Vaughn Haynes
Orange, lasagna, Mondays.
I am reading Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova.
Connections, community, opportunity.
The chance to get to know other librarians outside my little bubble has been extremely rewarding. And so fun! I'm always looking for ways to keep things fresh for learners as someone interested in instruction and information literacy. ACRL is a consistent source of inspiration and community, giving me the chance to trade ideas with other instruction librarians and bring new strategies home. It's fun reading the daily digests and participating in such an active group.
I help out with special projects here and there. My favorite ones involve instruction and reference - I'm currently in the middle of fielding reference requests from students in WSU's prison education program. I've been doing one-shots with undergraduate classes, helping new (and old!) students get familiar with library resources. And of course, you don't do instructional work without whipping up a few LibGuides... I just did an entry on Doors for WSU's Subject of the Month exhibit, and helped with a Latinx Reading List guide. I've done some outreach work, too, helping put together some displays, events, and workshops. Finally, I've also done some data visualization work - I created the Michigan MeL Map which tracks Michigan's interlibrary transactions, and contributed georeferencing to Atlascope Detroit, a viewer that layers old insurance maps over current maps. A little bit of everything!
One of the things I really enjoy about working in libraries is the feeling of connecting people to information. That, and helping people get more confident in navigating the vast information landscape. Especially as the waters get muddier with ai slop and disinformation, I hope people gain a deeper appreciation for critical literacy and an understanding that its a skill that can be learned!
Pronouns:he/him/his
Title:Graduate Student Assistant
Workplace:Wayne State University
Location:Detroit, MI