Charissa Brammer

An experienced and highly collaborative librarian with experience managing successful cross-functional projects with academic and public institutions in local, regional, and national contexts.  Skilled at building and maintaining relationships with colleagues, vendors, and members of the library community. Focused on improving library services, supporting data driven decision making, and supporting the great work that libraries do for our communities.

EXPERIENCE

DIRECTOR, LIBRARY RESEARCH SERVICE                   

Colorado State Library, Colorado Department of Education, Denver, CO | March 2021 – present 

• Support Colorado library community by gathering, visualizing, and providing library statistics and help with assessment and evaluation, including providing in person and online training to library staff. 
• Conduct original research in collaboration with libraries across Colorado.
• Successfully develop and manage partnerships with librarians and libraries across Colorado and nationally.
• Develop and implement statewide strategy for library statistics, assessment, and research.
• Manage a portfolio of large and small scale, highly collaborative projects with internal and external stakeholders.
• Administer Public Library Annual Report, the statutorily required Public Libraries Survey (IMLS) for 112 public library systems.
• Hire and supervise Library Research Service staff and contractors in a hybrid work environment 
• Manage departmental budget of $361,000+
• Key projects: 
  • Public Library Annual Report, the statutorily required Public Libraries Survey (IMLS) for 112 public library systems
  • PRISM Project: are Prison Libraries Motivators of Pro-Social Behavior and Successful Re-entry? (IMLS grant) – first of its kind outcome-based assessment of prison library services
  • Measuring Outreach Better to measure belongingness in public libraries for refugees and immigrants
  • Workforce Readiness – enhancing workforce readiness curriculum for teen volunteers
  • Improving Services to Incarcerated People project with San Francisco Public Library -national survey of services to incarcerated people from public libraries. 
• Implement software for evaluation, data and statistics:
  • Counting Opinions survey software (2022-2023)
  • Springshare LibAnswers, LibConnect, and LibWizard (2024-2025)
  • PolicyMap (2024)
• Use of research and statistical analysis software: 
  • Dedoose qualitative research software
  • Tableau for data visualization
  • SPSS statistical analysis software

CONSULTANT                 

Charissa Brammer Consulting | August 2020-present 

• Curriculum Advisor: Jumpstart Inclusive Cataloging, LJ& SLJ Professional Development. 
• Assist with the development and implementation of metadata best practices across organizations.
• Collaborate with staff to improve file systems and improve searchability of text and visual assets. 

• Supervised systems department, including the administration of all library systems, the library network, and provide desktop support to library staff and the broader academic community.
• Supervised cataloging department, including documenting and updating procedures, ensuring that all have up to date training, follow PCC guidelines, and coordinating the development of non-MARC metadata for use across the college. 
• Provided information literacy and technical instruction to undergraduate students in consultation with teaching faculty. 
• Provided reference services to students, faculty, and staff in person and virtually.
• Served as instruction, research guide, reference, and collection development liaison to five academic departments.
• Trained library staff, faculty, and college staff on new systems.
• Implemented new technologies, working with all staff to update procedures, solve problems, and create excellent systems.
• Developed and analyzed workflows across departments to determine where they can be streamlined internally and to improve patrons’ ability to locate and use library materials.
• Communicated with other members of the library and college staff and the broader community about access issues and systemic improvements to resource discovery and cataloging practices. 
• Collaborated with ITS, Communications, and the Office of Accessibility on projects.
• Collaborated with Fine Arts Center and the State of the Rockies to develop and use standardized metadata across the College.
• User experience testing and accessibility analysis of user interfaces and services to provide the best possible access to all patrons.
• Supported Digital Scholarship and Repository Librarian to transition to a new system. 
• Project management using PMBOK principles, using software including Basecamp, Trello, and Microsoft Teams
• Implemented library- and campus-wide projects: 
  • DotCMS to Cascade CMS transition for library website (2020-2021)
  • LibCal Seats as a whole-campus booking solution (2020)
  • Development of INNreach API for Koha with Bywater Solutions and III as development partners (2019-2020)
  • III Millennium to Koha (2019) 
  • EBSCO Discovery Service and Full Text Finder (2019)
  • CORAL ERM (2019)
  • III WAM proxy server to EZproxy (2019)
  • SSO authentication for Koha catalog and EBSCO Discovery Service (2019)
• Vendor management and negotiation of contracts
  • Saved 25% in OCLC cataloging costs across the organization in the first year
  • Saved 78% on implementation costs for INNreach API
  • Saved $10K in annual costs for institutional repository 
• Budget Management 
  • Managed $100K+ annual budget for software and hardware 
  • Managed endowed funds for collection development for academic departments
• Actively participated in library working groups and committees. 

