University of Alberta’s Kirk MacLeod selected as RUSA Spectrum Scholar

CHICAGO — Kirk MacLeod, MLIS candidate in the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Alberta and serials technician for the Government of Alberta, will serve as the Spectrum Scholar for the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of ALA.

MacLeod is a 2012 Spectrum Scholarship recipient and was selected for this position from a pool of current Spectrum participants and alumni who hold membership in RUSA. Recipients must demonstrate commitment to RUSA’s mission of supporting excellence in the delivery of general library services and materials and the provision of reference and information services, collection development, readers’ advisory and resource sharing for all ages in every type of library. In this role, MacLeod will work with RUSA’s member leaders on various professional and association-related projects, including launching a weekly “I Am A” question-and-answer with a different RUSA member each week and revitalizing the RUSA Ambassadors outreach out to LIS programs.

“My personal interests lean towards reference and readers' advisory services, and I am thrilled to pursue these interests further as the 2013 RUSA Spectrum Scholar Intern,” said MacLeod. “I am looking forward to the opportunity to view these key aspects of librarianship from an international perspective, and using them to inform and enrich my fellow Spectrum Scholars, MLIS candidates at the University of Alberta, and my professional career.”

“It is one of the privileges of being RUSA president to be able to work with a Spectrum Scholar on projects that will enrich RUSA and enhance the student’s career,” said RUSA President M. Kathleen Kern. “Kirk is enthusiastic and dedicated, and I know he is as excited as I am to start his professional involvement with ALA and RUSA .”

ALA’s Spectrum program recruits and provides scholarships to American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students to assist them with obtaining a graduate degree and leadership positions within the profession and the association. The goal of Spectrum is to increase the number of racially and ethnically diverse professionals in the field of library and information science to best position libraries at the core of today’s culturally diverse communities.

MacLeod has previous work experience with two First Nations non-profits--Native Counselling Services of Alberta and the Nechi Training, Research, and Health Promotions Institute—which became member libraries in the First Nations Information Connection, an online consortium of tribal college and special libraries throughout Alberta. He earned his Bachelor of Professional Arts from Athabasca University, majoring in Communication Studies.

To learn more about ALA’s Spectrum Scholarship Program, please contact the ALA Office for Diversity at 1 (800) 545-2433, ext. 5048 or visit www.ala.org/spectrum.

The Reference and User Services Association, a division of the American Library Association, represents librarians and library staff in the fields of reference, specialized reference, collection development, readers’ advisory and resource sharing. RUSA is the foremost organization of reference and information professionals who make the connections between people and the information sources, services, and collection materials they need.  Not a member, but interested in discounted registration rates on conference, preconferences and other events? Join, renew or add RUSA to your ALA membership at www.ala.org/membership. Learn more about the association at www.ala.org/rusa.