NMRT Midwinter 2020 Social!!

Are you an NMRT member looking to expand your professional network in a fun and casual environment during Midwinter? Join us on Sunday, January 26th from 6-8 p.m. at MilkBoy Philadelphia for the NMRT Midwinter Social! Your fellow NMRT hosts will be proving some snacks and prizes, along with a cash bar, DIY business card craft, and a rock-paper-scissors tournament. Bring a friend, take a break, and meet some great colleagues.

Register for the event at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ala-nmrt-midwinter-social-milkboy-tickets-85788839729.  Find the event on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/events/1029458767388849/

We hope to see you there! If you have any questions, please contact tim dot furgal at gmail dot com.

NMRT Midwinter Flyer.png

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Deadline to apply for the 2020 Shirley Olofson Memorial Award is FAST approaching!

Are you looking for funds to help pay for your trip to ALA’s 2020 Annual Conference in Chicago, Illinois?

Apply by Friday, December 13, 2019 for the NMRT Shirley Olofson Memorial Award and you may receive a $1000 check to help pay for the cost of attendance!

Applicants must:

Be a member of ALA and NMRT
Be active in the library profession
Show promise for activity in the area of professional development
Have a valid financial need
Have attended no more than five ALA annual conferences

To apply, please visit http://www.ala.org/rt/nmrt/initiatives/applyforfunds/shirleyolofson. Please email Leslie J. Winter (lesliejwinter@library.tamu.edu) if you have any additional questions.

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Elizabeth Boden selected as 2020 NMRT Emerging Leader

The New Members Round Table (NMRT) is pleased to sponsor Elizabeth Boden as our 2020 Emerging Leader.  Elizabeth currently works as the Adult Services Manager at the North Riverside Public Library in Riverside, IL.  She works closely with her colleagues and local community organizations to expand the adult Spanish-language programming and resources available at her library so that the library is better able to serve the diverse community that patronizes the library.  She received her MLIS from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

The sponsorship consists of a $1,000 award to be used towards attendance at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia and the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago.  As NMRT’s Emerging Leader, Elizabeth will attend ALA Midwinter and Annual to undergo leadership training along with working on a team to complete an ALA project.  In the culmination of the program, Elizabeth and her team will present the results of their work in a poster session at ALA Annual.   

Previously NMRT-sponsored Emerging Leaders include Megan Hodge in 2011, Heidi Steiner in 2012, Margaret Howard in 2013, Kate Tkacik in 2014, Stacey Nordlund in 2015, Mandi Goodsett in 2016, Jewel Davis in 2018, and Kimberlee Hodges in 2019.

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Alternative Voices: April Moyo

The Alternative Voices Feature is brought to you by the NMRT’s Membership, Diversity, Promotion, and Recruitment Committee. It is meant to give a platform to the voices of librarians from underrepresented communities in the library field. The format of the feature is a journalistic question and answer format. It provides information that the librarian wants people to know about them, plus their thoughts on the current state of the field of librarianship.

Name – April Moyo
City & State – Charlotte, NC
Position Title – Librarian at Central Piedmont Community College
Length of time in the library field – 6 years

Tell us a little bit about your background. Where did you attend college? What degrees do you have? What programs (undergraduate or graduate) prepared you for your current position? Tell us about your position and what you do? What is your definition of diversity, or equity or inclusion?

I started my career as a classroom teacher in DC Public Schools, then moved on to working in Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland (still teaching) as well as becoming a Library Media Specialist, totaling 11 years in K-12 public schools. I transitioned from teaching in a traditional classroom setting to becoming a school librarian after attending The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC for, my Masters of Science in Library and Information Science. This degree, as well as my background in education, prepared me for my current role as the Campus Library Manager at the Harris Campus of Central Piedmont Community College. As the library manager, my work includes the overall operations of the library, leading and managing a small staff, serving students, faculty, and campus staff, collaborating with colleagues and committees regarding library initiatives, and providing reference and instructional services to students, via in-person or embedded classes online. I also work to plan and prepare for events, exhibitions, and learning programs that help to tell our story–the library as a service, a place, and a resource. I work to ensure the library has a positive reputation as a campus cultural institution focused on student success. I think of diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential to our work as librarians. These concepts steer decisions we make in programming, collection development, examining accessibility to materials and spaces, and providing resources and services for the communities we serve nearby and at large.