E-RESOURCES ACCESS LIBRARIAN                    

Auraria Library, Denver, CO | 2017 – 2019  

• Supported electronic resources access for three institutions (CU Denver, MSU Denver, Community College of Denver) on the Auraria campus
• General maintenance of library electronic journal, database, and ebook resources, including identifying and solving problems as a part of the collaborative troubleshooting team.
• Managed and improved library systems, including Summon, Serials Solutions, and EZproxy, collaborating with members of the faculty and staff across the library to implement patron-centered improvements.
• Managed transition from III WAM proxy to EZproxy
• Worked with vendors and publishers to ensure and improve access to resources.
• Developed and analyzed workflows to ensure that the library is providing consistent access to electronic resources.
• User experience and accessibility analysis of interfaces and services to provide the best possible access to our diverse patron population.
• Communicated with other members of the library faculty and staff and the broader community about access issues and systemic improvements to resource discovery.
• Actively participated in library and university committees and shared governance.
• Supervised library faculty and student employee. 

ELECTRONIC RESOURCES LIBRARIAN

Idaho State University Library, Pocatello, ID | 2015 – 2017

• Oversaw all aspects of the licensing, management, cataloging, and troubleshooting of licensed electronic resources. 
• Served as a point of contact between library staff and vendors and publishers for electronic resources. 
• Taught up to 45 hours of information literacy workshops per semester to undergraduate and graduate students and embedded in lower-division English courses. 
• Provided reference service at a combined service point and online.   
• Used library systems to manage electronic resources; experience using EBSCO Discovery Service, EBSCO A-Z and Full Text Finder, EBSCO usage consolidation service, ExLibris PRIMO and A-Z List.  
• Implemented and maintained CORAL electronic resources management system. 
• Gathered usage statistics manually and using CORAL and SUSHI and reported using Excel and Tableau.
• Implemented and maintained Springshare products, including LibGuides, LibAnswers, LibCal, and LibInsight. 
• Website design and maintenance using TerminalFour CMS.  
• Ongoing accessibility and user experience testing of all aspects of website and electronic resources.  
• Trained faculty and staff on software, web design, and web content.  
• Extensive experience with project management using PMBOK principles and Basecamp.  
• Interpreted and negotiated electronic resources contracts in collaboration with collection development.  
• Served as the subject librarian/bibliographer for Biological Sciences, managing a large materials budget, coordinating acquisitions and working with the department to improve the library’s collection and services. 
• Original and copy cataloging of electronic resources using RDA and AACR2 standards. Proficient in the use of OCLC Connexion, MARCedit, Voyager and MARC format for cataloging.  
• Created print and online advertising for events and for the library using Adobe InDesign and Canva.  
• Supervised classified staff, student assistants, and Career Path Interns.   

LIBRARY ASSISTANT II

Idaho State University Library, Pocatello, ID | 2012 – 2015

• Managed and maintained library licensed electronic resources.  
• Served as the point of contact between library staff and vendors for electronic resources and print serials.  
• Taught information literacy classes to undergraduate students and provided reference service.  
• Processed and managed serials using Voyager and OCLC Connexion.  
• Cataloged serials and monographs, following RDA and AACR2 cataloging rules using Voyager ILS, Cataloging, Acquisitions, and OCLC Connexion. 
• Collaborated with the serials and electronic resources staff to create cataloging and electronic resources management procedures.  
• Created advertising for events and for the library using InDesign and Canva.  
• Created and maintained LibGuides and Guide on the Side tutorials.  
• Gathered and reported electronic resources statistics.    

EDUCATION

MLIS

San Jose State University

2015

MA, English

Postcolonial Literature

Idaho State University

2013

BA, English

Russian minor

Idaho State University 

2010

CERTIFICATIONS

Project Management Professional, Project Management Institute 2021-2027

NACO, 2020

SPSS, IBM, 2022

CITI certification, 2022 

Research Data Management, 2021

GRANTS 

PRISM: are prison libraries motivators of pro-social behavior and successful re-entry? National Leadership Grants for Libraries, Institute of Museum and Library Services.  Grant period from 2022-2025. $104,000. Funded.

