Meet Our Members
George Abbott
Head, Media Services Department
Syracuse University Library
Syracuse, NY
ACRL member since 1985
1. Describe yourself in three words: Involved. Driven. Entrepreneur.
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Advocate. Facilitator. Member-focused.
3. Why did you join ACRL? I joined ACRL many years ago to participate in its activities and stay informed on the issues facing academic libraries and academic librarianship. Through networking at conferences, information sharing on listservs, and formal publications ACRL has provided me with up-to-date information, guidelines, and case histories to help me analyze trends and make informed decisions for managing information services.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I think I value most the interaction with the faculty and students. The ability to discuss their research and learn varying perspectives and ideas spawns new potential solutions for addressing information needs. The expertise and knowledge base on campus creates an environment promoting innovation and exploration that has provided me with the opportunity to experiment with new technology and pursue new ideas for the delivery of multimedia and digital information services.
5. In your own words: The academic library is changing and it has been changing for the past 20 or more years. Working in an academic library has given me the opportunity to change with it from the beginnings of the online catalog to the introduction of the Internet and now to the vast digital world. We have harnessed the content of our print literature through full text ejournal and ebooks and are just beginning to harness the content of audio and video resources with full content indexing. Audio and video are "now" media, much more so than print, and full content indexing provides a degree of immediacy that delivers search results and images for events that occurred minutes, or even seconds, before.
Dr. Camila A. Alire
Dean of University Libraries
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM
ACRL member since 1985
1. Describe yourself in three words: risk-taker, change agent, energetic
2. Describe ACRL in three words: forward-thinking, member-driven, responsive
3. Why did you join ACRL? I was recruited by a colleague with whom I attended library school. She got me involved in CJCLS. Love it!
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? Academic librarianship is for those who are constantly intellectually curious and who can apply that curiosity to efforts that help increase the knowledge base of the institution for research, teaching, and learning.
5. In your own words: Because I feel so passionate about academic libraries, there are three things I want to leave folks with: strategic planning leads to successful marketing and library advocacy; and all three are important components to success for academic libraries.
Bonnie Allen
Dean of Libraries
University of Montana
Missoula, MT
ACRL member for 14 years
1. Describe yourself in 3 words: Curious, analytical, ambitious
2. Describe ACRL in 3 words: Advocacy, forward-looking, inclusive
3. Why did you join ACRL? I was looking for a professional organization that would grow with me. I appreciate ACRL's ability to provide the breadth and depth that it does for issues. I am frequently turning to my colleagues in ACRL for information and perspective.
4. What you value about academic librarianship? I value the professional association with librarians with such diversity of interests and expertise.
5. In my own words: I think that ACRL as an organization supports its membership through education, exploration and advocacy. The programs and articles sponsored by ACRL have meaning for the members anywhere in their career. I particularly look to my ACRL colleagues for perspective on issues that will inform my decisions and make me a better leader.
Lisa A. Ancelet
Virtual Reference Services Librarian
Texas State University-San Marcos
ACRL member since 2006
1. Describe yourself in three words: creative, motivated, hardworking
2. Describe ACRL in three words: informative, networking, knowledge-base
3. Why did you join ACRL? Because as an academic librarian, I want to have access to the many resources ACRL provides. ACRL offers those of us who are still new to the profession access to teaching resources, networking with colleagues, and so much more, with the focus on colleges and universities.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I value the students who enable me to keep my job! I enjoy helping people find and use information. I knew the minute I took a job as a library assistant at an academic library that I was meant for this profession. I went back to school and earned my MSIS ('03) and I'm continuing on the path I chose. I love public service work and this is one of the best places to work with the public. The Internet and technology have only increased number of people who need guidance and/or instruction on the many tools and resources available to them.
5. In your own words: The warm and fuzzy feeling you get when you let a piece of dark chocolate melt on your tongue. On a more serious note, I feel that librarianship is still as relevant today as it was 50 years ago. Technology is changing as fast as you can blink an eye and I know that our profession will continue to lead the way.
Janis M. Bandelin
James B. Duke Library
Furman University
Greenville, SC
ACRL member since 1986
1. Describe yourself in three words: listener, thinker, doer
2. Describe ACRL in three words: membership-oriented, strategic, educational
3. Why did you join ACRL? ACRL provides a focus on and commitment to academic librarianship that no other organization provides. It affords not only opportunities for professional growth, but also venues to meet and share with other academic librarians.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I value the way that academic librarianship supports the mission of the university by providing resources, services and facilities to students, faculty and staff. I also value our commitment to life-long learning.
5. In your own words: While I have worked in academic libraries for the past 19 years, my background in public, school, and special libraries has made me aware of the needs of different types of libraries and of our shared challenges.
Steven J. Bell
Associate University Librarian for Research and Instructional Services
Temple University Libraries
Philadelphia, PA
ACRL member since 1994
1. Describe yourself in three words: Blended. Passionate. Learner.
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Professionalism. Opportunity. Networking.
3. Why did you join ACRL? Initially, to be active in my local chapter. That grew into a desire to be more active in the national organization. Also, to be better able to take advantage of the professional development opportunities ACRL offers to members. When I became a library director, the ACRL sponsored "New Directors Mentoring Program", and a network of colleagues who could provide assistance gave me new reasons to appreciate my ACRL membership.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I could write an article in answer to this question. In fact, I did. It's about my passion for academic librarianship and five things: students; faculty; community; colleagues; keeping up. You can find this article at: "A Passion For Academic Librarianship: Find It, Keep It, Sustain It—A Reflective Inquiry." Portal: Libraries and the Academy 3(4):633-642, October 2003.
5. In your own words: ACRL is about helping its members achieve their greatest potential as academic librarians. All academic librarians are responsible for their own professional development (learn more at http://staff.philau.edu/bells/keepup). But through professional development programs, conferences, publications, virtual workshops, discussion lists, and committee participation opportunities, ACRL provides a supportive infrastructure for each member to achieve a high level of personal professional development in a network of supportive colleagues.
David A. Beronä
Library Director
Lamson Library
Plymouth State University
Plymouth, New Hampshire
ACRL member since 1995
1. Describe yourself in three words: Serendipitous. Scholarly. Humorous.
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Inquiring. Collegial. Innovative.
3. Why did you join ACRL? As a Library Director and former Head of Library Computer Systems, ACRL offers me the chance to share ideas about library technology with my colleagues. More importantly, ACRL members offer answers to real-life questions such as how to implement technology in an academic library that has an assortment of tech-savvy librarians and IT professionals as well as traditionally more cautious librarians.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? Not only has academic libraries provided me with the chance to implement new technology that increases access to valued information for our users, but familiarity of this access to information has assisted me in pursuing my own research in visual communication. As a result, in addition to my professional duties as an academic librarian, I am an international authority on the woodcut novel and wordless comics. My articles and papers are highly regarded in the fields of graphic, visual and communication arts.
5. In your own words: My teacher and mentor at Simmons Graduate School of Library and Information Science, the late and esteemed Estelle Jussim, encouraged me to pursue scholarly research in order to add to the lexicon of visual communication and challenged me as a librarian, to assure that access to any given discipline of human study is always available to users. My involvement in College and Research Librarianship, especially in our exciting digital environment, offers me the opportunity to grow as a scholar and meet her challenge as a librarian.
Dr. Stanton F. Biddle
Professor and Administrative Services Librarian
Baruch College, The City University of New York
ACRL member since 1985
Photo: Jerry Speier, 2004.
Describe yourself in three words: Optimistic, intelligent, and resourceful
Describe ACRL in three words: Collegial, stimulating, and supportive
Why did you join ACRL? To work with others in pursuing my goal of empowering library users through the effective use of information
What do you value about academic or research librarianship? College students and faculty are highly motivated to make the most effective use of the information resources we make available to them. Academic librarians equip students to influence their environments by teaching them how to synthesize information from a variety of sources into knowledge and power.
In your own words: I have been a member of ALA and ACRL for over thirty years. Those memberships and my participation in conferences have been an integral part of my professional development throughout these years. My ACRL contacts and interactions have made me a better librarian, and I hope my local experiences in a variety of situations have helped ALA and ACRL become more effective professional organizations.
Brett Bonfield
University of Pennsylvania
Lippincott Library of the Wharton School
Temple University Samuel S. Paley Library
Saint Joseph University's Francis A. Drexel Library Philadelphia, PA.
ACRL member since 2006
1. Describe yourself in three words: A real mensch.
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Prominent, valuable, hot.
3. Why did you join ACRL? I first joined because I thought it was unbelievably cool that ACRL booked John Waters as its keynote speaker for the 2007 convention in Baltimore. But I've become an active member because of the many bright, kind, and hardworking academic librarians I've met at ACRL events, and because I think the world of ACRL's publications, including ARCLog.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? It's gratifying to play an integral role in education and scholarship, especially when that role involves activities like teaching, learning, writing, and building things--the sort of activities I do even when no one is paying me to do them. Plus, selfishly, I just really love spending my days in academic libraries.
5. In your own words: We are working really, really hard and we're doing really, really good work. But we can and should be doing so much more.
Char Booth
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Communication Bibliographer
Ohio University Libraries
Athens, OH
ACRL member since 2006
1. Describe yourself in three words: Ready, steady, go.
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Focused, collegial, necessary.
3. Why did you join ACRL? I joined this organization in order to participate in a professional development network that was specifically focused on academic librarianship. I have found that ACRL conferences, publications, and initiatives are of consistently high quality and are applicable to my daily practice as a university librarian.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? So many things that it's difficult to summarize. Engagement, creativity, and service are central to what we do, and I believe librarians are typically intellectual and progressive individuals. The benefits of the profession are enormous - on a daily basis I am able to see tangible results of my efforts to educate and inform, while my ultimate goal is to enable access and evaluation of information. In other words, it is difficult for me to imagine doing anything more productive with my time.
5. In your own words: That this is a contentious period for academic and research libraries can be seen as an opportunity rather than a barrier - now more than ever we have the opportunity to positively affect the tools and processes used to arrange, provide, and preserve knowledge as they evolve. It is critically important that we advocate for ourselves and our institutions while collaborating with other fields to improve information access and scholarly communication. Being put in the position to justify our value gives us the opportunity to redefine librarianship to our constituents. In so doing we can help them understand what the profession is truly about, which in my opinion has been a trade secret for too long.
Frank J. Bove
Assistant Professor of Bibliography
Electronic Resources Librarian
University Libraries
The University of Akron
Akron, Ohio
ACRL member since 2003
Describe yourself in three words: father, teacher, critical-thinker/problem-solver.
Describe ACRL in three words: service, community, professional development.
Why did you join ACRL? Quite honestly, I joined ACRL in order to connect to the professional academic library community. When I received my MLIS, I was employed at a university library in a support staff position and found it somewhat difficult to come by an interview for a ‘professional’ position without ‘professional’ experience (the ol’ "Catch 22"). ACRL offers invaluable networking and development opportunities. Within a year of joining ACRL, I accepted a tenure-track faculty position as an academic librarian.
