Shannon is an instructor at a non-profit in Chicago where she works with English language learners, refugees and asylum seekers in educational programming. She is also a certified yoga teacher, teaching hatha, yin and adaptive yoga for all bodies and abilities. For information on yoga classes and private instruction, email Shannon at thistleyogachicago@gmail.com Prior to her career as an instructor, Shannon worked in public libraries for twenty years.

As the former Deputy Director of a public library near Chicago, Shannon led library operations, customer service, organizational realignments, and professional development and training for a team of 220 staff members serving a community of 75,000. Her work included coordinating and implementing strategic plans, policies and procedures, budget oversight, library space renovations and emergency and business continuity. Shannon collaborated with staff on the library’s accessibility, diversity, equity and inclusion priorities as well as the creation of the library’s stand-alone makerspace.  As a member of the library’s administration team she managed a team of nine managers in seven departments at the main library, Senior Center branch, Makerplace and bookmobile including Community and Circulation Services, Collection Services, Digital Services, Info Services, Programs & Exhibits, Senior and Accessible Services and Youth Services.

Shannon has been a presenter and trainer on topics related to organizational change, core competencies, leadership, management, social media, marketing, customer service, computers and technology and job and career resources. She has presented at local, state and national conferences including, ALA, ILA, PLA, and Reaching Forward and for organizations including Harper College, Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, Recharge, TechSoup, Tutor.com and ICOVA.

Shannon received her Masters Degree in Library and Information Science from Dominican University and attended the University of Oxford for post graduate work in International Librarianship and the Family Place Training Institute for family centered library services. She was a participant in the Institute for School and Public Librarians, the seminar Libraries: Past, Present and Future at the University of Oxford, Synergy: Illinois Library Leadership Initiative, and a moderator for the first Library OnConference.

She has served various roles with the Chamber of Commerce, including the Better Business Committee and was Co-Chair and Advisory Member of the Professional Women’s Council. Shannon served as Chair of the Best Practices Committee (2018-2019) of the Illinois Library Association, was a member of the ILA Awards Committee (2011-2013) and a Co-Chair of the RAILS Business Librarian Interest Group (2014-2016). She was a member of the American Library Association’s Committee on the Status of Women in Librarianship (2019-2021) and a committee member of ALA BRASS Conference Program Committee (2019-2020).  In 2020-2021 Shannon participated in Illinois School District 25’s Strategic Plan process, working with a group of educators, parents, students and community representatives to create a mission, motto, vision, core values and strategic goals for the district. Shannon has been an active member of library Friends and Foundation groups and was a member of Rotary International in 2020-2021.

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