What is your position at the Ruth Lilly Medical Library?
Assistant Director for Research and Translational Sciences, aka the lead for our amazing Research Team. Along with our Research & Scholarly Communication Librarian and our Research Metrics Librarian, we work to provide research services including research metrics, scholarly profiles, electronic lab notebook support, data management plan implementation, and open access publishing alternatives.
How long have you been working at the library?
14 years! I initially came to Ruth Lilly as part of the National Library of Medicine’s (NLM) associate fellowship program. I was able to spend one year at NIH and NLM, then followed up with training here and never left.
What do you like most about your job or the library?
The people! I love the balance of working with folks engaged and passionate about education, research, and caring for patients. I am constantly learning from those around me and feel privileged to work with so many smart, caring, kind folks, both within my library and throughout the school and campus.
What is your favorite food/ favorite place to eat?
I love Ethiopian food, so Major, Abyssinia, and Axum are all good. I also try to eat Ethiopian whenever I’m out in DC (so many good options there). Can’t wait to be able to do communal meals again!
Where is your favorite place to travel?
Mainly Costco and Meijer these days? But seriously…my parents live in the mountains outside of Asheville, NC and it is beautiful there. Internationally, I’d love to go back to Scotland, Jerusalem, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
What is one item on your bucket list?
Traveling to Australia and hugging a koala.
If you were to write a book about yourself, what would the title be?
Beth Whipple: Force of Nature