What do you value about academic or research librarianship? The students, of course! As librarians, we tend to be very service oriented and enjoy handing out fish, but there is something very magical and marvelous when students cast out their own lines.
In your own words: In a strange way one of our greatest American hobos sums it up for me: "...the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes ‘Awww!’" – Jack Kerouac.
Cecelia Brown
Associate Professor
School of Library and Information Studies
The University of Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma
ACRL member since 1997
Describe yourself in three words: Enthusiastic. Curious. Persistent.
Describe ACRL in three words: Innovative. Supportive. Vital.
Why did you join ACRL? I originally joined ACRL to network with others interested in academic librarianship but have since found the association to provide this and much more! ACRL has been an invaluable resource for information about current trends in information products and services for users in higher education. ACRL has also provided a window to the research findings concerning the information behavior of college and university faculty and students.
What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I value academic librarianship for its role in fostering and promoting information literacy across the curriculum. This work will ensure that graduates will be information savvy and therefore well poised to become engaged and productive members of society. Also, it is very rewarding and exciting to work collaboratively with a wide variety of scholars in the pursuit of the creation of new knowledge and understanding.
In your own words: This is a very exciting time to be an information professional in higher education! Perhaps the most challenging aspect of today’s burgeoning and highly complex digital information environment is effectively and efficiently meeting the information needs of the academic community. As information professionals in higher education it is our responsibility to conduct research to elucidate the information behavior of faculty members and students. The findings are key to gaining control of and providing access to the information that is essential for the support of research, teaching, and learning in college and university settings. Besides, studying how people find and use information is very interesting and fun!
Stephanie Willen Brown
The University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT
Simmons GSLIS
Mount Holyoke, MA
ACRL member since 2005
1. Describe yourself in three words: enthusiastic, impatient, talkative
2. Describe ACRL in three words: colleagues, information, podcasts
3. Why did you join ACRL? Because I wanted my own copy of ACRL College & Research Libraries News and to support the organization nationally and regionally.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? Teaching undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty how to make best use of the myriad resources available in the library. Working with colleagues to figure out how to best use new and existing technology to help our diverse patrons.
5. In your own words: I love being a librarian. I came to it as a second career and it's been a perfect fit for me. I work as a librarian and I also teach future librarians (part-time) for Simmons GSLIS. The combination of practicing the profession and teaching it to the next generation is exhilarating: I am forced to keep up with the literature and blogs on current activities of librarianship to inform my teaching, and this currency benefits my patrons and colleagues in my full-time work as well.
John M. Budd
Professor and Associate Director
School of Information Science & Learning Technologies
University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, MO 65211
Member since 1985
1. Describe yourself in three words: Inquisitive; teacher; different
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Vital; energizing; collegial
3. Why did you join ACRL? I joined ACRL when I was a student because I knew academic librarianship would be my career environment. I've always found higher education fascinating (if sometimes dysfunctional).
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? The environment itself. It's an atmosphere of inquiry and learning, and people are excited about both.
5. In your own words: The world of higher education is never static. There are innumerable things to delve into—administration, economics, policy, politics—and all both affected and are affected by the library. There are some incredible people working in academic libraries, and ACRL provides an opportunity to get to know them.
Jennie Burroughs
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
Missoula, MT
ACRL member since 2002
1. Describe yourself in three words: Creative, determined, user-focused
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Scholarly, stimulating, connected
3. Why did you join ACRL? I joined ACRL as one way to keep up with current issues in academic libraries and to network with and learn from librarians around the country.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I appreciate being able to work with students at a critical juncture in their intellectual development, when they are becoming fully immersed in new disciplines, critically exploring new ideas, and developing life-long interests. I also value the support within academic librarianship for pursuing library scholarship to expand our collective knowledge of information seeking and information structures.
5. In your own words: Librarianship generally, and academic librarianship specifically, calls for a love of learning and teaching. I love teaching people new and improved ways of finding and assessing information. In turn, they teach me something new every day by telling me about their current scholarly pursuits and creating situations where I must delve into a new subject to help them with their research—life-long learning for all involved.
Barbara Butler
Loyd and Dorothy Rippey Library
Oregon Institute of Marine Biology
University of Oregon
Charleston, Oregon
ACRL member since 1995
1. Describe yourself in three words: Witty, busy, librarian
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Professional, informative, colleagues
3. Why did you join ACRL? ACRL has a lot to offer, but the single most compelling reason I joined was because ACRL's involvement in the scholarly publishing process and open access initiatives.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I like that I'm a part of the scientific process, that I get to teach others how to go about finding the information and answers they need, and that I have the opportunity to help influence our profession.
5. In your own words: Like many other librarians, this is not my first career and I work in a one-person remotely located field station library. What better way to keep abreast of developments in the profession than to be an active member and share experiences with ACRL colleagues working in academic libraries? There are so many developments in our field that our best chance of staying ahead of the curve is to learn from our peers and engage in cooperative projects.
Elizabeth "Buffy" Choinski
Head of the Science Library
University of Mississippi Libraries
Oxford, MS
ACRL member since 1994
1. Describe yourself in three words: Decisive, curious, mentoring
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Professional, networking, service
3. Why did you join ACRL? The focus on professional academic librarianship is what appealed to me about ACRL. I wanted to, and have, benefited from the experiences shared by other academic librarians. The organization has also provided me with the opportunity to give back to the community through service.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? What I value most is the interaction I have with faculty, staff, and students in an intellectually stimulating environment.
5. In your own words: The best career for me is one in which I get to learn something new nearly every day. I love a new set of challenges. That is librarianship! I'm so lucky to have found a career that I find rewarding and that really suits me. I can't imagine doing anything else.
Angela Courtney
Librarian for English and American Literature, Film Studies, and Philosophy
Herman B Wells Library
Indiana University
Bloomington, Indiana
ACRL member for 7 years
1. Describe yourself in three words: Curious. Smart. Savvy.
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Collegial. Proactive. Important.
3. Why did you join ACRL? I became involved in the Literatures in English Section to learn more about how my counterparts at other universities handle the daily demands of their jobs. Now I have a supportive and essential cohort of colleagues from across the country. This national network fosters a vital camaraderie between unique individuals with similar responsibilities. The experiences and opinions shared through the section—at meetings, via the group email list, through programs and panels—prove invaluable to me every day.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I value the daily interactions with students and faculty, the sense of accomplishment when I can help. I also find great delight in contributing to the growth and maintenance of a world class literature collection that has been decades in the making.
5. In your own words: I think collection managers should be encouraged to develop collections that set the library apart from its peers in some way. In an environment full of approval plans and automatic shipments, a librarian should exercise the initiative to move the collection beyond standard holdings. Ideally inspired by faculty and student interest, a library's collection should exhibit a lively vitality that makes it unique.
Merrie A. Davidson
Psychology/Sociology Librarian
Smathers Library
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida
ACRL member since 2003
1. Describe yourself in three words: enthusiastic, wacky, caring
2. Describe ACRL in three words: creative, productive, helpful
3. Why did you join ACRL? Wanted to learn as much as I possibly can from people who have learned as much as they possibly could.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? You get to learn and teach without grading. There is no end to what you can contribute or create.
5. In your own words: Embrace the stereotype! It's only negative because the world is sexist and ageist.
Trevor A. Dawes
Princeton University Library
Princeton, NJ
ACRL member since 1991
1. Describe yourself in three words: Hard-working, social, grounded
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Innovative, committed, traditional
3. Why did you join ACRL? I joined ACRL because it is THE association for academic libraries and librarians. The programs and opportunities offered through ACRL are unique and are designed to meet the needs of this particular group. ACRL also allows opportunity to network with fellow academic librarians. Even as ACRL grows in both its programs and offerings (e.g. now the expanded advocacy role) the focus remains on the core constituency.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I enjoy being in a learning environment. I think one can learn in any environment, but there is certainly something stimulating about being in the intellectual center of an academic institution - the library.
5. In your own words: I think it is important for librarians to demonstrate, or rather continue to demonstrate, their value to the academic enterprise. I have been involved recently in some discussions about the removal of the word "Library" from the doctoral degree granted from my alma mater. I find it distressing that, for a school that was founded as the Library School (though the name has now changed to include Communications and Information) it now believes it necessary to remove that very important word from the degree. What does this say about the value placed on the library and on librarians by this institution? Have we done enough to show how relevant we are? Are we, in fact, relevant? If we believe we substantively contribute to the teaching and research missions of our institutions, then we need to be more vigilant in showing just what our contributions are. I therefore challenge each person reading this message to think of ways in which our contributions can be demonstrated and how we can communicate this value to our administrators on campus.
Aaron W. Dobbs
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Shippensburg, PA
ACRL member since 2000
1. Describe yourself in three words: Strategic, Multi-talented, Activist
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Informative, Aware, Collaboration
3. Why did you join ACRL? At first I joined because I felt I should. I maintain my membership because I find the publications (and now the blog) thought provoking and because the people involved in ACRL are committed, intelligent, and involved in areas of professional and personal interest.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? Academic libraries exist to connect researchers to all data and information, especially from the more obscure (yet authoritative) sources. Sure, anyone can search the intrawebs and find stuff; but, who else will provide specific, on-topic search results with a low false-drop count in a reasonable amount of time for no direct charge to the user? The best part of academic librarianship is finding the impossible-for-the-student-to-find answer and the student's softly breathed "whoa" upon receipt.
5. In your own words: Libraries and academia are in a roiling state of flux these days. Both institutions have been fighting to remain as, or even more, relevant as we perceive we were fifty or more years ago. At this moment, the governmental policy arena is where the fight is taking place. As an ACRL Legislative Advocate, I keep up to date on these policy "discussions" and serve as a voice for libraries, especially those in academia. I speak with legislators and legislative aides, highlighting the benefits and services we provide to our students and society as a whole. More of us need to be activists, explaining why our services need funding, why every dollar of library funding returns more than a dollar's worth of benefits to our institutions.
Beth Evans
Brooklyn College Library of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, New York
ACRL member since 2004
1. Describe yourself in three words: Unexpected, connected, frank
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Necessary, thoughtful, thought-provoking
3. Why did you join ACRL? I joined ACRL as much to show my support for the organization as to gain support from the organization. As an academic librarian I have to see it as my association and the one to join. No choice. On the other hand, after taking some time to get involved and looking down the many paths of ACRL, it becomes more and more clear to me that ACRL is not just the academic library association to join because it is just the one there is, but ACRL is clearly an organization of deep-thinking, committed people who understand the issues that are unique to academic libraries.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? It's great having a job that allows me to help people find out what they need to know. The particular environment I am in has also been very supportive of looking at new ways to do our work. This is what keeps me thinking about new approaches to connecting people and information and keeps me interested in continuing to be a librarian.
