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Meet Reference Librarian, Latanya Jenkins, this week’s IAmRUSA interviewee

Starting today, RUSA’s week-long interview series, IAmRUSA, is featuring Reference Librarian, Latanya Jenkins from Temple University!

Ever wonder exactly what kind of work members of RUSA do, or maybe which courses they would recommend for students looking for a career in reference or user services? Read on and ask away!

My name is Latanya and I received my Bachelor’s degree in anthropology and English at F&M. I received my Master’s in Information Science and Library Science at Drexel University in 2006 in Philly, while working full-time at Temple University’s Health Sciences library as a clerk.

Currently, I am working as a Reference Librarian at Temple University’s Paley Library on the Main campus, a position which I just started in January. I am the Reference Librarian for Government Information and African American Studies.

I am also working on collecting books in the area of African American Studies and the faculty are also keeping me busy with Instruction. I am also responsible for Government documents at Temple University managing that collection. Academic libraries is where I have all of my professional experience. I have a lot of experience with the associations as well.

I became active in RUSA through the Emerging Leaders program, which helped me understand more about committee work and how to volunteer in projects that could use my talents, which would help the association.

Latanya N. Jenkins
Reference Librarian for Government Information
Liaison to the African American History Department

Hosted on ALA Connect in the IAmRUSA Community –http://connect.ala.org/node/211629 ALA members have the opportunity to ask questions of participating RUSA members about their professional careers, their passions, and anything else that may come up involving librarianship.

Be sure to join in the community and if you are interested in participating as an interviewee, contact Kirk MacLeod at kgmcleod@ualberta.ca or Sarah Hammill at hammills@fiu.edu for more information.

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Confessions of a reference librarian

Ever wonder exactly what kind of work members of RUSA do, or maybe which courses they would recommend for students looking for a career in reference or user services? On October 28, RUSA will begin to run a series of week-long interviews with a different member each week.

Hosted on ALA Connect at the IAmRUSA Community – http://connect.ala.org/node/211629 ALA members will be given the opportunity to ask questions of participating RUSA members about their professional careers, their passions, and anything else that may come up involving librarianship.

Be sure to join in the community and if you are interested in participating as an interviewee, contact Kirk MacLeod at kgmcleod@ualberta.ca or Sarah Hammill at hammills@fiu.edu for more information.

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Rock on: the ALA 2013 student to staff experience

Each year 40 library students are chosen to assist ALA staff during ALA Annual Conference as a part of the Student-to-staff program. In exchange for working four hours a day, these students receive free conference registration, housing, and a per diem for meal expenses. During free time, they may attend programs and participate in other conference activities.

Sounds like a sweet deal, right? Let me be the one to tell you that it certainly is.

Lyndsay Faye, Matti Friedman, Peter Heller, Jonathan Tropper, Richard Ford, Timothy Egan.  These authors were the rock stars of my trip to the 2013 ALA conference. Not only did I hear them speak at the “Literary Tastes” event and the Carnegie Award Ceremony, respectively, but I also received personalized signed copies of their books. I saw them up close. I shook their hands. Sigh.

These experiences happened because the rock stars of ALA, RUSA, and ASCLA made it possible:  Don, Melissa, Susan, Liz, Leighann and Andrea. Thanks so much for giving me and my cohort, Jay, the most amazing opportunities possible at ALA. While we worked as  Student-to-Staffers, we networked, formed solid relationships with other librarians, and learned about how a huge conference functions with the enormous dedication of staff and volunteers.

I also want to acknowledge Wayne State University, which I proudly represent, along with Dr. Holley, the faculty advisor of the ALA student chapter on campus. Thank you Xs infinity for selecting me to attend ALA Chicago 2013!

Michelle Scobie
MLIS candidate
Wayne State University

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Electronic participation in RUSA–What works for you?

Major discussions at RUSA Board, in Section Executive Committee meetings, and at ALA Council during the Midwinter Meeting in Denver concerned virtual participation for our members.  We need to consider how we can best use our time and resources.  In what instances will technology serve members and their ability to participate in RUSA as well or better than face-to-face meetings?  In what instances is meeting f2f preferable?

We want to facilitate committee work and encourage participation for those whose financial and/or time budgets don’t permit two (and for some, more) conferences a year.  We also want to have a full understanding of what this would mean to RUSA and surface any disadvantages more electronic participation might entail.  We want to hear from you about virtual participation.

If RUSA cuts back on participation at Midwinter and encourages committees to conduct their work/reporting out on an electronic basis, how would your participation and the work of any committees where you serve be impacted?  How can RUSA facilitate committee work for those committees interested in that option? What are the benefits? What are the drawbacks?  Has your committee already begun working electronically and if so, what electronic options did you use and how successful has it been?

We are seeking your input. Please share your thoughts and concerns with us.  Send your emails with the subject line:  “RUSA Electronic Participation” to me at bmacikas@ala.org.  We’d appreciate having your comments by March 15.

Within your section, please also discuss this issue. RUSA will be studying this issue in a deliberate manner and any changes we make will be rolled out over time.

Thanks!

Barb

Barb Macikas

Executive Director