By Kerry Chang-FitzGibbon

Due to the growth and expansion of Stockton University, especially the proximity to Atlantic City, the archives and special collections at Richard E. Bjork Library are growing leaps and bounds. Historic and valuable collections have been donated from the communities in the surrounding areas.  We needed a highly experienced and qualified librarian to curate, conserve and preserve the valuable archives and special collections, to engage with donors, communities and organizations, to create strategies for long-term donor stewardship, and to provide leadership in developing the collections.

We are thrilled to welcome Heather Halpin Perez to be the Special Collection/Archives Librarian, to continue and expand her work at Stockton University.

Ms. Perez received her Master of Library Science, with a concentration in Archives, from University of Maryland.  She was the Head Librarian in the Adult Services Department, and Head Archivist at the Atlantic City Free Public Library, where she managed the operations of the Atlantic City Historical Museum, including curating and mounting new exhibits and supervising employees. She wrote, was awarded, and administered two grants: New Jersey Council for the Humanities/ Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibit and the New Jersey Historical Commission Project Grant.  She served as a historical consultant for TV series Boardwalk Empire (HBO/Bootleg Productions, 2010-2014).

She developed and oversaw 3 oral history projects, presented at conferences and made numerous media appearances, including NJTV, NPR Marketplace, HBO Documentary and NBC Nightly News on the history of Atlantic City.

Prior to her position at Atlantic City Free Public Library, she worked as an intern at the Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History, and the National Archives and Records Administration (College Park, MD) Archives Library Information Center.

Ms. Perez is no stranger to some of the Stockton faculty and staff as she has collaborated with Stockton on projects such as the “Starting the Archives of the New Jersey Dr. Martin Luther King Commission.”

As Special Collections Librarian, Ms. Perez is responsible for Richard E. Bjork Library’s Archives, Special Collections and Government Documents areas.  She will provide reference services and user support for these collections, plan and execute outreach programs to integrate special collections into the curriculum, making unique collections accessible to the campus and broader scholarly community.  She will also develop and maintain professional relationships with potential donors, the public, organizations affiliated with the collections.

Ms. Perez speaks fluent Spanish and some Russian. She brings with her extensive experience and qualifications.  She is passionate about working with archives and special collections. 

Barely here for more than a month, she is already hard at work.  She hosted the Atlantic County Historical Societies Roundtable meeting here at Stockton Library in late August. This group includes representatives from various historical organizations around the county, sharing information about local history collections, programs, best practices, etc.

Welcome Heather!   

Heather Halpin Perez is the Special Collections Librarian at Stockton University. She can be reached at Heather.Perez@stockton.edu.

Kerry Chang-FitzGibbon is the Serials Librarian at Stockton University. She can be reached at Kerry.chang@stockton.edu.