5. In your own words: Librarians and libraries need to be open to new ways of doing business. Academic environments challenge us to think beyond the status quo and are often the birthplace of major shifts in public thinking. Academic libraries and librarians can be leaders in shaping public thinking on how information is accessed and shared.
Teresa (Terri) Fishel
Library Director
DeWitt Wallace Library
Macalester College
St. Paul, MN 55105
ACRL member since 1985
1. Describe yourself in three words: optimist, persistent, motivator
2. Describe ACRL in three words: educators, advocates, essential
3. Why did you join ACRL? I joined ACRL in order to network with others in my profession. Through various ACRL related activities I have developed several close friendships with other librarians who have continued to help me learn and explore as new technologies were introduced. We learn so much by sharing our experiences with each other and helping each other stay abreast of new developments in our rapidly changing environment. In addition, programs offered by ACRL have not only contributed to my own professional development, they have also helped me with mentoring younger professionals who are becoming leaders in my library.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I most value having an opportunity to do a job that I enjoy. Although as a Director, I don't get to do it as often as I used to, one of the pleasures of this job is working with undergraduate students and having an opportunity to make a difference in their lives. I still really enjoy a library instruction session with first year students who get interested in the availability of information beyond using Google. I also enjoy being able to work with a student to problem solve a difficult research question. Whether working with students who are employees in the library, or working with them on research assignments, I've been fortunate to get to know some remarkable young people including a number of students who have gone on to become library professionals. Seeing a number of them blossom in their own careers has been particularly rewarding.
5. In your own words: I began working in libraries in 1975. Academic libraries have changed so much in the past three decades, but these changes have created new opportunities and allowed me to develop in ways that I never envisioned when I began this profession. I also have been fortunate to be able to work with some exceptional colleagues who have learned to not only embrace the relentless pace of change, but who now actively participate in planning and preparing a shared vision for our future. This ability to approach change in a positive manner developed over time, but developed partially as a result of broad staff participation in a variety of ACRL sponsored programs and national conferences. ACRL has been an excellent partner in providing us with opportunities that have helped us prepare and plan strategically for our future.
Barbara Fister
Folke Bernadotte Memorial Library
Gustavus Adolphus College
St. Peter, Minnesota
ACRL member for 16 years
1. Describe yourself in three words: A curious dabbler
2. Describe ACRL in three words: A valuable community
3. Why did you join ACRL? As the division of ALA that most closely aligns with my professional path, it made sense to sign up. I want to keep up with developments - and membership gets me a discount at the national conference!
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I like the way our work supports learning. It's an enviably clear focus for our efforts, and it really matters, whether the learning is being done by a research team discovering something new or whether it's a first year student discovering something old and valuable. Everything we do - from choosing materials for the collection to designing space for individual exploration to Web design - can be seen through that lens of learning.
5. In your own words: We live in fascinating times. Just as the printing press was an agent of change, so is the Internet, and it's changing everything from the way we publish and share information to the ways we create, invent, and communicate. This shift makes our work interesting - and it raises a host of ethical and political issues that we are uniquely positioned to address with integrity. We can play a significant role in making the tools for making meaning available to all. But we need to find ways to map our timeless values to our every-day decisions.
Brinley Franklin
Vice Provost for University Libraries
University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT
ACRL member since 1985
1. Describe yourself in three words: Listening, Learning, Laughing
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Topical, Timely, Targeted
3. Why did you join ACRL? College and Research Libraries is my work and ACRL keeps me up-to-date.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? At the end of the day, we can feel good about our work.
5. In your own words: Academic librarianship has afforded me opportunities I never imagined. ACRL and other professional organizations have helped me grow professionally as a lifelong learner.
Eric Frierson
Hatcher Graduate Library
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI
Member since 2006
1. Describe yourself in three words: Empowering. Appropriate. Teacher.
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Forum. Sharing. Learning.
3. Why did you join ACRL? I liked the focus it provided over ALA's broad coverage of all types of libraries. The publications ACRL puts out (C&RL News, C&RL) contain timely and interesting articles. It provides opportunities for networking with other academic librarians and opportunities for professional growth.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? Perhaps it's just my institution (the University of Michigan), but it provides me with colleagues and a support structure for experimentation in reference services, the opportunity to diversify the work that I do (my daily schedule is not routine).
5. In your own words (an open-ended statement): Academic librarianship involves instruction; from one-shot fifty-minute course-integrated instruction sessions to semester-long credit-bearing classes to online distance learning, the librarian is often placed in the role of teacher. Librarians are rarely prepared to handle classrooms or develop instructional materials and curriculum. It is my firm belief that the librarian has an increasing need for professional development opportunities in educational strategies and theory. So much has been done in discovering how people learn by cognitive psychologists, educational experts, and educational practitioners—we need to learn from these people to improve the way we carry out our instructional missions in the library.
Paul Gherman
University Librarian
Jean and Alexander Heard Library
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee
ACRL member since 1985
1. Describe yourself in three words: conceptual, networker, listener
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Critical, connections, learning
3. Why did you join ACRL? It was the right thing to do.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? We are part of the community that creates new knowledge and new ideas for the advancement of society.
5. In your own words: I have been fortunate in my career to often be in the right place, at the right time, working with the right people, and having an exciting new idea to be brought into being. The emergence of the Internet and the advances in technology have combined to bring about unprecedented cooperation among libraries. Our professional associations give us the venue to bring us together and create the catalyst for change. We must embrace change and make it our ally to assure libraries of tomorrow will be as relevant as they are today.
Susan Gibbons
Associate Dean, Public Services & Collection Development
River Campus Libraries
University of Rochester
Rochester, NY
ACRL members since 1995
1. Describe yourself in three words: inquisitive, stubborn, unconventional
2. Describe ACRL in three words: networking, timely, targeted
3. Why did you join ACRL? I have found the ALA to be too broad and too large for my needs. The ACRL provides me with an outlet through which to network and collaborate with colleagues dealing with the same academic library issues as I. When trying to navigate my way through the Annual and Midwinter ALA conferences, I know that I can use the ACRL presentation sponsorship as a guidepost for the sessions that will likely be useful and meaningful to me.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? Academic librarianship has become an area of constant flux. Digital technologies are radically altering the way that students create, engage, and assimilate knowledge, and it is the job of academic libraries to accompany and assist students on this journey. I can't think of a more exciting, dynamic field.
5. In your own words: The boundaries of academic librarianship are become much more porous. The library is no longer a physical building on campus, but a key part of a nebulous cluster of services and programs that provide the foundation for teaching, learning and research on campus. Also in this cluster are writing centers, academic technology services, tutoring programs and student life services, among others. If we are able to effectively break down the organizational barriers, students will soon be able to seek assistance and help and all of the appropriate resources that the university/college has will be brought to bear seamlessly.
Todd Gilman
Librarian for Literature in English
Sterling Memorial Library
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut
ACRL member since 2000
1. Describe yourself in three words: Questioning. Buoyant. Thorough.
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Supportive. Proactive. Collaborative.
3. Why did you join ACRL? I joined because I knew it to be a first-rate professional association for academic librarians, one that would help me advance in my career — and it has.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? It's a wonderful privilege to be able to participate in the building of a great library as I do at Yale, to provide timely and responsive service to students and faculty, and to participate in an essential and meaningful way in the educational mission of a university.
5. In your own words: My involvement with ACRL through LES and, more recently, WESS, has helped me mature as an academic librarian. I hope my role as advocate for the profession of academic librarianship through recruitment and publication has helped give a little back to ALA and ACRL.
Dan Gjelten
Director of Libraries
University of St. Thomas
Saint Paul, MN
ACRL member since 1991
1. Describe yourself in three words: Curious, competitive, friendly
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Smart, active, challenging
3. Why did you join ACRL? I joined because I valued the opportunities it creates for professional growth and networking. I also appreciate the publications, which were entirely in print when I joined, but now include the blog and podcasts. In addition, I consider the national conference one of the best available to the academic library community.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? Being a central part of the educational mission of a college or university is very exciting. Helping to produce graduates who are effective users of information in a technology rich world is a powerful mission for the academic library. Further, the campus library is increasingly important as community space - the "third place" on campus - not the dorm room, not the class room, but a wonderful combination of academic and social space which should be fundamentally about enhancing teaching and learning. The libraries' responsibility to develop content to support teaching and research continues to be very important, even as that content should now be primarily electronic. Finally, it is energizing to be collaborating with new partners on campus - our colleagues in IT, web and media services and technical support as we all make sense of and experiment with new technologies.
5. In your own words (an open-ended statement/reflection on the profession): Some have called the academic library the canary in the coal mine of higher education. We were, in many ways, first to adopt information technologies in our daily work, from the early days of online searching and through the many iterations of electronic information resources. We were often the first on campus to use the world wide web as an information resource and the first to design web pages for our organizations. We have been among the first on campus to observe and respond to the new patterns of information seeking by a new generation of students. To the extent that academic libraries can adapt our organizational structures, our physical structures, and our roles and relationships in ways that enable us to continue to provide content and services that support the academic mission, we may very well model the future of higher education itself. There is a bright future for the academic library, but getting to it will require creativity, courage and energy by all who work in our field. The library must be more than a symbol and more than a museum. It can be vital and essential, it can be the intellectual and technological crossroads of information resources, teaching and learning. It is my continuing goal to help guide the library gracefully into that bright future.
Lori Goetsch
Kansas State University Libraries
Manhattan, Kansas
ACRL member since 1985
1. Describe yourself in three words: fun-loving, self-motivated, intuitive
2. Describe ACRL in three words: leadership, education, advocacy
3. Why did you join ACRL? I joined ACRL about 20+ years ago for the professional development opportunities it offered; specifically, I had gotten engaged with the Women's Studies Discussion Group in its early days, and I wanted to find ways to get involved and serve that group as it shaped its future. I've stayed a member for much the same reason. There are always new ways to get involved and stay active in the association because it strives to be responsive to member needs.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I value the opportunity to engage with students and their education, both inside the classroom and out. I love to see the different ways they interact with our staff and services, and the challenges they present us with as we strive to remain relevant in their intellectual and cultural lives on campus.
5. In your own words: I have made great lifelong friends and have had some great times as an ACRL member. The ACRL conference every other year is one of my favorite personal and professional activities—it's one of the few conferences where I can actually attend programs, and the programming is outstanding!! I've also been mentored by a number of wonderful, creative, and caring leaders in the association. They have given me opportunities and help me build my skills and confidence. Their example has been encouraging and motivating to me as I have advanced in my own career.
Michael Gorman
Dean of Library Services
Henry Madden Library
California State University, Fresno
Fresno, California
ACRL member since 1988
1. Describe yourself in three words: Librarian. Reader. Grandfather.
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Inclusive. Educational. Involved.
3. Why did you join ACRL? It is the division of ALA for academic librarians.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? Our role in collecting, giving access to, preserving, and passing on the human record
5. In your own words: I have always been a proponent of professional associations and believe that it is part of the duties of a librarian to support the associations relevant to his or her work, initially by being a member and later by being professionally involved ion all the ways she or he can.