How are you becoming or staying involved with the wider profession?

I have joined several professional organizations in hopes that it would help me keep abreast of current issues and trends, and expose new opportunities in the field. Most recently, I have joined the ALA communications committee and became a contributor to WOC+Lib. I am also a member of the Metrolina Library Association (MLA) and the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. Attending the MLA Conference in 2018 was great. It is a smaller conference, with a more intimate environment than most conferences, and I was able to meet and connect with other librarians in North Carolina. I continuously seek conference opportunities, whether in-person or via the web, to keep learning.

Do you have any advice for new graduates applying to jobs?

Volunteer in various library settings so you get a good sense of what different settings offer and what a typical day might look like in those settings. Perhaps apply for a residency program, or shadow someone in the role you think you might want so that you can gain some insight into the daily workflow versus classroom/textbook knowledge. Not every opportunity will be paid; however, the experience it provides will be invaluable.

Now more than ever, it is important for libraries to seek out diverse materials to add to their collection but some may have difficulty locating materials that accurately reflect the voice of a specific community. What resource would you recommend that librarians use to locate the most up-to-date and relevant sources?

My campus has a program for Early Childhood Education; therefore, I monitor a small children’s literature collection in my library. In regards to children’s literature, a few sources for locating relevant, diverse materials are “We Need Diverse Books” and “Diverse Book Finder.” No matter the genre, I also follow authors, illustrators, other librarians, publishers, and other library and book-related institutions on Twitter for quick information on new and upcoming releases. This helps me to keep a running list of work to research later and while I am working on collection development. Social media is a great tool for grabbing small “bytes” of information to further your knowledge in many areas.

What trends are most impacting the field right now?

Looking forward, recently I have read a lot about libraries’ use of space and how their roles in the community might change–to include becoming a single point of contact for new and perhaps non-traditional roles (childcare space, social work services, multimedia editing tools, responding to the Opioid crisis, providing life-skills and life re-entry services, etc.) What do communities want in their libraries versus what we think they want?

What’s the best lesson you’ve learned on the job?

I’ve learned that effective communication, whether informal or formal, in-person, via email, or meetings, is crucial to productivity and professional relationships with others, especially when you work with so many different people who serve various roles, and you also have so many modes of communication available today.

What is the strangest question you’ve ever been asked while working on the reference desk?

In a previous position as a school media specialist, a student asked me if I could fix their (broken) sandals.

I’m on Twitter @libonthemove.

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NMRT Professional Development Grant Award

So many awards and scholarships available! Please consider applying!

“Short on cash but want to attend this year’s ALA conference? We’ve got you covered! Apply for the NMRT Professional Development Grant award by December 13th. This is your opportunity to win $1,000 to offset the costs to attend this year’s Annual conference in Chicago, IL  on June 25-30.  For more information about the award and to apply, click here: http://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/awards/264/apply.

You must be a current NMRT member to apply. To join, visit the ALA website and follow the “Join ALA” link.

For questions, please contact Leah Plocharczyk, Chair of the NMRT Professional Development Grant Committee, at lplochar@fau.edu. Good luck!”

Credit: South Georgia Technical College
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NMRT October Online Discussion: Finding Your Fit

The October discussion focused on a topic of deep importance to any librarian – how do you find where you fit in the profession? Should you be a public, academic, law, medical, or other librarian? Do you have to be a librarian or are there other places you could go? What steps should you take to figure out where you belong? This month’s discussion provided plenty of advice and stories from soon-to-be and current librarians. Plenty of good advice was shared as were struggles in the job market.

