Carmen Cowick Joins Amigos as Collection Care Librarian

Amigos is pleased to announce that Carmen Cowick has joined our staff as Continuing Education Librarian specializing in preservation and collections care. In her position, Cowick will provide training, support, and consulting services in these areas for Amigos member libraries. She will report to Chief Member Services Officer Laura Kimberly.

Cowick comes to Amigos from The American Irish Historical Society, New York City, where she served in the library and archives. She previously worked for The Seamen's Church Institute, New York City; and the Special Collections Department at the City University of New York (CUNY), Queens College, in New York City. She received a bachelor's degree in art history and a master’s degree in library studies with a certificate in archives and preservation of cultural materials from CUNY Queens College.

Cowick said she is excited to be taking on the role as the collections care librarian at Amigos. "I hope to share my passion and knowledge for preservation and collections care as a whole with all Amigos members," she said. "I look forward to working together with our members in providing both educational opportunities and personalized consultation services in the collections care field."

"We are thrilled to have Carmen on board and be able to offer Amigos members her considerable knowledge and expertise," said Kimberly. "Her addition strengthens and enhances our ability to deliver the level of professional collections care our members have come to expect. Carmen will be working closely with Bill Walker, who has so capably served Amigos members as Imaging Field Services Officer, providing his metadata and imaging expertise to Amigos members."

Kimberly notes that as it has in the past, access to emergency disaster recovery support will continue as a free member service, as will general preservation and imaging support through the Ask Amigos library support service. Preservation training, digital imaging technology training, emergency preparedness and recovery planning, and site surveys will continue to be primary fee-based services. Additionally, both Cowick and Walker will be available through Amigos Consulting Services.