JONES, Reinette F. 1958-

PERSONAL: Born November 23, 1958, in Paris, KY; daughter of Nellie B. (Smith) Jones; companion of Kathy L. Schiflett (a researcher); children: Stephanie D. Ethnicity: "African American." Education: University of Kentucky, B.A., 1983, M.L.I.S., 1988, further graduate study, 1989-91.

ADDRESSES: Home—2968 Masters View Rd., Lexington, KY 40511. Offıce—301 King Library Storage Bldg., University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506; fax: 859-257-9668. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER: University of Kentucky, Lexington, student financial aid assistant, 1984-88, community college coordinator for student financial aid, 1987-88, instructor librarian at Margaret I. King Library, 1988-89, began as assistant librarian, became associate librarian, 1989-2000, librarian at Shaver Engineering Library, 2000-02, and King Library, 2002—. Lexington Community College, instructor, 1996, 1997; adult literacy tutor in Paris and Bourbon County, KY, 1991-94; consultant to Humanitarium Center for Culture and Diversity and Pride of the Bluegrass Center Library. Conference speaker; public lecturer; gives readings from her works. Gay Lesbian Service Organization, member, 1998—; affiliated with other community groups, including Meniere's Disease Support Group, Paris, KY.

MEMBER: American Library Association (member, Black Caucus), Special Libraries Association (archivist, 1993-94), Southern Association for Women Historians, Southern Historical Association, Southeastern Library Association, Kentucky Association of Blacks in Higher Education, Kentucky Library Association, Kentucky Association of Teachers of History, Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky Solinet Users Group.

AWARDS, HONORS: Cultural diversity grant from American Library Association, 1997-98; French Bread Award, short fiction, 2001, for "Bitten by the Foo-Foo"; Professional Award, Kentucky chapter, Special Libraries Association, 2002.

WRITINGS:

Library Service to African Americans in Kentucky:From the Reconstruction Era to the 1960s, McFarland and Co. (Jefferson, NC), 2001.

Contributor of articles and short fiction to professional journals and literary magazines, including Kentucky Libraries, Pacific Coast Journal, and Library Administration and Management Association.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Research on the international influence of the Carnegie Colored Libraries, founded in Louisville, KY.

SIDELIGHTS: Reinette F. Jones told CA: "The history of African American librarians in Kentucky is a part of the absolute beginning of African-American librarians in the United States. Being one of the few in the state, because Kentucky has lost more than seventy percent of the African-American librarians since 1980, I believe it is history that will bring light to the present situation and play a determining factor for my future and that of all other librarians in Kentucky.

"My writing process is to observe, investigate, research, make notes, then drop all the notes on the floor and match the puzzle pieces before starting all over again. When the pieces can fit in several slots, then I am ready to write.

"Writing gives me clarity and direction in life."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

periodicals

Library Quarterly, October, 2002, Patterson Toby Graham, review of Library Service to African Americans in Kentucky: From the Reconstruction Era to the 1960s, p. 501.