News & Blog

Today, we are celebrating Kristine Shrauger, the Head of Document Delivery & Resource Sharing at the John C. Hitt Library.

Prior to coming to UCF, she worked as Head of Interlibrary Loan at the University of Arkansas and at the North Dakota State Library. Kristine has an immense history of ideation, service and user advocacy, allowing her to contribute to the libraries in a variety of ways.

We sat down with Kristine to learn a bit more about her and her work with the library!

Tell us a little bit about your background and how long you’ve been with us at the UCF Libraries.
I joined the UCF Libraries after working at the University of Arkansas and, prior to that, at the North Dakota State Library. My first year in Bismarck, North Dakota, we had 103 inches of snow. Moving to Orlando, in 2004, I encountered hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne. By the end of that hurricane season, I seriously considered trading my umbrella for a snow shovel and heading back to blizzard country. I traded block heaters in my car for AC in my car.

I started as a reference/cataloger librarian in North Dakota and within a year, I moved to become the manager of Interlibrary Loan and have been in that niche field ever since.

What do your daily responsibilities look like?
My daily responsibilities include overseeing interlibrary loan, document delivery, Leganto, OER, and textbook affordability. I also do a lot of work with other institutions throughout the state as it relates to interlibrary loan.

I serve on national and statewide committees along with the Faculty Senate which keeps me busy.

What kinds of technical skills or knowledge are essential for your position, and how did you acquire them?
Much of what I’ve learned has come through conversations and hands-on experimentation with other ILL professionals or Leganto professionals across the state along with UCF staff and librarians. These exchanges have been invaluable in understanding different approaches, troubleshooting challenges, and discovering innovative solutions.
I’ve also had the privilege of working with some awesome people in our Document Delivery/Resource Sharing (DD/RS) department. They are instrumental in brainstorming new ideas, testing out fresh strategies, and embracing creative problem-solving. Together, I feel we’ve cultivated a culture of experimentation—thinking outside the box and continuously refining our processes to better serve our users.

What have been the areas of your job that you’re most passionate about?
The thing I love about Resource Sharing (Interlibrary Loan) and Leganto is that I am connected with my fellow colleagues across the state and across the nation. Those connections allow me to pick up the phone and seek out answers to questions and vice versa.

What’s one idea you’ve had in your work that you were happiest to conceptualize and bring to life?
One of the most fulfilling ideas I’ve brought to life in my work has been fostering a culture of growth for ILL staff and student assistants pursuing their MLIS degrees, along with student assistants preparing for their future careers. In Document Delivery & Resource Sharing, over the years, I’ve supported four individuals through their MLIS journeys, by taking the theory they are learning in the classroom into practice by offering hands-on projects, connecting them with mentors, and creating opportunities for meaningful engagement.

Tell us a little about you outside of the Library. What sort of interests and hobbies do you have?
Outside of the library, I’m an avid handbell musician, performing both solo and in large choirs. I’ve played up to four bells at once and have performed at venues including Disney. I stay busy playing chauffeur to my daughter’s schedule and enjoy traveling to explore new places. I’ve picked up the hobby of bread baking from Tina Buck and am exploring different types of cinnamon roll recipes.

Is there something you want to pursue professionally in the future?
If the library had an unlimited travel budget, I’d jump at the chance to fly across six continents and connect with fellow Leganto and Rapido users. I’d love to see how they’ve implemented the systems, understand their configurations, explore the initiatives they’ve launched, and discover their unique approaches. There’s so much value in learning directly from others in the field and I’d get to see the world.

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