Libby Hanssen, Marr Sound Archives Public Services Associate
Welcome back to Libby Hanssen! She is serving as the Marr Sound Archives Public Services Associate, a part-time temporary role. Libby is responsible for providing class and public tours, helping with reference and research consultations, supporting outreach efforts, and working with the Marr team on other public service support.
Libby brings a unique set of knowledge and skills in music, libraries, and Kansas City history that make her ideal for this position. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Trombone Performance from Ball State University and a Master of Music in Trombone Performance from UMKC. She was a full-time UMKC Libraries staff member in the Music/Media Library, 2008-2023, where she provided reference and circulation assistance, helped with collection development and maintenance, and created or participated in numerus outreach activities. Libby also served as co-chair of Staff Forum, chair of the Staff Resource Handbook Team, member of the Equity Committee, and member of the Safe & Respectful Environment Task Force. In addition to her library work, Libby has also written articles and created content for KCUR 89.3 and 91.9 Classical KC, as well as written articles, music reviews, previews, and artist profiles for KC Studio, The Kansas City Star, The Pitch, and KCMetropolis.
Libby plays with the Monday Night Big Band at Kansas City Kansas Community College, and she likes to read, particularly books about dragons. She enjoys hanging out with her family, including her Shih Tzu mix puppy Birdie, who may be part dragon.
Khiana Harris, Teaching & Learning Librarian
Khiana is joining the Teaching & Learning Team at UMKC Libraries and is responsible for supporting the library’s instructional, reference, and collections programs, with special emphasis given to the School of Education, Social Work, and Psychological Sciences.
Khiana is currently pursuing a PhD in Library and Information Science online at Simmons University. She received a B.A. degree in Anthropology and a B.A. degree in Psychology from Kansas State University in 2015, taught English in Japan through the JET Program, and served as a Data Services Intern with the NCDS. She found her home in libraries and earned an MLS from Emporia State University in 2023 through an IMLS funded internship at Lawrence Public Library and partnerships with NEKLS, University of Kansas Libraries, and Tommaney Library at Haskell University. In 2024, she earned a graduate certificate in African American Studies from the University of Kansas.
Khiana’s research interests include but are not limited to critical pedagogy in LIS instruction, addressing epistemic injustice, and figuring out the role that libraries and librarians can play in facilitating social change. Beyond libraries, Khiana enjoys crocheting, playing with her cats, video games, and spending time outdoors when it’s not too hot. You will likely see her–especially when it’s colder outside–in one or more of her crochet creations.
Welcome, Khiana!