LaVerne Gray
Assistant Reference Librarian
Richard J. Daley Library
University of Illinois at Chicago
ACRL member since 2006
1. Describe yourself in three words: Encouraging, thoughtful, go-getter
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Innovative, collaborative, welcoming
3. Why did you join ACRL? I joined ACRL to engage with a community of professionals with similar interests and goals.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? Academic librarianship provides the opportunity to participate in the development of student learning and to supplement the research activities within higher education.
5. In your own words: I find academic librarianship a dynamic and collaborative environment. Though all areas in academic libraries are interdependent, I am particularly drawn to Information Literacy. I believe a focus on service to student/faculty learning and research is at the center of what I do. I never doubt that I made the right choice in becoming an academic librarian
Randy Burke Hensley
Student Learning Programs & Services
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honolulu, Hawaii
ACRL member since 1985
1. Describe yourself in three words: Enthusiastic, student-centered,
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Community, collaboration, expertise
3. Why did you join ACRL?
My reason for joining ACRL has stayed my reason for continuing to be a member of ACRL: opportunity. The opportunity to work on projects that build my professional skill set. The opportunity to stay not only informed about but involved in emerging professional trends. And the opportunity to meet and work with my professional heroes and make new heroes that inspire, teach, and provoke me into thinking in new and deeper ways.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship?
The possibility that personal effort can facilitate positive changes in the lives of students.
5. In your own words: I was attracted to librarianship because of the potential to live my life in a state of constant learning. What I received was that and the ability to play a role in the teaching and learning enterprise for students.
Damon D. Hickey
Director of Libraries
College of Wooster
Wooster, Ohio
ACRL member since 1990
1. Describe yourself in three words: teacher, companion, guide
2. Describe ACRL in three words: friends, colleagues, ideas
3. Why did you join ACRL? Because I'm an academic librarian!
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? The chance to help others learn and grow while also learning and growing myself.
5. In your own words: Academic library administration has been my professional home for more than 30 years. For most of my career, I've been fortunate to have worked in liberal-arts college libraries, where I've had the chance to interact with students and to get to know faculty colleagues across many disciplines. Although I've been a library administrator, I've also had faculty status and always thought of myself as a teacher, even when I wasn't in the classroom. The three words I chose to describe myself—teacher, companion, and guide—work for me equally well as a college library administrator, a college librarian, a classroom teacher, or an academic adviser.
For me, ACRL has always been spelled CLS—The College Libraries Section. CLS is where I've found friends, colleagues, and ideas that have enriched me both professionally and personally. Academic librarianship, especially in a small college library, is a great career for anyone who loves students, ideas, teaching, guiding, colleagueship, scholarship, and watching and helping young people to grow and mature and step out on their own. And ACRL (especially CLS) is THE organization for academic librarians!
Gerald Holmes
Reference and Instructional Services
University Libraries
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC
Joined ACRL in 1992
1. Describe yourself in three words: imaginative, pragmatic, and principled
2. Describe ACRL in three words: enriching, participatory, and challenging
3. Why did you join ACRL? Early in my career, when I was interested in learning about academic librarianship, I was advised to attend AFAS and other ACRL programs at ALA. I decided then to join ACRL and have been active in ALA for over 20 years. One highlight for me was serving on the Local Arrangements Committee for the ACRL National Conference in Charlotte. Looking back, joining ACRL was one of the best decisions I have made. I have enjoyed my career working in academic libraries.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I value working with colleagues who consistently strive to improve library services and resources. It has been an inspiration for me to witness librarians working as a team to achieve common goals. I have seen students and faculty benefit from the creativity and persistence that many academic librarians demonstrate through their work. I value and enjoy the opportunity to maintain and improve library services to academic communities.
5. In your own words: Academic Librarians work in an environment that requires them to learn. Maintaining a viable collection can be challenging. I embrace our important role on campus as we serve as information providers and as teachers. I also welcome our significant opportunity to recruit and inspire a new generation of information professionals. What an opportunity we have!
Dr. Millie Jackson
Head of Collection Development
Robert Manning Strozier Library
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL
ACRL member since 1997
1. Describe yourself in three words: Curious, creative, enthusiastic
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Network, professional, opportunity
3. Why did you join ACRL? I joined ACRL during my first year as a professional librarian. Many of the librarians where I was working were involved in a chapter of ACRL and it was a wonderful opportunity to network and meet colleagues and to learn more about the profession. I have found a valuable community of colleagues in ACRL who are willing to discuss the same issues I am thinking about and who are trying to solve the same problems I am facing.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? The receptivity to change and innovation in ways we deliver information. Assisting faculty and students requires knowledge of new resources as well as traditional resources. I am surrounded by colleagues who are well versed in both. I find it exciting and challenging to work in a library at this moment in time.
5. In your own words (an open-ended question): In the decade since I have become an academic librarian, I have witnessed tremendous change. The opportunities for using technology to deliver information to our users continue to expand and change. I foresee more opportunities for librarians to become leaders and innovators with the changes taking place in scholarly communication and the field of publishing. Our challenge is to keep up with the changes, integrate them into our services, and teach faculty and students how to effectively use all that is available in their research and scholarship.
Michelle Jacobs
Instruction Librarian
University of California, Merced
ACRL member since 2003
1. Describe yourself in three words: energetic, motivated, optimistic
2. Describe ACRL in three words: evolving, academic, knowledgeable
3. Why did you join ACRL? When I first joined ALA and attended the annual conference, I sat in on a few meetings for the ACRL Instruction Section. I was really excited to be around such a forward thinking group of librarians. I joined ACRL and applied to be an intern for the Teaching Methods Committee.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I value the impact we can have on the students and faculty that we work with. I still get excited when showing undergraduates how to find a perfect source for their paper or when teaching a legacy faculty member about recent changes in scholarly communication. Academic librarianship is in a constant state of flux, the needs of our population change daily. I love the challenge of staying up-to-date on emerging technologies, changes in fair use and intellectual property law and the ways we communicate.
5. In your own words (an open-ended statement): The academic library is changing. It is no longer just the quite space to study, filled with books and subject specialists. The library has a strong virtual presence and its librarians transcend the boundaries of the physical building. We work with students and faculty in MySpace, Facebook, IM and text messaging. Services that were once available only to those who came into the building are now available to an even wider campus audience. I think the sense of anonymity that some of these digital communications provide, brings in students who we never may have seen at the reference desk. By reaching out to this generation of students in a way that they are familiar with makes them more comfortable with us. I am hoping we have seen the end of the tight bunned shushing librarian and are at the dawning of the laptop toting, cell phone text messaging Information Superhero!
Sarah H. Jeong
Research & Instruction Librarian-Sciences
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC
ACRL member since 2004
1. Describe yourself in three words: inquisitive, dedicated, creative
2. Describe ACRL in three words: collegial, thought-provoking, advocates
3. Why did you join ACRL? I joined ACRL to advance my knowledge of the field of academic librarianship and network with colleagues from across the United States.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I value the educational mission of academic librarianship. I enjoy helping students learn and helping faculty with their research endeavors.
5. In your own words: Academic librarianship is the perfect career choice for me. I truly enjoy working in an intellectually stimulating environment where I am constantly learning new things. One of the greatest joys in my work as an academic librarian is seeing our students read the books which I select for our library; I feel as if I am making a small, yet significant contribution to their education.
Mary Ann Jones
Electronic Serials Librarian
Thesis and Dissertation Supervisor
Mississippi State University Libraries
Mississippi State, MS
ACRL member since 2006
1. Describe yourself in three words: motivated, passionate, change-agent
2. Describe ACRL in three words: progressive, collaborative, advocate
3. Why did you join ACRL? I joined ACRL to enhance my professional development in issues and concerns for academic librarianship and to be a part of an organization that values my skills in understanding the academic environment. Being a part of ACRL gives me the accessibility to focus my professional growth to the specialized area of academia. My membership and involvement in ACRL will also afford me the opportunity to network with fellow academic librarians and, in so doing, further enhance my professional knowledge and skills.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I value the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our students. My passion is user satisfaction with the library services we offer and the ability of those services to make a difference in the academic accomplishments of those we serve.
5. In your own words: I chose librarianship because I was influenced by my mother's ability to affect the lives of others through her career as a librarian. I chose academic librarianship because I love the academic environment and wanted to affect the academic lives of the students and faculty I serve. This is a great time to be in our profession; we are progressive and ever-changing in the areas of technology and access, yet still constant in our beliefs and foundations. As a new librarian I want to make a difference in the academic accomplishments of those I serve daily, but I also want to make a difference in the profession as a whole by contributing my thoughts about how to best affect the lives of those around us. We must be bold as we push our profession forward and advocate for the value of the services we provide. Our strength is our service to others; we must not forget we are a service profession and remain steadfast as we stand up for the value we provide our community of users.
Frances G. Kaufmann
Assistant Director of Libraries
Union County College
Cranford, NJ 07016
ACRL member since 1984
1. Describe yourself in three words: enthusiastic, inquisitive, doer
2. Describe ACRL in three words: advocacy, professional development, networking
3. Why did you join ACRL? I joined ACRL 22 years ago to keep up with developments in academic librarianship. At that time I never imagined that technology would change our work so rapidly and so dramatically.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I love working with college students. Their enthusiasm and curiosity is infectious. It keeps me young at heart. I enjoy working with diverse student populations and learning about their plans and hopes for the future. It is gratifying to plan and implement library services that help them on their paths to success in college and in life.
5. In your own words: My membership in ACRL has been extremely valuable in keeping me current about the latest developments in the field and helping me to prepare for what's ahead, be it effectively using new technology or dealing with difficult issues. Because of national and local programs sponsored by ACRL and its chapters, I am a more informed and more effective librarian. My involvement with the local chapter in New Jersey has enhanced my leadership skills. In addition, I have had the privilege of working with and getting to know a wonderful group of smart, caring and dedicated academic librarians.
Laura F. Keyes
Student
School of Library and Information Science
University of Wisconsin - Madison
ACRL member since 2007
1. Describe yourself in three words: reflective, passionate, and helpful
2. Describe ACRL in three words: diverse, helpful, extensive
3. Why did you join ACRL? To meet more people with the same passions as me; to learn more about academia
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? We are teaching people while learning at the same time.
5. In your own words: I look forward to a career as an academic librarian so that I can continue my love of learning.
Catherine A. Lee
Library Director
Wesleyan College
Macon, Georgia
ACRL member since 1994
Describe yourself in three words: Proactive, collegial, engaged
Describe ACRL in three words: Connections, outreach, professional
Why did you join ACRL? Like most academic librarians, I joined for several reasons. The most important reason is to network with my peers—at conferences and through committee work. Through ACRL, I can connect, contribute, and stay current.
