Amy Odwarka
ALA Divisions:
ALA Roundtables:
Empathetic, innovative, introspective.
Two at once! Tom Lake by Ann Patchett and Sacred Trash: The Lost and Found World of the Cairo Geniza by Adina Hall and Peter Cole.
Community, network, supportive.
Academic library work is my second career! After 25 years as a middle school librarian I made the shift to focus on college students and can't say enough about how ACRL has helped me form a new community and network. I have learned so much from other members, whether it be committee work through the Instruction Section and External Liaison Committee or exploring how the Framework for Information Literacy has deepened my pedagogy.
I have the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues all over campus as we collectively work to support students. Having these connections allows me to share the services and initiatives of the library with so many groups, both inside the academic arm and outside with student life. It's rewarding to help others see how the work myself and my colleagues are engaging in allow students to become critical users of information for the rest of their lives. My contributions to campus help students and faculty reach their goals and assist the University with innovative and strategic teaching pedagogy.
Academic librarians have a level of flexibility within the University community that make a huge difference across campus. We have the chance to support so many patrons, impacting people in ways we will never know. It's pretty great to tell someone, especially young people, you are an academic librarian and their response is "that's so cool!". In one day I can be a teacher, a coach, a researcher and the person who sits down and listens to your problem. Everyday is exciting!
Pronouns:she/her
Credentials:MLIS, Assistant Professor
Title:First Year Experience/ Student Success Librarian
Workplace:Mary J. Booth Library/ Eastern Illinois University
Location:Charleston, IL