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Office Staff

Office Telephone number for all staff: 513-751-4422
Melanie A. Blau-McDonald
Executive Director
melanie [at] swonlibraries [dot] org

Melanie has had a diverse career in business and libraries with the consistent themes of responsible fiscal management, training, customer service, outreach and quality.  As a third generation volunteer librarian, she finally 'made it official' and received her MLIS from the University of Illinois's GSLIS program in 2006.  Melanie has volunteered or worked in school libraries, academic libraries and special libraries performing reference, reader's advisory, library usability studies, library outreach, instruction and staff development and training.  At the National level, Melanie has presented  for the last two years at the Military Librarian's Workshop and held the Corporate Director position on the Military Librarian's Division Board.  Lately, her focus has been on library outreach and in that vein she writes the Spread the Word column for the Government Documents Round Table journal, Documents to the People.  The column focuses on using freely available government documents to create library programming. 

Hoping to combine her business and training background with librarianship, she is thrilled to be with SWON Libraries and looks forward to providing you with quality programming and excellent resources so that you, in turn, can focus on enriching your own special communities.

Nathan Swartzendruber
Technology Educator
nathan [at] swonlibraries [dot] org

Nathan comes to SWON Libraries from the University of Cincinnati, where he completed his MA in English earlier in 2011.  While there he studied poetry and taught composition to undergraduate students.  In the composition classroom, he taught writing and reading strategies as well as a variety of technologies.  These included blogging, social bookmarking, podcasing, videography, and research tools.

He tries to be a tech-lover, not a tech-fighter, but sometimes technology is a hindrance as well as a help.  He works hard to help people work together to find solutions, whether or not technology is a central part of that learning experience.

Before graduate school he spent six years as a data analyst for the Patient Safety department of TriHealth, a large health care system in Cincinnati.  He currently lives in Norwood with his wife, Becca, and baby boy, Elias.

Debbie S. McDowell

Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper

debbie [at] swonlibraries [dot] org

Debbie has 25 years experience setting up, managing, reorganizing and maintaining books as a Full Charge Bookkeeper and office manager for small businesses.  She has worked in both for-profit and non-profit sectors.  Debbie enjoys new challenges and projects, large and small.  She believes that over the years you find the best ways of setting up systems and tracking customer changes and she looks forward to applying her expertise to SWON Libraries' customers' needs, both internal and external. "It's very important to serve others in the way that you want to be treated."

Debbie has been married to Bill for 17 years and they have four 'babies,' beautiful miniature pinschers.  In her spare time she likes to read, sing with her worship group and fishing, among other nature-loving pursuits.

Rhea Morris

Administrative Assistant (afternoons)
rhea [at] swonlibraries [dot] org

Rhea works with our publishers acquiring books for our readers review interest groups ROYAL & CLEAR. You may recognize her as the smiling face that has registered you for events in the past.  Rhea will also be contacting you to update your contact preferences and emails. We all count on Rhea to inform us of SWON Libraries history and trivia.