What do you value about academic librarianship? I value being part of a vibrant and dynamic community, both on my campus and in the profession. The opportunities that I have to contribute to the teaching and learning process make academic librarianship a fulfilling and intellectually stimulating career.
In your own words: A profession, much like a college education, is all the better for what you put in to it. Librarians, like students, who work, read, study, listen, learn, question, and contribute, will thrive.
Thura Mack
Training Librarian
University of Tennessee Libraries
Knoxville, TN
First joined ACRL in 1994
1. Describe yourself in three words: determined, enthusiastic, inspirational
2. Describe ACRL in three words: resourceful, professional, cutting-edge
3. Why did you join ACRL? For professional growth and enrichment
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? The research and teaching components
5. In your own words: The profession is in its most exciting season
Trina Magi
Library Associate Professor
Bailey/Howe Library
University of Vermont
ACRL member since 1997
Describe yourself in three words: Seeker, activist, teacher
Describe ACRL in three words: Answers, ideas, conversations
Why did you join ACRL? To stay current on issues, connected with my peers, and competent in my skills through conferences, publications, and networking opportunities.
What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I most value the rewarding interactions I have with students, faculty, and staff, and the fact that my work is an important link in the chain of knowledge creation.
In your own words: As a person who loves asking and answering questions, I really believe librarianship is my dream job. Every reference question and every library instruction session is a unique collaboration, and I treasure the opportunities for learning and discovery they bring.
Melissa Mallon
Library Instruction Coordinator/Reference Librarian
Owen Library
University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown
Johnstown, PA
ACRL member since 2005
1. Describe yourself in three words: Compassionate, open-minded, organized
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Essential, reliable, progressive
3. Why did you join ACRL? I knew almost immediately in graduate school that I wanted to be a part of an association that fosters collegiality and communication among academic librarians. ACRL is definitely that group! Since joining, I've gained insights into this profession that I can always carry with me.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I love learning new things and being in an environment where this trait is supported 100%. I know that good research skills are vitally important for college students and I feel lucky to have a job that is so connected to the lifelong learning process (for both the students and me!).
5. In your own words: While I believe that academic librarianship is very dynamic, I think the heart of the profession stays the same. Whether we're providing print journals and original manuscripts to traditional scholars or e-books and podcasts to tech savvy first-year students, we always have the same goal: to provide consistent, equal access to information. I hope this goal never changes.
Kristen Mastel
Reference Librarian
MINITEX
Minneapolis, MN
ACRL member since 2007
1. Describe yourself in three words: Curious, empathetic, questioner
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Academic, collaborative, learning
3. Why did you join ACRL? I joined ACRL because academic librarianship is the path I wanted to pursue after library school. Since then I learned that ACRL provides a wonderful network of colleagues to lean on and learn from. ACRL also allows early professionals to have a voice within the academic community through various committees and volunteer opportunities.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I appreciate the hard-working nature of all library staff to better the global community's information wants and needs.
5. In your own words: I consider myself lucky to have realized my career path early in life, and look forward to providing and creating services to the users (known and unknown) through creative means; ones that have not been developed or brought into fruition within libraries.
Angela McMillian
Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
ACRL member since 2007
1. Describe yourself in three words: motivated, determined, hardworking
2. Describe ACRL in three words: enlightening, professional development, networking
3. Why did you join ACRL? I joined ACRL as a student because I wanted to learn from other professional librarians who have more knowledge and experience in the academic/research area of librarianship.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I value research librarianship because I'm able to assist students and researchers with their assignments and research projects. I'm able to leave my job at the end of the day fulfilled because I have helped someone complete an assignment or locate an item for a project.
5. In your own words: Librarianship all by itself is compelling yet enriching.
Alanna Aiko Moore
Sociology, Ethnic Studies, and Gender Studies Librarian
Social Science and Humanities Library
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, CA
ACRL member since 2005
1. Describe yourself in three words: Enthusiastic. Passionate. Activist.
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Innovative. Collaborative. Connections.
3. Why did you join ACRL? I joined ACRL through ALA’s Spectrum Scholarship program. The Spectrum Scholarship program is ALA's national diversity and recruitment effort that addresses the under-representation of ethnic librarians in the profession by awarding scholarships to American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students. Spectrum Scholars receive a financial scholarship to help defray tuition costs and also receive professional development opportunities. One of these professional development opportunities was a complimentary year-long membership to ACRL.
The complimentary membership allowed me to become familiar with and involved in ACRL while I was still in graduate school. I had not yet determined what career path I would take, but was encouraged by librarians I had met through ACRL to apply for positions at academic libraries. My involvement in ACRL has increased as I have discovered specialized areas of interest. I currently serve on two ACRL committees: the Instruction Section (IS) Teaching Methods Committee and the Instruction and Anthropology and Sociology Section (ANSS) Information Literacy Committee.
As an organization, ACRL addresses timely issues and emerging trends through their conferences, publications and listservs. I have also connected with a network of colleagues and been able to take advantage of professional development opportunities like the ACRL Institute for Information Literacy Immersion Program.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? Academic librarianship is about a commitment to public service, student success, faculty research and life-long learning. As academic librarians, we have the ability to positively impact students, staff and faculty by providing stellar resources and by being responsive to student and faculty needs.
At the University of California, San Diego, many of the academic departments we serve are incredibly interdisciplinary. It is exciting to locate research and scholarship that span many areas of study, and to work with colleagues who value teamwork and are experts in their field. In addition, I enjoy having opportunities to collaborate with both faculty and student services to build programs and community outside of the physical library building.
5. In your own words: Librarians are passionate about and dedicated to their profession. I am passionate about helping our students learn through information literacy initiatives, and ACRL has offered many workshops, books and trainings dedicated to this very topic. I especially enjoy reaching out to under-served populations and first-generation college students. I am also dedicated to working to make the profession more diverse. Census data shows that the population of the United States is changing, which means the student body of our educational institutions will also change. It is imperative that we work to ensure that our staff and collections reflect the communities that we serve. Initiatives like the Minnesota Institute for Early Career Librarians from Traditionally Under-represented Groups and ALA’s Spectrum Scholarship are two cutting-edge programs that have contributed to the success and leadership of many librarians from diverse backgrounds in the profession.
Eric Lease Morgan
Head, Digital Access and Information Architecture Department
University Libraries of Notre Dame
South Bend, Indiana
ACRL member since 1990
1. Describe yourself in three words: Librarian. Geek. Artist.
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Librarianship. Academic. Organization.
3. Why did you join ACRL? I joined ARCL for professional development opportunities.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I value the the exploration and creation of new ideas and knowledge.
5. In your own words (an open-ended question): I believe there are extraordinary opportunities for librarianship these days, more so than ever before. With the advent of globally networked information there are absolutely huge potentials for creating collections and services making it easier for students, teachers, and scholars to do learning, teaching, and research. Let's not get hung up on the medium of data, information, and knowledge; libraries are not about books. Libraries are about the things inside the books and making those things easier to access and use.
Joe Murphy
Librarian and Technology Consultant
Library and Information Services
Kenyon College
Gambier, Ohio
ACRL member since 1999
1. Describe yourself in three words: Confident. Funny. Committed.
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Focused. Current. Practical.
3. Why did you join ACRL? ALA provides the wide-ranging resources which keep me in touch with the vast reach of libraries and information policy in our society. ACRL brings it all back home with a focus on the academic environment where I spend every day.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? An academic library is like a diving board. It starts with providing the ladder, where students can get assistance in starting their climb (whether or not they really want to go). At the top, it's a flexible springboard, where the student's effort combines with the resources to make something new and beautiful. Providing the services and infrastructure for that process of becoming is a wonderful reason to come to work every day.
5. In your own words: We've known for years that libraries, as places and ideas, give people the warm fuzzies, whether or not they actually use them. Our next challenge is to prove that librarian values... equality of access, wide-ranging and open investigation, creative use of our cultural heritage, "preserving the graphic record of society"... are American values, and that they deserve tangible support. Academic librarians are uniquely poised to enhance this discussion, both in our particular institutions and in our wider society.
David C. Murray
Reference Librarian for History
Temple University Libraries
Philadelphia, PA
ACRL member for 6 years
1. Describe yourself in three words: Patient. Teacher. Academic.
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Professionalism. Opportunities. Peer-sharing.
3. Why did you join ACRL? I joined ACRL, as many probably do, for the opportunity to network and learn from my peers. My involvement increased in 2006, when I participated in ACRL's wonderful Information Literacy Immersion Program. In truth, I haven't yet begun to tap all the benefits of ACRL membership.
4. What you value about academic librarianship? I value greatly my working relationship with students. The synergy between student and librarian during a successful user education session or research consultation simply can't be beat. Both parties can learn and be tremendously enriched by the experience. The opportunity to fully participate in, and hopefully even enrich, the life of an academic community is also a great privilege.
5. In your own words: I've been a student of ancient Mexico for well over a decade. It was my good fortune to become involved in the field during a time when so many incredible advances and discoveries were being made, not least of which was the decipherment, over the last few decades, of the ancient Maya script. Put another way, studying the civilizations of ancient Mexico today is probably a lot like being an Egyptologist during the Napoleon or Howard Carter eras. Primarily because of the almost unimagined advances in information technology, librarianship seems to me to be in a similar state of almost giddy flux. We have hardly begun to process the implications of digital access to scholarly content. No one can really say which new disruptive technology will next emerge to once again transform our profession. Could there be a more exciting time to be an academic librarian?
Andrew K. Pace
North Carolina State University Libraries
Raleigh, NC
ACRL member since 2000
1. Describe yourself in three words: Persistent, Skeptical, Optimistic
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Dedicated, Qualified, Collegial
3. Why did you join ACRL? I am a firm believer in what academic libraries have to add to campuses, communities, and the world.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? My colleagues. I'm working with the brightest people ever. And it's for a good cause.
5. In your own words: Being a systems librarian for a research library has got to be just about as good as it gets. I get to work with great colleagues, locally, nationally, and around the world, working in an area that I love in a profession for which I have such a great passion.
Tatiana Pashkova
Librarian
William Allen White Library
Emporia State University
Emporia, Kansas
ACRL member since 2004
Describe yourself in three words: Enthusiastic, willing to help, and smiling
Describe ACRL in three words: Straight-to the point, academic, exciting
Why did you join ACRL? My colleagues recommended I join ACRL and I have not regretted it a bit.
What do you value about academic or research librarianship? We, librarians, have a great opportunity to guide and assist our students in enhancing their critical thinking and research skills. We are valuable in preparing them for their future.
In your own words: When I see a sparkle in students' eyes during instruction or a reference interview I feel that I made a small difference.
Josh Petrusa
Electronic Resources Librarian
Kreitzberg Library
Norwich University
Northfield, VT
ACRL member since 2007
1. Describe yourself in three words: Unpretentious, patient, daddy
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Network, resource, acronym
3. Why did you join ACRL? It seemed like the logical first step for what hopefully is a long career in academic libraries
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? We really are here to help students and researchers uncover all the information they need to produce their own quality scholarship, which hopefully contributes to everyone's learning and moves our society forward. Playing a small part in the successes of a large number of scholars sounds very appealing to me.