PUBLICATIONS

Jordan-Makely, C., Austin, J., Ness, N. and Brammer, C. (2025) “A collection of obstacles”: Qualitative Findings from the 2020 Libraries and Incarceration survey. The Library Quarterly. [accepted]. https://doi.org/10.1086/735799

Austin, J., Jordan-Makely, C., Brammer, C., Ness, N. Librarians’ experiences of censorship in carceral facilities. Journal of Intellectual Freedom and Privacy, Summer 2023 8:2, pp. 18-20. https://doi.org/10.5860/jifp.v8i2.8036

Austin, J., Jordan-Makely, C. and Brammer, C. Growing services: Libraries creating access for incarcerated people. Library Journal. August 2022, 147:8, p. 24-29.

Brammer, C. and Browning, S. (2021) User categories: ensuring library access for all institutional users. Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship, 33:120-126. https://doi.org/10.1080/1941126X.2021.1912544

DiVittorio, K., Gaddis, P., Browning, S., Rainard, M. and Brammer, C. (2020). SILLVR: Streaming interlibrary loan video resources. Collaborative Librarianship. 11(4). https://digitalcommons.du.edu/collaborativelibrarianship/vol11/iss4/8

Koury, R. & Brammer, C. (2017) Managing content in EBSCO Discovery Service: Action guide for surviving and thriving, The Serials Librarian, 72(1-4), 83-86, doi: 10.1080/0361526X.2017.1309828

Shropshire, S., Semenza, J.L., Brammer, C. and Koury, R. (2016). Showcasing faculty research through the creative and scholarly work celebration at Idaho State University. The Idaho Librarian 66(1).  

PRESENTATIONS 

Brammer, C. (2025). Prison Libraries: Learning about the library from people who are or were incarcerated. Correctional Educational Association Leadership Forum. Omaha, NE.

Brammer, C. (2025).  Everyday Library Evaluations: Ethics.  Libraries Learn: CSL in Session, https://www.librarieslearn.org/calendar/csl-in-session-everyday-library-evaluations-part-1-ethics

Bahlenhorst, A., Boyington, E., Brammer, C., Jordan-Makely, C., Wicen, S. (2024). The PRISM project: learning about prison library services from people who are or were incarcerated. Colorado Association of Libraries Annual Conference, Breckenridge, CO. 

Bahlenhorst, A., Brammer, C., Petersen, D. (2024). Colorado Libraries by the Numbers. Colorado Association of Libraries Annual Conference, Breckenridge, CO. 

Bahlenhorst, A., Boyington, E., Brammer, C., James, E.R., Jordan-Makely, C., Wicen, S. (2024). The PRISM project: learning about prison library services from people who are or were incarcerated. American Library Association Annual Conference, San Diego, CA.

Brammer, C. (2024). Colorado Libraries by the Numbers. Colorado Research Sharing Conference. Virtual.

Boyington, E., Brammer, C., Jordan-Makely, C., Austin, J., Ness, N., Ortiz, T., Richardson, L., Nash, A. (2023). Research with people who are currently or have been incarcerated in the United States. American Library Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL. 

Bahlenhorst, A., Brammer, C., and Wicen, S. Library data: Ethical Collection and Effective Visualization. CALCON, Westminster, CO. 

Brammer, C. and Guenther, C. (2021). Migrating to an Open-Source ILS in an Academic Library. Moving On: Migrating Library Content and Data, Amigos Library Services. Virtual.

Brammer, C. and Guenther, C. (2020). Migrating to an open-source ILS in an academic library: How to celebrate successes and bounce back from problems. NCompass Live. Virtual.

Lenkner, K., Brammer, C. and Golightly, J. Block Plan Wikipedia Edit-a-thon. Institute on Block Plan and Intensive Teaching and Learning. Colorado Springs, CO (cancelled due to COVID-19, June 2020)

Brammer, C. and Guenther, C. (2020). Migrating to an open-source ILS in an academic library: How to celebrate successes and bounce back from problems. Library Technology Conference (cancelled due to COVID-19, March 2020)

Brammer, C., Sielaff, M. and Ruiz, J. Collection Building, Inclusion, and You. (2019) Louisiana Virtual Academic Library Conference. Virtual. 

Brammer, C. and Guenther, C. (2019). Migrating to Koha in an Academic Library: Two Libraries’ Stories. Koha-US Conference, Pueblo, CO. 

