Snapshot: Teal Smith and Michael Cendejas

By Natalie Baker

For scientists and staff at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), the Kresge Library in California and the Elizabeth M. Fago Library in Florida make up a valuable resource: The Scripps Research Institute Libraries. These are one-stop shops for print and online resources for biomedical research, clinical materials, grant and patent information, citation management software and much more.

The Libraries have a combined staff of six and a quarter employees. Two of its newest staff members include Teal Smith and Michael Cendejas.

“We provide resources and services to save time, effort and expense at every step of the research lifecycle,” Smith said. “Kresge is an excellent, distraction-free space to study, do information research or unwind. We are always happy to help!”

Smith received her undergraduate degree from St. Olaf College and graduate degree from San Jose State University. She arrived at TSRI in June 2016. In her role as the Instruction and Research Librarian at the Kresge Library, she works directly with the community—teaching classes, offering training, developing instruction materials and answering questions about finding information and using the library. She also interacts directly with vendors to troubleshoot and maintain annual subscriptions for the library’s online database and research software.

“It’s neat to be part of such a diverse, international community and see people’s passion for their research and work,” Smith said. “I love taking the stairs in Beckman and hearing four or five different languages as I pass through the atrium.”

Smith is on the executive board of Network of Women in Science (NWiS), where she helps host regular events on the TSRI campus. She also serves on the Marketing & Communications Committee for the Statewide California Electronic Library Consortium (SCELC), the editorial board for the library journal Internet Reference Services Quarterly (IRSQ) and is a member of the American Library Association and the Association of College & Research Libraries. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, yoga and playing violin—and her family will welcome their second baby this May.

Michael Cendejas earned his Master's in Library & Information Science from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2009, with a concentration in Academic Librarianship. He arrived at TSRI in December 2016. In his role as Discovery and Access Services Librarian at the Kresge Library, he works to make access to electronic and print resources as seamless and user-friendly as possible. He is currently involved in redeveloping the library’s website, improving search interfaces and creating a more cohesive experience when using the library’s resources.

Cendejas is a member of the American Library Association (ALA) and the Library & Information Technology Association (LITA), as well as a writer for the LITA blog. Outside of work, Cendejas enjoys spending time with his wife and three-year-old daughter, playing mandolin in a folk band, joining in on roller/floor hockey games and providing web development services.

“The most fascinating thing about working here is simply walking through the halls and being exposed daily to the incredible work that these scientists and students are accomplishing,” Cendejas said. “Being a part of an organization that has such a huge impact on our world is something that is very exciting to me, and I'm hopeful that I can play a part in the success of the organization.”

The Kresge Library is open 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday, and the Elizabeth M. Fago Library is open 10 AM to 2 PM, Monday through Friday. Both are accessible after hours and weekends via a TSRI ID card.

For more information on the Library, please visit its Introduction Page.

Send comments to: press[at]scripps.edu

teal
Teal Smith, Instruction and Research Librarian at the Kresge Library.

Michael Cendejas, Discovery and Access Services Librarian at the Kresge Library.

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Snapshot: Teal Smith and Michael Cendejas

Snapshot: Teal Smith and Michael Cendejas