5. In your own words: Aside from helping our patrons improve their own research, we in ACRL have our own role to play in doing the research that will improve our own profession. ACRL is full of such leaders, and I appreciate standing in the shadow of some of the giants in our field, frankly because I enjoy the shade.
Connie L. Phelps
Social Sciences Librarian
Earl K. Long Library
University of New Orleans
New Orleans, LA
ACRL member since 1985
1. Describe yourself in three words: curious, dedicated, methodical
2. Describe ACRL in three words: networking, opportunities, colleagues
3. Why did you join ACRL? I joined ACRL to get involved in my profession’s organization, to meet other academic librarians, and to network with and learn from others in my profession. My membership and involvement in ACRL have fulfilled all of these reasons.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I value the learning environment and really enjoy assisting students and faculty by meeting their research needs through reference work, collection development, and instruction. I also value the need to keep furthering my own education. The many changes that have occurred in my 21+ years as an academic librarian and that will keep occurring in the future ensure that I will need to keep learning as long as I keep working.
5. In your own words: I have been an ACRL member for 21 years, and I have been active in ACRL sections for 15 years and counting. My professional involvement in ACRL has made me a better librarian. I have learned from the great programming and I have been enriched by my interaction with my fellow members.
Jessica Pigza
Librarian, General Research Division
New York Public Library--Humanities & Social Sciences Research Library
New York, NY
ACRL member since 2006
1. Describe yourself in three words: Lively. Dogged. Curious.
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Professional common ground.
3. Why did you join ACRL? I wanted to be a part of this community of professionals committed to the collections, the research, and the values of research libraries. I value the way that ACRL provides a structured means for research librarians with different perspectives to work together and support each other as we all work to meet our readers' needs.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? Research librarianship encourages us to think in the broadest of terms about our institutions' roles. A librarian here must preserve and make available materials from centuries past while also collecting with the needs of future researchers in mind. This work--considering both future and past, while working to meet the needs of researchers today--is complex and satisfying.
5. In your own words: I am grateful to work with encouraging colleagues who have provided me with opportunities to expand my responsibilities, learn new skills, and tackle new projects. I like to think of ACRL as a bigger supportive, professional environment, beyond the walls of my own library.
Julie Anne Portman
Technical Services Librarian
Fontbonne University Library
Saint Louis, MO
ACRL member since 2004
1. Describe yourself in three words: Resourceful, outgoing, quirky
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Strategic, vital, mentor
3. Why did you join ACRL? Being new to the profession of librarianship, I look toward those who have gone before me for guidance and knowledge. I can't think of a more informative organization or more professional climate than ACRL to acquire guidance and current information on relevant academic library issues.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? What I value most about academic librarianship is the vibrant atmosphere of learning and development. While I am a librarian and assistant professor with teaching responsibilities, I feel that in many ways I am still a student with much to learn as well as to teach. I am very grateful to work with the students, staff and faculty from whom I gain so much.
5. In your own words: As an undergrad, I suffered from "lifestyles of the young and aimless," unable to focus on one discipline for longer than one semester. After graduation, I missed the dynamic university environment. Librarianship allowed me to return to the intellectually stimulating university setting.
Marilyn R. Pukkila
Head of Instructional Services
Colby College Libraries
Waterville, Maine
ACRL member since 1992
1. Describe yourself in three words: Non-traditional. Passionate. Teacher.
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Network. Collaboration. Development.
3. Why did you join ACRL? The field of academic librarianship is vast and fluid. I need links to a professional organization that will allow me to develop new skills and work wisely with the changes.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? Academic librarianship places me at the heart of teaching, learning, and scholarship. Where else would I want to be?
5. In your own words: I have noticed lately how very few of my friends are really happy in their work. I have a job that I love, that pays me well, and that allows me to have a profound and positive impact on the world. It doesn't get much better than that!
Jon Purcell
Director of Library Services
University Library
St. Andrews University
Scotland
ACRL member since 2006
1. Describe yourself in three words: Northern Irish, enthusiastic, optimistic
2. Describe ACRL in three words: enterprising, stimulating, info rich
3. Why did you join ACRL? I've always been impressed with the quality of writing and the verve of College & Research Libraries News and when a few of my UK friends and colleagues mentioned that they had joined the American Library Association and valued their membership, I thought 'Why not me'? ACRL was the logical next step.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I revel in the challenge of improving and developing library and information services to our student and research community, enabling them to use information resources more effectively and become information literate. Basically, making a difference!
5. In your own words: I'm Jon Purcell, Director of Library Services at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. Our University is Scotland's first, founded in 1411 and the Library dates back to 1620 so it's a very special place for me to work. Golfers will also know St Andrews as the home of golf and although I don't play myself, thousands of golfers visit and enjoy our town.
Cristina D. Ramirez
Collection Librarian for Social & Behavioral Sciences
James Branch Cabell Library
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia
ACRL member since 2003
1. Describe yourself in three words: dynamic, analytic, multidisciplinary
2. Describe ACRL in three words: knowledge, resources, connections
3. Why did you join ACRL? ACRL feels like a home within ALA. As an academic librarian, this organization explores issues that I am interested in and that affect the whole university community. It offers a national-level network of colleagues that bring depth and breadth of knowledge through its thousands of members. Also, the list serv and publications allow me to learn about new opportunities and keep up with emerging trends and issues. ACRL addresses timely ideas and topics such as advocacy and continuing education. It also affords numerous professional opportunities.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? As an academic librarian, I have the opportunity to play a key role in the dissemination of scholarly knowledge across various disciplines. I am able to participate in collaborative initiatives with other librarians and academic faculty, supporting both existing and emerging academic programs. Academic librarians experiment and use new technologies to promote and share resources and information with diverse patrons. Academic libraries are exciting workplaces because of the dynamic changes in higher education and the uses and integration of technology in both teaching and scholarship.
5. In your own words: As a new member of the profession, I am excited to participate in an ever-changing library world. I bring a multidisciplinary perspective having degrees in psychology, philosophy and Middle Eastern studies. As a Hispanic woman, I bring to the profession a multi-lingual and multi-cultural perspective which allows me to participate in the formulation of new ways to collect and disseminate information in response to major demographic changes in the United States. ACRL offers many ways to explore the changes taking place in academic libraries and to learn from those who have contributed so much to the profession.
Tom Reinsfelder
Reference / Instruction Librarian
Penn State University - Mont Alto
ACRL member since 2004
1. Describe yourself in three words: Curious. Lifetime Learner.
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Education. Support. Networking.
3. Why did you join ACRL? I joined ACRL soon after becoming a librarian in order to become better educated about the profession and as a way to keep up with the ongoing issues within our field. Publications, conferences, and email contacts from ACRL all provide methods of communication that are essential to move our profession forward.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship?
I value the challenge of the information seeking process and the never ending opportunity to learn something new while working among students and scholars. I also appreciate the willingness of librarians to share knowledge and resources with each other. Much of the work of ACRL would not be possible without the contributions of librarians from all locations and backgrounds.
5. In your own words: As academic librarians and educators, we have the opportunity to help students realize that with the right tools, it is possible to find answers to questions about anything, even if it isn't found by Google. That's a powerful and life changing ability to possess. Libraries are also facing challenges in so many different areas as the world around us continues to change. While some things like the mission to provide access to information may always remain stable, others practices will not. I am looking forward to the many changes that await us in the future.
Debra C. Rollins
Reference and Instruction Librarian
Coordinator for Information Literacy Outreach
Louisiana State University at Alexandria
Alexandria, LA
ACRL member since 2002
1. Describe yourself in three words: Committed, Creative, Constructive
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Collaborative, Comprehensive, Confusing
3. Why did you join ACRL? I joined in order to be part of conversations about information literacy in higher education. Since I am at a smaller institution I specifically wanted to take part in the College Library Section conversations and initiatives.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? The opportunities it provides to contribute to initiatives that develop students' information literacy. I consider this the single most important learning outcome for undergraduates and librarianship gives me an opportunity to be a standard-bearer for information literacy.
5. In your own words: I am excited to see more academic librarians, especially in smaller institutions, taking advantage of the growing appreciation of the active contribution that library services (not just "the library building") makes to the academic program. I think this change represents a platform from which academic libraries can build and grow in this century; accepting this change may be the key to our survival as a unit of our institutions.
Loriene Roy
Professor
School of Information
The University of Texas at Austin
ACRL member since 2006
1. Describe yourself in three words: Indigenous, Gemini, female
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Solid, supportive, forward-thinking
3. Why did you join ACRL? To keep abreast of concerns of academic librarians; help inform the graduate classes that I teach.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? Their responsiveness to their student and faculty populations; their advances in creating information commons and information literacy
5. In your own words (an open-ended question): What does the future hold for academic and research libraries? We face multiple futures. Academic libraries will continue to serve as leaders in campus information provision.
Stacy Russo
Instruction Librarian
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, California
ACRL member since 2003
1. Describe yourself in three words: Seeking, reading, creating
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Collegial, fun, supportive
3. Why did you join ACRL? I joined ACRL while in library school upon the advice of a librarian. She recommended I remain current by "reading about the profession" and showed me C&RL and C&RL News. While filling out my ACRL membership materials, I discovered the Women's Studies Section (WSS). I became involved with WSS by volunteering to maintain the spirituality list for the Women's Studies Core Books Project (http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/ACRLWSS/). My commitment to WSS grew as a member of the Membership Committee and later as the newsletter editor. Being a part of this dynamic and supportive group of librarians has been amazing.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I value the academic library as a place of discovery, research, and reflection. I enjoy the opportunity to work with students and provide resources, programs, and services that support the creative and intellectual life of the community.
5. In your own words: I can't think of a better career than being an academic librarian. Not only are the day-to-day activities rewarding, but the opportunities for continued learning, professional activity, and creative/scholarly work are true bonuses. I have found my home.
Shari A. Salisbury
Reference Services Coordinator
Downtown Library
The University of Texas at San Antonio
San Antonio, TX
ACRL member since 2004
1. Describe yourself in three words: positive, intelligent, proactive
2. Describe ACRL in three words: scholarly, professional, connected
3. Why did you join ACRL? I am relatively new to academic librarianship and I felt ACRL would provide me with the tools, continuing education opportunities, and occasions to network and get involved that would help me grow in the profession.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I value the opportunity to work with students and faculty in an intellectually stimulating environment, helping to connect them with the information they are seeking. I enjoy having a variety of responsibilities in reference, instruction, and collection development.
5. In your own words: I have a job that I find stimulating and challenging in an environment where I feel that I can make a positive contribution to our patrons, my colleagues, and our institution. What more can one ask?