Internships and Volunteering
One of the biggest obstacles to finding your fit is finding opportunities in the first place. Internships and volunteering are a great way to test out working in a particular position even if you only do it for a handful of hours a week. These types of opportunities are low risk and a great way to test the waters of a particular type of librarianship. Approach libraries that you would like to intern or volunteer for to see what is available. It is important to note that these kinds of things may or may not be advertised on the library’s website, so it is best to ask. The worst they can tell you is no and then you can move on to the next library. These are also a great way to get your proverbial “foot in the door” somewhere. These kinds of
opportunities can be a pathway to getting hired at that library and, at the very least, you have networked and made professional connections with the people you worked around.

Taking the Plunge
As discussed by some of the participants this month, sometimes you just have to take the plunge and give a job a try. Apply to everything you can. Perhaps you walk into a library looking for a job and get hired on the spot or you come across a job opportunity that you feel some hesitance about but you give it a try anyway. Sometimes taking these kinds of risks may land you in a position you wind up loving. You may discover a passion for something that you never knew you had.

On the flip side, you may also discover that you hate a particular job, but this is okay too! At the end of the day, the experience you got and the things you learned in the position and about yourself are what’s important. Sometimes we have to be willing to take some risks to determine what kind of librarian we should be.

Networking
Another important aspect is the concept of networking. Taking on an internship or volunteering is one way of meeting other people in the field and getting involved. But there are other ways to get your name out there and meet other professionals. Sign up for your state library association and get involved in volunteering on committees or other projects they have available. You could even attend social events organized by your library association to meet other professionals who are at various stages in their careers. Talking to your college professors is another great way to network. As they handle a lot of students who have gone through their library science classes, they can be useful in helping to connect you with others that may share similar interests or struggles. They have also likely
worked in the field themselves and can provide invaluable advice. Even if you haven’t been in library school for a while, reach out to a professor.

Struggles in Finding Work
While the above information is good advice for finding a position, a common thread throughout this month’s discussion were the struggles in finding a job at all. One thing that cannot be ignored is that the job market is tough for librarians – even more so if you are dedicated to finding a job in a particular type of library. One particular thing that was noted was the difficulty in finding full time work. Part time jobs abound, but this means that librarians are lacking benefits and the stability that comes with full time work. Not to mention that attempting to coordinate schedules for different jobs can be exhausting and bouncing from one job to the next can cause burnout.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for the lack of full time work. All we can do as librarians and library school students is keep pushing forward the best we can and hold out hope that there is light at the end of the job search tunnel. Following the above advice that was provided by many of our participants this month is one way to improve our chances at landing a library job we want and finding out fit in the profession.

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Communications Committee Interview Series

The Communications Committee will be introducing an interview series this year to spotlight librarians in different fields within our profession and highlight the inspirational work they are actively doing. The Communications Committee wants to celebrate this valuable work, and we look forward to sharing potential career opportunities for upcoming graduates. If you would like to nominate a colleague or give kudos to someone who is kicking butt in the field, please feel free to send your nominations to committee chair Josh Rimmer, J . Rimmer84 @ gmail.com. The committee gladly welcomes your suggestions, and we look forward to sharing stories, perspectives, and new voices in our field!    

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NMRT’s Olofson Award accepting applications: Apply for travel funds for ALA’s 2020 Annual Conference

Are you looking for funds to help pay for your trip to ALA’s 2020 Annual Conference in Chicago, Illinois?

Apply by Friday, December 13, 2019 for the NMRT Shirley Olofson Memorial Award and you may receive a $1000 check to help pay for the cost of attendance!

Applicants must:

  1. Be a member of ALA and NMRT
  2. Be active in the library profession
  3. Show promise for activity in the area of professional development
  4. Have a valid financial need
  5. Have attended no more than five ALA annual conferences

To apply, please visit:

 http://www.ala.org/rt/nmrt/initiatives/applyforfunds/shirleyolofson.

