Profile a Prof...
Dr. Arlene Taylor
Position: Professor
Education: Ph.D., 1981, School of Information and Library Science,
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; MSLS, 1966, Graduate School
of Library & Information Science, University of Illinois at
Urbana/Champaign; BA, 1963, Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee.
Research interests: Organization of information; metadata; bibliographic
control; cataloging; subject analysis; authority control; technical
services; online systems; library automation.
How she became interested in this subject: I fell in love with
cataloging early (I cataloged my children's books and checked them out to
my dolls). When I went to get a PhD, I had already written a book on
cataloging; so I couldn't really "study" that. I realized at the time
(late 1970s) that everything in cataloging was going to move to computers
soon; so I did most of my PhD work in computers and automation (at a time
when it was batch processing of keypunch cards and submitting them for an
overnight computer run!).
Family: My husband, A. Wayne Benson, is a retired Presbyterian minister.
My daughter Debbie is a doctor in New York City. She specializes in
internal medicine. My son Jon is a lawyer in San Francisco. He
specializes in intellectual property. I have 3 step children: Kerry is an
assistant professor of journalism at the University of Kansas; Kathie is
a homemaker; Kent is still finding himself ;-)
What she likes about Pittsburgh: We came here from New York City; so
Pittsburgh seemed positively laid back and friendly, and it was days
before we heard a horn honk!
Hobbies: I collect stamps (but haven't done more than put them in a box
for several years). I also like to sew and knit (also not done for
years). That's what retirement is for, right?
Favorite ice cream flavor: Mint chocolate chip
Book(s) she is currently reading: "Leonardo's Laptop" by Ben Shneiderman.
Favorite book(s): Anything by Barbara Kingsolver, but especially The
Poisonwood Bible because I grew up as a preacher's daughter in the Bible
Belt, and there is much in that book that I relate to. I find it both
fascinating and scary (that I might have gone that route).
Favorite TV show: "Judging Amy" and "ER" -- lawyer and doctor -- see above
under family ;-)
What else would she like students to know about her? In Myers-Briggs
terms I'm an INFP (Introverted, iNtuitive, Feeling, Perceptive). My type
makes up only 1% of the world. So I often feel left out. I'm such a
strong feeling type, that I get no "T" points when I do the inventory.
Makes it very hard to be tough in grading, etc., when I need to. But I
love helping students learn about this field. That's why I've written
textbooks that are readable -- it's a labor of love.
Publication of the Department of Library &
Information Science
University of Pittsburgh
135 N. Bellefield Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Last updated July 14, 2003