Marsha Schnirring
Instructional Services Librarian
Mary Norton Clapp Library
Occidental College
Los Angeles, CA
ACRL member since 2003
1. Describe yourself in three words: Enthusiastic information mentor
2. Describe ACRL in three words: IM's best resource
3. Why did you join ACRL? As a new Instructional Services Librarian in an academic setting, ACRL is an essential tool in my professional toolkit. To continue learning and growing as a librarian, I need to avail myself of the profession's best human and information resources! Membership in ACRL assures and facilitates access to them.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? Being at the center of inquiry, connecting individuals and information.
5. In your own words: This is an unbelievably exciting time to be a librarian. No matter the task, the issue, or the challenge, I have found my fellow librarians to be tireless, principled, and unbelievably creative. Librarians wade in, sort out, and speak up. Librarians do whatever needs doing. And in today's information rich, technologically driven world, there's a lot that needs doing. I am so pleased to be sailing into the future in your company!
Carolyn A. Sheehy
Clare and Lucy Oesterle Director of Library Services
Director of Institutional Assessment and Accreditation
Oesterle Library
North Central College
Naperville, Illinois
ACRL member since 1988
Describe yourself in three words: Conscientious, dependable, dedicated
Describe ACRL in three words: Engaging, encouraging, supportive
Why did you join ACRL? Early in my career, I was active in three ALA divisions, one of which was ACRL. As my career progressed and became more clearly identified with college libraries, I withdrew from the other two divisions and focused my professional energies in ACRL. I have never regretted that decision. Working on various ACRL projects with colleagues from a variety of academic libraries has been both stimulating and rewarding.
What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I value the opportunity to work with faculty, staff, and students to advance an enterprise committed to higher education and lifelong learning.
In your own words: For a number of years, I was actively engaged in promoting another revision of Books for College Libraries. I am thrilled about the forthcoming publication of Resources for College Libraries.
Linda Slusar
Professor, Coordinator of the Library and Information Technology Program
College of DuPage
Glen Ellyn, IL
ACRL member for 8 years
1. Describe yourself in three words: Energetic, devoted, passionate
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Brings us together :)
3. Why did you join ACRL? To give back to my profession. To actually get some things done! To make progress on a national level. I have been able to do with through the Library Technical Assistant Education Committee of CJCLS. I have done a national study of Library Technology training programs. We have a working group of directors of these programs from across the country. I have been able to serve as the liaison to CJCLS on the Committee on Education, which has been an honor.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I value the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the students we serve. So many of them say "I had no idea that librarians could help me with these things!"
5. In your own words: I am fortunate to be in a profession that allows me to help connect people with the information that they need to make their lives better. This is truly a dream job. I have never worked with in a profession that is so attuned to change and open to flexibility. I have been able to make a difference in my profession through Soaring to Excellence, our national teleconference training series. What keeps me going is the incredible sharing spirit of librarians from all types of libraries. My students (sometimes) walk out of my classes saying "librarians are awesome" It doesn't get any better than that.
Maura Smale
MLIS 2007
Pratt Institute
New York, NY
ACRL member since 2006
1. Describe yourself in three words: Dedicated. Active. Learner.
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Professional. Engaged. Forward-thinking.
3. Why did you join ACRL? During my previous graduate work in Archaeology, I gained firsthand experience of the value of professional associations. When I decided to pursue my MLIS, joining ACRL was a logical step on my path to academic librarianship.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I appreciate the public service side of academic libraries, and the opportunities that reference and instruction provide to have a positive impact on student success. I'm also interested in the possibilities and challenges of scholarship in an increasingly digital world. I look forward to the potential for lifelong learning that I'm certain a career in academic librarianship will include.
5. In your own words: The ways we create and disseminate information are changing -- fast. Academic librarians play a critical role in shaping these processes and ensuring that information literate students are prepared for the future. I'm excited to be joining the profession at such an interesting time.
Susan Sharpless Smith
Head, Information Technology
Z. Smith Reynolds Library
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC
ACRL member since 2004
1. Describe yourself in three words: Inquisitive, collaborative, forward-thinking
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Vision, service, learning
3. Why did you join ACRL? As I became active in ALA, I found that the ACRL mission most closely matched my various interests. The volunteer opportunities provided a chance to contribute to the profession.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I particularly like the combination of working with faculty scholarship and undergraduate learning. Although they might seem to be at opposite ends of the spectrum, I find that it is intriguing to develop technology solutions to meet the needs of both constituent groups.
5. In your own words: I entered librarianship as a second career and have found limitless opportunity for personal and professional growth in the last 15 years. I found a good match in academic librarianship and coupled that with my passion for integrating technology into the educational experience. It’s been rewarding.
Pamela Snelson
College Librarian
Franklin & Marshall College
Lancaster, PA
ACRL member since 1985
1. Describe yourself in three words: traveler, organized, smiley
2. Describe ACRL in three words: networking, community, support
3. Why did you join ACRL? When I became an academic librarian I joined a profession. People in professions join associations to meet with kindred spirits and to further their common interests. ACRL is the professional association for academic and research librarians.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? Large, small, private, public, residential, commuter - academic librarians share similar values and experience similar problems. I find our diverse commonality stimulating and rewarding.
5. In your own words: I've been an academic librarian since my twenties. During each decade of my career (and there have been 4 for those of you who are counting), I've found a home for my professional interests in ACRL. More significantly, I've made lifelong friends through my involvement with ACRL committees and sections. I can hardly wait to retire and "library-hop" the country.
Cynthia K. Steinhoff
Director of the Library
Anne Arundel Community College
Arnold, Maryland
ACRL member since 1993
Describe yourself in three words: Organized, involved, dedicated
Describe ACRL in three words: Dynamic, valuable, responsive
Why did you join ACRL? I joined ACRL for many reasons – to network with colleagues from all types of libraries, to take advantage of professional development activities, to work to better the profession.
What do you value about academic or research librarianship? Working at a community college affords me the opportunity to meet a wide range of people. In one day, I may work with a "typical" 18-year-old college freshman, a high school student taking an advanced placement class, a mother returning to college after her youngest child starts school, and an adult who is changing careers. It’s never dull!
In your own words: The entire college community was excited when we learned that Truxal Library at Anne Arundel Community College had been named one of ACRL’s "Excellence in Academic Libraries" award recipients in 2002. I still have the voice mail message that our President left for me when she heard we had won the award. A banner announcing the award still hangs in the main staircase in the library and we made a scrapbook of the congratulatory messages that we received from students, faculty, staff, elected officials, and members of the community. The celebration of our award was a major event on the campus that year.
Christine A. Stempinski
Assistant Director for Public Services
University of Houston - Downtown
ACRL member since 2004
Describe yourself in three words: Creative, eclectic, open-minded
Describe ACRL in three words: Networking, resources, experience
Why did you join ACRL? ACRL is the premier professional organization for academic and research librarians. By joining it, I expect to be able to stay abreast of issues, cutting edge trends and solutions in academic librarianship. Most of all, I look forward to the chance to network, share ideas, and learn from the insights and experiences of peers that I meet through membership in the Association.
What do you value about academic or research librarianship? More than anything, I value scholarly research and the opportunities librarianship provides to become involved by identifying, locating and providing access to appropriate resources, based on professional skills and experience. Academic librarians are the critical nexus between students, faculty and researchers on the one hand, and information resources, on the other. Our jobs are to provide stewardship of and access to scholarly resources, and I find the pinpointing of useful and apt resources especially stimulating and satisfying.
In your own words: I'm still a quotation in the making.
Merrily E. Taylor
Professor and University Librarian
Washington & Lee University
Lexington, VA
ACRL member since 1985
1. Describe yourself in three words: Extroverted, creative, optimistic
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Informative, collegial, stimulating
3. Why did you join ACRL? Because it is the primary professional association for individuals who have chosen to devote their careers to academic librarianship, and because it offers a wonderful venue for professional education and development.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? The rich and varied environment in which we work, that is, our "imbedding" in the colleges and universities we serve. Each institution has its own character, style, tradition and mission, and within the academic and/or research library, there is room for people with many talents, interests, academic backgrounds, cultures, and languages. Our colleges and universities perform a critical function, educating "the rising generation" for the challenges of tomorrow's world, and we in academic libraries are privileged to play an important role in that mission.
5. In your own words (an open-ended statement): I am about to begin my 40th year as an academic librarian. I have worked in a state university library and in the libraries of private universities, and have been a reference librarian, collection development librarian, department head, associate director, and director, and in all those roles I've found challenge, learning opportunities, endless variety, and yes, fun. I've been fortunate to work with some wonderful colleagues, from whom I've learned a great deal. Over the years that I've been a librarian I've seen a tremendous number of changes in libraries, and in how we deliver our services, but I've seen no change in the basic spirit of the profession, the commitment to service, open access to information, user privacy, and the preservation and delivery of knowledge. I always have been proud to be a librarian, which I regard as a "calling" as much as anything else, and I remain so.
Dr. Julie Beth Todaro
Dean, Library Services
Austin Community College Library
Austin, Texas
ACRL member for 12 years
1. Describe yourself in three words: professional, committed, inclusive
2. Describe ACRL in three words: required professional membership!
3. Why did you join ACRL? One of the basic tenets of professionalism is membership and activity in professional associations. I joined ALA almost immediately out of library school and began to--given my positions--join divisions and other workgroups and attend conferences and seek out opportunities for involvement. When I became an academic librarian I joined ACRL and, since then, have been on a wide variety of committees and task forces and boards. I have formed extraordinary friendships, established a professional network, and found the best resource for learning and staying current. I think association membership and activity is a cornerstone of one's professional life.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I didn't start out to become an academic librarian. Like many others in our profession, I started out as another type of librarian because of a mentor I had many years ago. A wonderful opportunity led me to a faculty position in library education in the early 80's and my teaching and learning responsibilities included management and—obviously—management of libraries means research and study in all types of libraries! I grew to love the responsibility for keeping current across the profession for my management curriculum. What a challenge to read broadly, apply basic theories to multiple environments and to increase the network among students and faculty so that students could fully appreciate the entire profession! When I left library education in Michigan to return to Texas, I—literally—asked local librarians what library in town had the "most going on." The community college library kept coming up. A newer entity, it was growing and changing and had dynamic leadership . . . someone I had heard of through my association activity. I applied for positions there twice and was turned down once but turned down a position elsewhere in town to keep trying back at the college. On my second try I got a management position. I loved it from the first minute. Although I had loved and valued my other higher education experience, this was perfect for me. Working with the widest variety of students and faculty in a educational setting, broad networking and ultimately partnerships with other types of libraries in the community, rapidly changing work settings and more projects than seemingly humanly possible to complete, I fit in. Academic environments allow library and information professionals the best possible combination of teaching and learning experiences and whether you feel comfortable in a two-year, four-year, or six-year, in a public or private, or whether joint use/partnership opportunities are your perfect fit, I highly recommend the experience.