Please email Leslie J. Winter (lesliejwinter@library.tamu.edu) if you have any additional questions.

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Call for Applications: Student Chapter of the Year Award

Call for Applications: Student Chapter of the Year Award

Presented by the New Members Round Table

Deadline: March 2, 2020

Has your chapter had an outstanding year?
Has membership in your chapter increased?
Did your chapter develop and provide opportunities for members to participate in interesting and rewarding activities?
Has your chapter received any awards?
Do you have outstanding officers or members who should be recognized nationally?

If you answered YES to these questions:

Apply for the New Members Round Table Student Chapter of the Year Award!

Purpose of the Award:
The Award is presented in recognition of a chapter’s outstanding contributions to the American Library Association, their library school, and the profession. All interested applicants must be accredited ALA Student Chapters.

The Student Chapter winner will receive $1,000.00 to help defray travel expenses to ALA Annual; the winning chapter and the runner up will each receive a certificate.

The winners and runner up will be recognized at the NMRT Student Reception at the 2020 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, Illinois.

Application Process:
Please visit http://www.ala.org/rt/nmrt/oversightgroups/comm/awscotya/scotya for more information on the award and nomination form. If you have any questions, please contact committee chair Michelle Osborne, michelle.osborne@gastongov.com .

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NMRT Alternative Voices – Mallary Rawls

The Alternative Voices Feature is meant to give a platform to the voices of librarians from underrepresented communities in the library field. The format of the feature is a journalistic question and answer format. It provides information that the librarian wants people to know about them, plus their thoughts on the current state of the field of librarianship. The feature will showcase one interview each quarter. This is on a volunteer basis.

Name – Mallary Rawls
Contact Information – mrawlsfsu@gmail.com
City & State – Tallahassee, FL
Position Title – English & Interdisciplinary Subject Librarian/Diversity Resident
Length of time in the library field – 8 years

Tell us a little bit about your background. Where did you attend college? What degrees do you have? What programs (undergraduate or graduate) prepared you for your current position? Tell us about your position and what you do? What is your definition of diversity, or equity or inclusion?

I’m originally from Asheboro, NC, and moved to Tallahassee, FL when, I was 24 years old. I’m married to a Ph.D. candidate, and he’s the reason why I live in Tallahassee (I followed him down here). I use she/her pronouns and I’m the mother of a 3 year old and 3 (very bad) cats. I jumped around a lot after graduating high school, but really started to focus and enjoy school the spring before I moved to Tallahassee. I was enrolled in classes at Alamance Community College (ACC) and it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. I made lifelong friends and really became interested in American history and our government during my time at ACC. When I moved to Florida, I finished my AA at Tallahassee Community College and transferred to Florida State University (FSU), where I completed my bachelor of arts (BA) in Interdisciplinary Humanities. The summer after I graduated with my BA, I enrolled in the Master of Library and Information Science program at FSU’s iSchool. I worked part-time at a health food store and was a graduate assistant in the Goldstein Library (now The Hub), which was the library in the library school. I volunteered at the Claude Pepper Library and was hired as the Archives Assistant at the Claude Pepper Library, which is part of Special Collections at FSU Libraries. I worked there for two years, finished my library degree then applied for a job at the main public library in Tallahassee. I was hired (while 6 months pregnant) as one of the Youth Services Librarians at the LeRoy Collins Main Library, and that was another wonderful experience. I learned so much about being a librarian, the public service role of librarianship, and really enjoyed my time there. I wanted to go back to school to earn a second master’s degree, but I couldn’t afford it without some assistance. When the Diversity Residency job was posted at FSU libraries, I applied and was hired as part of the first cohort, along with three other librarians. I’m currently still a resident, but I don’t introduce myself as a resident. I knew when I began my residency that I wanted the experience of being a subject librarian, and that’s what I’m getting. I’m currently the subject liaison to the African American Studies program, the English department, International Studies, Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, Middle Eastern Studies and Women, Gender and Sexual Studies. I co-liaison interdisciplinary programs such as Asian Studies, Latin American /Caribbean Studies and Russian/Slavic Studies with our Modern Languages Librarian. The best thing that’s prepared me to do what I’m doing now is patience and working on my communication and listening skills. My definition of diversity is simple, acceptance. Accepting people as they are and realizing we’re all a work in progress. I don’t think this means accepting people who have hateful ideologies, but I think it means that we all need to know when it’s time to listen to others and when it’s time to talk and speak up for ourselves and others. I think there lots of interesting and vibrant conversations taking place about diversity and the commodification of diversity and I hope to keep reading, learning and growing not only as a librarian, but as a person and an active citizen.

