Drexel University

Department Member, Library

Information Services Librarian for Engineering

About

I was born in Surat, a city in a Western State of Gujarat, app. 160 miles from Mumbai.

Surat is known as the Diamond city of India. Mumbai is the financial capital of India.

Education
My Elementary and Secondary education took place at the Indian Education Society’s Raja Shivaji Vidyalaya in Mumbai. I did my Undergraduate studies in Electrical Engineering at the Walchand College of Engineering (WCE) .  In 2001, we created our Yahoo group for WCE alumni and since then app. 90 of us are now interacting on this group at our convenience.
I did my M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering,  M.S. in Instructional Design and M.S. in the Library and Information Science at Drexel University while M.S. in Education from the University of Pennsylvania.

I received my M.S. in Library and Information Science from Drexel University in 1997, M.S. in Education from the University of Pennsylvania in 1991, and M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Drexel in 1986.

First Job

While at Penn, I worked full time at Development Research and Analysis office in the Franklin building where I assisted researchers in collecting information about corporations and foundations using individual and corporate gift histories from databases. While studying at Drexel for my M.S. in Library and Information Science program, I was fortunate to work at the Circulation Department and started working Part Time at the Abington Free Library.  My love for libraries grew intensely since then.

Professional Career & Activities

I joined the Hagerty Library as an Information Services librarian for Engineering in December 1997.
Some of my activities include: collection development in engineering, outreach to faculty and students, teaching engineering information seeking skills to faculty and students, information competencies for engineering faculty and students, and in learning and exploring how web 2.0 is changing scholarly communication.

I  love mentoring students and I enjoy working with them since I believe that learning is fun when it is mutual and involves sharing of new ideas with each other. 

I also have two blogs:
ENGLIBRARY
http://www.library.drexel.edu/blogs/englibrary/

Engineering Library Instruction
http://www.library.drexel.edu/blogs/engineeringlibraryinstruction/index.php

I am actively involved with the Engineering Libraries Division (ELD) of the American Society for Engineering Education. I was also the Program Chair for ELD during the 2007 -2008. In 2003, I received Drexel University's Harold Myers Distinguished Service Award. In June 2007, IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) honored me for outstanding dedication and leadership to the Drexel University IEEE Graduate Student Forum. Recently, I became a member of the Special Libraries Association (SLA).

Personal interests
I have passion for trains so I became a member of the Indian Railways Fan Club. It has at present app. 6000 members. I love to read and write poetry so I created Gujarati language blog, bansinaad.  In my spare time, I try to find information on new initiatives that highlights U.S. India collaboration in areas such as Engineering Education.  Occasionally, I contribute on LISNews and Information Initiatives in India blog.
Now Reading
1. Social Software in Libraries
2. Undaunted Courage

Contact Information