointments, and election to the ALA Council as chapter councilor, first from Mississippi and later from Michigan. He served as Chair of the Michigan Center for the Book, and has been active in Beta Phi Mu, the international library and information science honor society, having served on its Board and as President.
In addition to his career in the field of library and information science, Dr.Mika is a retired colonel in the United States Army Reserve.
Email Joe at: joe@hartzell-mikaconsulting.com.
Robert E. Raz
Robert Raz has been a successful public library director for well over thirty years. He retired in July 2004 as Director of the Grand Rapids (MI) Public Library following twenty-five years in that position. During his tenure at Grand Rapids, Michigan’s second-largest public library, Mr. Raz oversaw a $32.5 million building project which included new or renovated buildings for seven branches, and renovation of the 150,000 square-foot main library facility.
His success in gaining voter approval for library support included a dedicated millage campaign providing operating funds in perpetuity for the library and a 20-year capital bond millage that provided $20 million for the building project mentioned above . He is especially proud of his establishment of the Ryerson Foundation in 1989 as the fundraising arm of the library. The Foundation has raised a total of $12 million since its inception including more than $8 million in private funds toward the library building and renovation project.
Mr. Raz has served as an instructor in the Wayne State University Library and Information Science Program, teaching graduate courses entitled Library Management and Public Libraries.
Mr. Raz served as President of the Michigan Library Association, and as Michigan’s Chapter Councilor to the American Library Association. He was particularly active in the area of library legislation and funding issues, serving on a number of statewide committees and task forces aimed at enhancing library services. In 1990, the Michigan Library Association named him Librarian of the Year.
Email Bob at: bob@hartzell-mikaconsulting.com
Shannon White
Shannon White is well grounded in both the library and non-profit environment, with a background of excellent experience and skills. As Assistant Director of the Julia Tutwiler Learning Resources Center at the University of West Alabama, she worked extensively in the areas of resource sharing, interlibrary loan, reference, special collections, and systems management for the library and archives.
In 2001, White joined the Nebraska Library Commission as Director of Network Services and NEBASE, the OCLC regional network. Her responsibilities included management of a number of statewide digitization projects and working with libraries in training and integrating technology into services for staff and patrons.
Since 2008, White has worked at the Historical Society of Michigan, where she was promoted to Assistant Director in 2009, overseeing the growth in statewide educational and historic certification programs and providing leadership for circulation of society publications.
White is active professionally and has held leadership positions in the Society of Alabama Archivists and the Nebraska Library Association, as well as publishing and presenting in both the library and archival communities.
White holds masters degrees in Applied History/Archives and Library and Information Science from the University of South Carolina. She works with Hartzell-Mika Consulting in the areas of strategic planning, facility assessment, training, and executive searches.
Email Shannon at: shannon@hartzell-mikaconsulting.com
