John Mack Freeman

HI!

I'M JOHN MACK FREEMAN

I'M A STORYTELLER,

COMMUNITY BUILDER,

AND A LIFELONG SEARCHER.

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Southern storyteller and librarian with a decade of experience focused on making people and communities better.

ABOUT ME

Full Name : John Mack Freeman

Best way to reach me? : Email, always!

Email : johnmackfreeman [at] protonmail [dot] com

CV : Available on request, or click the person icon in this section for a copy

Last book I loved? : Survival is a Style: Poems by Christian Winman

Short Bio : I'm John Mack Freeman, currently living in the north Atlanta suburbs. In my day job, I manage a team of 22 people to offer library services to over 40,000 institute community members. I am deeply invested in creating community and helping people level up. In addition to my day job, I am active in the Georgia First Amendment Foundation and the Georgia Library Association. When I'm not working, I enjoy reading (creative nonfiction, essays, SF, fantasy, poetry), hiking, watching horror films, hanging out with my husband, playing with my dog, and exploring new parts of the Atlanta metro area.

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Work Samples

Listings of my professional publications and presentations.

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Creative Work

Presentations

Publications

Achievements and Honors

I've had the honor to work with a lot of fantastic library organizations to learn more and extend the reach of the LIS field.

October 2023

Georgia Library Association Presidential Commendation

Presidential commendation given for work on revamping the association's dues structure for longterm financial stability.

2021

Georgia Library Association McJenkin-Rheay Award

The McJenkin-Rheay Award is given to recognize an early career librarian who has made outstanding contributions to the Georgia Library Association

2020

Library Freedom Institute

Proud member of cohort 3!

October 2016 - October 2017

PINNACLE Leadership Development

Year-long leadership development program co-sponsored by the Georgia Public Library Service and the Carl Vinson Institute at the University of Georgia.

2016

American Library Association Emerging Leader

The first Emerging Leader sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table of the American Library Association. Worked on a project to revamp the New Member Round Table newsletter Footnotes.

2014

Gordon M. Conable Conference Scholar

Recipient of Gordon M. Conable Conference Scholarship from the Freedom to Read Foundation

Experience

I've been working in libraries and community develop since 2013. Click each box for more info!

  • GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY as Assistant Dean for Interdisciplinary Initiatives and Director of Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons 2024-present

    Administrative posting with responsibilities for student affordability, service provisioning, and direction of the undergraduate commons. Maintained primary posting as Head of Public Services Librarian.

  • GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY as Head of Public Services (Librarian II) 2021 to present

    Oversee public services department of 18 FTE staff and 30-40 student workers to provide excellent library service to stakeholders at Georgia Tech at every service point.

  • GWINNETT COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY as Branch Manager 2017-2021

    Branch manager of Peachtree Corners (2017-2018) and Suwanee (2018-2021) locations. Manage staff of 16 in branch that receive 300,000 annual visits. Supervise connections with local community and promote over 700 annual branch events.

  • WEST GEORGIA REGIONAL LIBRARY as Marketing and Programming Coordinator 2014-2017

    Led marketing and programming initiatives for a 5 county, 17 member library west of Atlanta, GA. Primary grant writer for programming initiatives. Primary website developer.

  • CITY YEAR LOS ANGELES as AmeriCorps Member 2009-2010

    In-class tutor (1st and 3rd grade) and after school coordinator at 112th Street Elementary School in Los Angeles, California. Executive Director of Camp City Year, Watts, a spring break camp offering free extracurricular activities during spring break for 130 campers.

Professional Associations

These are a sample of some of the work that I have done for professional associations. See my CV for a complete list.

2013-present

Georgia Library Association

President 2024, President-Elect 2023, Intellectual Freedom Interest Group Chair 2017-2021, Interest Group Council Chair 2019, Interest Group Council Vice-Chair 2018, Vice President for Membership 2016-2017, Scholarship Committee Chair 2016, Scholarship Committee Vice-Chair 2015

2021-present

Georgia First Amendment Foundation

Treasurer 2024, Secretary 2023, Weltner Banquet Committee Chair 2023-2024, Board of Directors

2020-present

Library Freedom Project

Member of Library Freedom Institute Cohort 3, Health and Privacy webinar series planning committee (2020-2021). IMLS 2022 grant writing team (2021)

Education

Education is the backbone of society, and I've been lucky enough to attend many fine institutions. Click each box for more info.

  • Doctorate: Valdosta State University, 2020-2025

    Doctor of Public Administration, projected graduation in 2025. Dissertation topic: retention in politicized beauracracies

  • Master's: Valdosta State University, 2013

    Master's of Library and Information Science

  • Bachelor's: Shorter College, 2009

    Bachelor of Arts, Theatre

  • Bachelor's: Shorter College, 2009

    Bachelor of Arts, English

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Project Title

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