Meg Gerritsen Knodl is proving that she’s not stuck in the age of paper catalogs. As a senior librarian in information and online services that works with many Hennepin County libraries, Knodl’s savvy knowledge of social media has impressed folks at the Library Journal, a century-old publication that reaches more than 100,000 library staff in the nation. This year, the same publication named Knodl one of the Movers and Shakers of the year, as a tech leader who is “shaping the future of libraries.”
It was back in 2007 when Knodl first made large strides in creating more online ways to connect with library patrons. Then in 2009, the Maple Grove resident talked with Hennepin County directors about her strategies in using sites like Facebook and Twitter. They soon followed suit, and in 2010, Hennepin County was one of the top 10 digital counties in the United States. “It’s incredibly wonderful to be recognized by your peers,” Knodl says.
This year, Knodl also launched the library system’s first cell phone application, which can be used on any Internet-enabled phone. The app shows library hours, searches for specific titles in the catalog and can even renew library items. —Jessica Tam