5. In your own words: NOW is a good time to be in our profession. Yes, there are cutbacks, threats to intellectual thought and progress, major confidentiality and security issues, a critical need to balance scholarly content with the basic or general and the popular, but — and forgive my rhetoric here — we're in the game, we're at the table. You read the newspaper or listen to the news or connect to CSPAN and we're "there." For years—and for the majority of us — we were revered in many ways but little known and often misunderstood and also often "hardly there." For better and for worse, now — we're talked about, sought after, sometimes deliberately excluded and criticized and legislated against, but we're also still revered, legislated for, turned to, invited in, and considered. Throughout my early career, in groups of non-library and information people and upon learning of my profession, I got the "shhh" or "what a cool job, you get to read all day!" or "what a nice, calm place to work" or "when I retire I want to get an easy job like yours." I haven't gotten those comments in many years. For whatever reason — rampant "dog year" technology, ever-changing resources, constant focus on the information world, the web and its mysteries, political focus — both good and bad — people are talking about my job and where I work. Not everybody wants or needs or has to have a job at the center of things, but I enjoy it. I would choose this world any day.
Michelle Tomaszewski
Reference Librarian
Pennsylvania State University, Altoona Campus
ACRL member since 2005
1. Describe yourself in three words: organized, creative, dedicated
2. Describe ACRL in three words: focused, collegial, responsive
3. Why did you join ACRL? I joined ACRL shortly after starting my position at Penn State. My colleagues and supervisor encouraged me to join because of the extensive benefits ACRL offers to academic librarians. I find ACRL to be more relevant to my daily work than ALA as a whole, and I appreciate the opportunities for education and growth offered to me by ACRL.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I believe that academic librarians can help students learn critical thinking and research skills that will help them throughout their post-college careers. My favorite part of academic librarianship is working students and watching develop as researchers and scholars. I enjoy the challenge of keeping up with technology and constantly finding new and improved resources for student research needs.
5. In your own words: Academic librarians are constantly reinventing themselves while trying to maintain their traditional place as academic research gatekeepers. The relatively recent need to market ourselves has caused tension and uncertainty in the field, as most of us went to school to become librarians, not publicity experts. There will continue to be a need for librarians even with the expansion of online information resources, but we need to work harder to convince students of our usefulness.
Dan Tonkery
Vice President of Business Development
EBSCO Information Services
Birmingham, AL
ACRL member since 2001
1. Describe yourself in three words: Creative thinker, mentor, problem solver
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Advocate, diverse, educator
3. Why did you join ACRL? I joined ACRL to be able to network and participate as a librarian in many of the issues facing college and research libraries today. I am in a unique position of having had two lives; first as librarian and then as a library services vendor. It is important to be informed about issues and problems facing libraries so I can better build products and services that might help solve some of the problems. ACRL through their meetings and publications provides much of that needed background, plus I just like the people you find in ACRL as we share a common value.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I believe that libraries play a critical role in defining our culture and help to establish or support the freedom of speech and other intellectual freedoms that we value. Academic libraries offer the laboratory for our future leaders and researchers. Having strong well funded libraries is a corner stone of our educational system. So I value the role that libraries place in our educational system and want to insure that they have the tools they need to meet their user’s needs.
5. In your own words: I have been a librarian for over thirty six years and have been to every ALA Conference since 1970 (New Orleans will be number 72), both annual and mid-winter and I have seen the changes from print to electronic and all the steps in between and I am just as excited about going to number 72 as I was my first Conference. There is an energy generated from the sessions, the networking, and from seeing how our industry is evolving that is still educational and rewarding. ACRL is part of that excitement and let’s just hope it will continue to be for generations of librarians to come.
Jeff Trzeciak
University Librarian
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario
Canada
ACRL member since 2005
1. Describe yourself in three words: Persistent, innovative, iconoclastic
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Diverse, engaged, progressive
3. Why did you join ACRL? I think ACRL has a good handle on the major issues facing academic libraries today. The programs supported by and sponsored by the association address all of the major challenges facing our libraries and higher education in general. The goals and objectives represent a broad range of issues from advocacy through recruitment and retention of the next generation of academic library leaders. ACRL provides a forum for us to engage in an important dialog about these issues and how they're affecting our individual institutions and our profession.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? We play a significant role not only in helping our students through their academic programs but also in preparing them for their lives "post-graduation." These students then graduate and become leaders in their fields and in our communities. It's rewarding to be part of their lives during such a formative stage. I really enjoy working with our students.
5. In your own words: Our profession is in a state of flux and has been for quite some time.
I find it a terribly exciting time to be an academic librarian. We now have an opportunity to reinvent ourselves as never before and become true partners in teaching, learning and research at our institutions. It's also a period fraught with the danger that we might not reinvent ourselves. The future of our profession is truly in our hands and depends on us.
Paul Waelchli
Assistant Director for Library Instructions & Public Services
Charles C. Myers Library
University of Dubuque
Dubuque, Iowa
ACRL member since 2006
1. Describe yourself in three words: Passionate, Perceptive, Invested
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Fellowship, Scholarship, Leadership
3. Why did you join ACRL? I initially joined ACRL as a student in library school when I realized there was a profession and world outside of the classroom. At the time, because I was a para-professional position and my library experience was limited, joining ACRL, connecting with members, and following the publications helped put my experiences in a larger context. Librarianship and education are not isolated endeavors, and ACRL and its members share in that journey.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? Education. My career path took me from educating voters on political candidates to student-teaching in high schools while completing my Master's of Arts in Teaching. But in both cases what interested me was helping others learn. Academic and research librarians are educators. We not only help our students learn what they need in a specific class, but we help them develop the ability to learn throughout life. While I came to librarianship through an indirect path, my goal has always been to educate.
5. In your own words (an open-ended statement): I believe in my students, and I believe in your students. I believe that they have the ability to succeed in their classes and in life. And while we may not give them the credit they deserve, their information, media, and technology literacy skills are a foundation for their success. Through their playful experiences in video games and popular culture, our students are developing the foundation of those skills. My responsibility,our responsibility, is not to see these skills not as a hindrance to their education, but as an asset. As librarians, we can build upon these skills and move them into an education context. ACRL is a resource for librarians to collaborate in recognizing these skills and developing them. ACRL believes in our students.
Richard Hume Werking
Library Director & Professor of History
Nimitz Library, U.S. Naval Academy
Annapolis, Maryland
Joined ACRL in 1976
1. Describe yourself in three words: Librarian, Historian, Educator
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Engaging, Active, Representative
3. Why did you join ACRL? To obtain and test ideas; to become better acquainted with effective practices throughout the profession, and get to know the people associated with them.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? Its tradition of bringing together would-be learners and recorded knowledge of substance, and its determination to continue that tradition.
5. In your own words: One of our biggest challenges as a profession of academic librarians is to value continuities as well as changes. Several years ago Walt Crawford and Michael Gorman put it very well in their book FUTURE LIBRARIES (p. 12): "We do not advocate clinging to old things because they are old, nor do we advocate discarding old things because they are old… It is neither the easiest of prescriptions nor the most fashionable, but libraries need to combine the past and the future in a rational, clear-headed, unsentimental manner."
Jennifer A. Younger
Edward H. Arnold Director of University Libraries
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
ACRL member since 1985
1. Describe yourself in three words: bullish on libraries (strategic, positive, always learning)
2. Describe ACRL in three words: forward-looking, educator, developer
3. Why did you join ACRL? Networking with colleagues; personal growth, to support standards, new developments, etc. in academic and research libraries; to support continuing education for librarians and library staff; to support the voice of academic and research librarians in higher education as well as in the library community
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I value the talents of the many outstanding individuals in academic libraries who develop and deliver excellent collections and services. I value the contribution we as librarians and staff make to teaching, learning and research on our individual campuses as well as to the global community of scholars.
5. In your own words: We have a wonderful window into the world of education. We have so many opportunities to make a significant difference in the intellectual lives of students and faculty and have as a profession, had a very positive impact on the educational community. Sounds trite, but I love (almost) everything about working in academic libraries.
Lisa Yuro
Reference Librarian/Humanities and Social Sciences Coordinator
Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
ACRL member since 2002
Describe yourself in three words. Helpful, tenacious, and happy
Describe ACRL in three words. Timely, essential, diverse
Why did you join ACRL? The opportunity to form professional relationships and share ideas with librarians from other academic institutions was the main reason I joined ACRL.
What do you value about academic or research librarianship? On a professional level, I value building library collections and providing services that meet user needs and institutional goals. Personally, I value the unique potential for variety that every day in an academic library brings. Above all, I value the intellectual generosity and support that comes from colleagues.
In your own words: I look forward to the day when librarians view the internet as just another resource and not a threat to the future of the profession.
Sha Li Zhang, Ph. D.
Assistant Director for Collections & Technical Services
University Libraries
University of North Carolina Greensboro
Greensboro, NC
ACRL member since 1992
1. Describe yourself in three words: Enthusiastic, energetic, optimistic.
2. Describe ACRL in three words: Advocacy, inspiration, opportunity.
3. Why did you join ACRL? ACRL was the first ALA division that I joined when I started my professional career after completing my MLS. Since then, I served on several ACRL standing committees. I also served on committees on the Community College and Junior College Libraries Section, College Libraries Section, and University Libraries Section when my library career progressed. It has been beneficial for my professional growth through these ACRL activities and through contacts/networking opportunities with other ACRL members. The issues, agendas, discussions, and programs from ACRL have been very closely related to academic libraries. Its publications, especially, College & Research Libraries and College & Research Libraries News, are excellent venues to help librarians keep abreast on new research findings in academic librarianship and on current trends among academic and research libraries. ACRL has been a leader in advocating for academic and research libraries on such important issues as copyright, intellectual property, information literacy, scholarly communication, assessments, users’ privacy, etc.
4. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? Upon college graduation, I started working in a university library which provided me with initial exposure to academic librarianship. Having worked in several university libraries, I gained a better understanding of values of academic and research librarianship: library services have helped and enhanced students’ learning experience and faculty teaching and research needs are met through library collections, reference and instructional services, and other outreach programs. In many college and university campus, faculty and students often value highly their libraries, along with other campus services. Having held positions in collection management, cataloging, acquisitions, and preservation in academic libraries through my career, I have worked very hard to help improve efficiency of these library functions and advance the library’s mission toward a better services to students and faculty. It has been rewarding experience to work closely with students and faculty members and to provide assistance in their intellectual explorations and in their process of knowledge creation.
5. In your own words: ACRL members consist of a large group of intellectual thinkers and effective movers within ALA: they are well-educated (many of them hold additional graduate degrees beyond MLS); they are scholars (they contribute more ILS publications in the library profession than their counterparts in other ALA divisions); they are service-oriented (they have passionately advocated for information literacy and made sure that students acquire needed library research skills as a part of their education experience); they are collaborators (they work with various campus departments to deliver top-class library services); they are advocates for students and faculty during campus budget crisis (they have tirelessly protected collection funds), and they are the futurists. I am proud of being an ACRL member and will continue supporting its mission.