Library Staff
Librarians | Library Assistants
Librarians
Vanessa Middleton is from Detroit, Michigan, USA. She earned her undergraduate degree in accounting from The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA. She received her Master of Library and Information Science degree from the Wayne State University, USA. Vanessa has over 15 years of experience working in academic, public and special libraries. Most recently Vanessa has worked at The American University of Sharjah, UAE. Her research interests include comparative international librarianship, information literacy and online learning communities. While at PI, she is enthusiastic about collaborating with faculty to ensure that the library’s services and resources support and enhance their teaching and research endeavors. Vanessa is enthusiastic about empowering PI students to become 21st century engineers prepared to assume leadership roles within the energy industries.
Steve has had a career in libraries throughout the Middle East. Starting in 1984, Steve has worked his way around Egypt, Oman, and the UAE. Steve has been in the Abu Dhabi area since 1997.
Steve’s primary role is cataloging materials. He handles the technical part of the library so that all the materials are organized and arranged correctly.
Henry has worked as a librarian mainly in academic libraries in Uganda and Australia. In addition Henry taught at the Library School training professional librarians for the developing countries at Makerere University, Uganda. Henry has spent most of his professional life in Collection development and Access. His focus is on enabling access where the challenges facing most libraries is optimizing access in the face of ever reducing acquisitions budgets. The PI is the fifth Library that Henry has worked in. Henry holds a Masters of Arts in Library Education (Loughborough, UK) Masters of Business (IT); and a Bachelor of Social Sciences (RMIT University, Australia).
Library Assistants
Mohamed worked in the office of Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed from 1982-1986, followed by 16 years in ADNOC E&P. Mohamed has been with the PI Library since it was open to the public, and he mans the Circulation Desk as well as other support duties.
Khaled comes to us after spending some years in the ADNOC library. He is now handling much of the magazine and journal updates. His focus in this area helps keep our subscriptions current and organized.
Ibrahim originally is from Palestine, but he grew up in UAE where his family has lived for 30 years. Ibrahim obtained his Environmental Science & Management MSc degree in Jordan, and returned to the UAE after graduation.
Ibrahim began working for the PI library in 2005. He does the evening shift at the circulation desk, and handles other support duties as well. He very much enjoys helping library users.
Winnie started working in libraries as a Student Assistant during her college years. After graduation she worked as Library Assistant in University of the Philippines for 3 years and became a Librarian in 1990. Currently Winnie’s responsibilities at the PI Library includes processing Interlibrary Loans and the check-in and claiming of serials. She is also performs Circulation Desk duties.
Phyllis is from central Kenya where she worked in a public library handling library circulation operations and assisting in other areas. After moving to Dubai she worked with the Landmark Group for three years as a customer service representative. Currently Phyllis has joined the Pi Library as a library assistant. She staffs the library’s circulation desk and performs other support duties.
Asma’a graduated from Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, and has a bachelors degree in Library Science. She is working on obtaining her masters degree online. She worked in Baghdad in the Arab Petroleum Training Institute (OAPEC) as library assistant doing both technical and reference services.
Asma’a came to the UAE in 1999, and worked at the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) as library assistant. Her job involved a layout design project for a new library (CERT), purchasing new resources, and full responsibility of the ILC IT support. Asma joined the PI in September of 2006, and is working as a Library Assistant in the Cataloging and Acquisitions department.
Wilfredo or simply, Will, is from the Philippines and has a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education, major in English, and hopes to finish his Masters in Education, major in English Language Teaching at some time in the future. Will used to teach in the Philippines in Ateneo de Naga University, and afterwards worked for some time in the public service sector with the Office of the Vice Governor of the Province of Camarines Sur. He worked for three years in Dubai at the American University in Dubai as Library Assistant for the circulation section, before moving to Petroleum Institute. Will hopes that his experience in library support and his love for books would be able to contribute positively to the P.I. Library team.
Huda S. AlAlawi
Library Officer
+971 2 607 5961
halalaw@pi.ac.ae
Huda’s graduated from UAE University, Al Ain with a bachelor's degree in Science Geology. She currently is working on getting her masters degree online. Huda worked as a volunteer secretary in the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Training Center, and she worked as a geologist at ADMA – OPCO Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Tresa is from Mangalore, India. She has a Bachelor's degree in Office Management. Tresa has worked in the educational sector throughout her career in the UAE. Before her stint with PI, she worked at the American University of Sharjah for nearly 11 years in the Chancellor's office as a Records Retention Specialist. Tresa joined the PI in September 2009 in the HR department. Currently Tresa's responsibility is to provide administrative assistance in the Library. She hopes to learn and be involved in other tasks in the library.
Mohammed Ismail has a number of years of experience working in the area of student affairs. His expertise and knowledge will enable the library to develop strategies to attract students and new users to the library and promote the library to external users such as alumni, ADNOC and OPCO employees.
