John J Meier
ALA Divisions:
Inclusive library leader.
I'm currently reading Firebug by Risa Patterson, the debut novel from a college friend. It's a riveting modern fantasy, combining ancient gods with a contemporary thriller.
Connection, innovative, scholarly.
What I most value about ACRL are the friends, research collaborators, and professional connections I have made over the years. Every time I attend a conference, committee meeting, or online discussion forum, I am impressed by the insight and expertise of my fellow ACRL members. I frequently seek experiences and opportunities that enable meeting new people across our association. While I began my time in ACRL in the Science and Technology Section, my involvement has evolved along with my career through both research and service opportunities.
With the tenure status of librarians at my institution, it has also been very important to me that ACRL has a multitude of scholarly activities and opportunities. I've recently co-edited a book on Inclusive Leadership in Academic Libraries with colleagues after working with them on the New Roles and Changing Landscapes Committee, which I am co-chairing in the coming year. I look forward to each new issue of College & Research Libraries as well as C&RL News to discover new approaches to our work and inform my own practice.
As the department head for our STEM Libraries, I lead a dozen employees across four separate locations on the University Park campus. Our team is a mix of tenured library faculty, newer tenure-track library faculty, and full-time staff along with dozens of part-time employees. My approach as a leader is to amplify the impact of the excellent work they do, while identifying partnerships and new approaches to enable more sustainable practices. Every person brings unique perspectives and skills to our organization, so I endeavor to create an environment where each team member can thrive and succeed.
As a former computer engineer turned librarian, I am always looking for how we can utilize technology in the most appropriate ways to enhance our work. Librarians sit at an intersection of humanity and the information ecosystem, which always gives us a unique perspective that is vital to teaching and research in the academy. It is important for us to continually advocate for our role and expertise both on university and college campuses, as well as in society.
Pronouns:he/him
Title:Head of STEM Libraries
Job Function:Department Head
Workplace:Penn State University
Location:University Park, PA