Brammer, C., Sielaff, M. and Ruiz, J. (2019) Inclusive cataloging and classification. Diversity and Inclusivity in Collection Building Conference, Denver, CO. 

Rainard, M., Browning, S., Brammer, C., and Gaddis, P. (2019) Streaming video: Confronting the barriers to sharing between libraries. ALA Annual Conference, Washington, DC. 

Browning, S., DiVittorio, K. Rainard, M., Gaddis, P. and Brammer, C. (2019) SILLVR: Streaming interlibrary loan video resources.  Colorado ILL Conference, Westminster, Colorado. 

Brammer, C., Browning, S., and DiVittorio, K. (2019) The licensing elephant in the room: Resource sharing for streaming video. Electronic Resources & Libraries, Austin, TX. 

Browning, S., Tharp, S., Brammer, C. (2018). I’m nobody! Who are you? Electronic access for special user categories. Electronic Resources and Libraries, Austin, Texas. 

Brammer, C. and Harden, T. (2017). Library website redesign: Turning awful into awesome. Library Technology Conference, Saint Paul, MN.  

Brammer, C. and Harden, T. (2016). Using User Experience Testing to Rebuild a Library Website. Idaho Library Association Annual Conference, Boise, Idaho

CLASSES TAUGHT

2015 

• Library Instruction – 30 hours, graduate and undergraduate

2016

• Full semester
  • Embedded in a full semester course: ENGL 1102
  • Embedded in a full semester course: ENGL 1126 
• Library Instruction – 46 hours, graduate and undergraduate

2017

• Full semester
  • Embedded in full semester course: ENGL 1102
  • Embedded in a full semester course: ENGL 1126 
• Library Instruction – 12 hours, graduate and undergraduate 

2019

• Library Instruction – 9 hours, undergraduate 

2020

• Library Instruction – 4 hours, undergraduate

2022

• How to build diverse collections. LJ&SLJ Professional Development. Virtual.
• Curriculum Advisor: Jumpstart Inclusive Cataloging, LJ& SLJ Professional Development. Virtual.

SERVICE

COLORADO STATE LIBRARY/COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

EDIT (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) committee, 2022-present

Evaluation and Data Community of Learning 2023-present

Data Management Committee, Colorado Department of Education, 2023-present

TUTT LIBRARY

Library and IT Steering Committee, 2020-2021

Health and Safety Committee, 2020-2021

Diversity and Inclusion Committee, 2020-2021

Digital Liberal Arts Committee, September 2019-2021

Assessment Committee, 2019-2021

Website Committee, (co-chair), 2019-2021

Institutional Repository selection working group, 2019-2021

Wikipedia Organizing Team, May 2019-2021

ILS Migration working group (chair), 2019

Cataloging working group (chair), 2019-2021

Instruction working group, 2019-2021

Collection Development working group, 2019-2021

AURARIA LIBRARY

Auraria Library Faculty (chair), 2018 – 2019

Tri-Institutional Accessibility Committee, 2018 – 2019

Clinical Teaching Track Task Force, 2018 – 2019

User Experience Committee, 2017 – 2019

Troubleshooting Team, 2017 – 2019

Research Fund Subcommittee (chair), 2017 – 2019

Knowledge Management task force, 2017 – 2018

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO 

Faculty Assembly, 2018 – 2019 

CU Libraries Access and Discovery Team, 2017 – 2019

IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

Database Selection and Evaluation Committee, 2015 – 2017 

Events Committee, 2013 – 2016  

Social Media Committee (chair), 2015 – 2016 

Exhibits Committee, 2013 – 2014  

NATIONAL AND REGIONAL  

Colorado Higher Education in Prison committee, 2024-present

Colorado Cultural and Historic Resources Task Force, steering committee, 2024-present

Colorado State OER Council, 2022-2025

Kraemer Copyright Conference Planning Committee, 2020-2021

LITA Assessment and Research Committee, 2019 – 2021

SILLVR (Streaming Interlibrary Loan Video Resources) team, 2018-2020

Library Hi-Tech Award Committee, LITA, 2018 — June 2019

Library Leadership Advisory Committee, ICfL/Idaho Library Association 2015 – 2017 

Idaho Library Association Executive Board, Student Representative, 2014 – 2015 

NMRT, American Library Association, liaison 2014 – 2015