PALS is happy to announce that we have hired Alexander Kent as our new Cataloging and Metadata Support Specialist. Alexander started with PALS on July 18. He will support both Aleph and Evergreen cataloging modules and be our liaison to the Cataloging User Group and subgroups like the Authorities and Indexing Task Forces.

I have asked Alex to attend the next User Council meeting on September 13 so some of you will meet him there. Of course he will be at the User Group meeting in October, too.

Alex grew up in Seattle, WA and graduated from St. Olaf College where he met his wife Hilary, who is a physical therapist. He earned an MLIS from Simmons College in Boston, MA and graduated in 2008. After graduation he took a position at the Minnesota Historical Society as a Collections Cataloger, where he was responsible for processing and cataloging archival collections using Aleph. Alex and Hilary have lived in St. Paul, MN since 2008. They recently had their first child, Nolan, now almost 8 months old.

Alex says “I am greatly excited by this opportunity to work at PALS”. He goes on to say “From an early age I have loved libraries and books, and in my spare time I play with my son, pursue creative writing, watch Twins and Vikings games, play tennis, run, camp, and go to an occasional movie. My wife and I are looking forward to living in Mankato and getting to know the community!”

Please welcome our newest team member.

Stephen F. Elfstrand
PALS Executive Director