What drew you to a career as a librarian and what is your current role?

I grew up in a small town in North Carolina (Asheboro – where the NC Zoo is located) and my mom worked at the courthouse, which is across the street from the library. I would hang out at the library after school and always found it to be a calm, comfortable and safe space. I had an up and down career as a student, but once I was able to focus, I knew I wanted to be a librarian because of the service part of being a librarian and because I loved the library as a space. My current role in librarianship is the English and Interdisciplinary Subject Librarian at Florida State University, I’m also part of the first cohort of Diversity Residents. I cover subject areas in both the humanities and social sciences.

What are some of your hobbies and are you still finding time for these activities with your busy schedule?

My current hobby is being a graduate student, again. I started a second master’s degree in American History with a concentration in the Reconstruction period, post-Civil War. It’s been difficult, but I’m happy that I’m doing it. I’ve got a wonderful major professor and, I’m learning more about the history of libraries in American society.

Is there anything more that you would like to see NMRT or ALA as a whole do as a method to ensure the promotion of diversity and alternative voices?

I would like NMRT and ALA to be a space where there’s a broader conversation about residency programs and their effectiveness. There lots of great LOC (librarians of color) who are doing this work and critically evaluating the use and value of residency programs, but to have a national organization like the ALA address that diversity residencies are not the best and only option to ensure the promotion of diversity in librarianship. Diversity residencies can be a bridge or a step in the right direction, but are rife with problems and are incredibly institution focused as opposed to individually focused. NMRT and ALA can also address the contingent labor issue that is prevalent in librarianship. Contingent labor can help a new librarian or a librarian wanting to change their career trajectory to gain relevant experience, but we want and need permanent jobs. NMRT and ALA can help librarians that currently endure contingent labor gain their agency back.

How well do you see libraries responding to the current political climate? What could they do better?

I think libraries could have a better and more cohesive response to our current political climate. American democracy and institutions are under attack, and I think libraries, especially public and academic libraries, have spent a lot of time trying to “prove our worth” when we’re part of the infrastructure that has built and maintained democracy in this country. There’s been a movement away from constantly proving our worth, but we can’t remain neutral in this political climate, we have to stand for something. We need to stand up for our communities, know our worth and not cower. In public and academic libraries, I think that means having book displays for underrepresented groups. It means holding book discussions about uncomfortable topics, and it means standing by and up for the communities that have supported and need libraries.

How do you think the field will change most dramatically in the next several years?

In academic libraries, I think Open Educational Resources (OER) have the most potential to dramatically change the field of librarianship and education in the next several years. Libraries have always been a place where we’ve supported open and free access to materials, and I’m lucky that I work with librarians who are working hard to provide information to our faculty and students about the possibilities of OER. Librarians can’t do this work on our own or for educators, but we have been advocates and will continue to do so.

What book do you find yourself pushing onto patrons the most?

Anything by Toni Morrison, she’s changed my life more than any other writer or figure. Sula is my go-to, but I constantly tell people to read her work.

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