Describe yourself in three words: Driven, goofy, critical.

What are you reading (or listening to on your mobile device)?  I’m currently reading Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell! A fun read with deep meaning.

Describe ACRL in three words: Supportive, energizing, transformative.

What do you value about ACRL? I value ACRL’s ability to connect librarians from similar and different backgrounds and help transform the profession. I’ve met many research and project collaborators through committee work and the ACRL conference. These relationships have transformed not just my practice but also my professional efficacy. It is meaningful to connect with people who have the tenacity, professionalism, and kindness to bring about change.

What do you as an academic librarian contribute to your campus? As an academic librarian at Tulane University, I provide research instruction to students and collection analysis support to my colleagues who select (and deselect/withdraw) resources across disciplines. This dual role gives me a chance to (1) engage students in conversations around critical information and data literacy and (2) use those same critical information and analysis skills to help our collectors make data-informed decisions. In this unique position, I hope to help university leaders see the value of a librarian’s skillset. Many of us come from careers in other fields or have gained skills that are useful alongside our traditional library duties, providing an opportunity to reemphasize our role on campus and to transform how we’re perceived by the larger academic community.

In your own words: Academic Librarianship is an ever-changing field that relies on the expertise of those committed to providing access to information for teaching, learning, and research. With this, librarians are gate-openers for those we serve and those impacted by our patrons and their research. It is my hope that the profession continues to evolve as information becomes more democratized, leading to future cost-friendly initiatives that prioritize people and knowledge over profit.

Editor’s Note: Would you like to be featured as ACRL Member of the Week? Nominate a colleague? Fill out this form and we’ll be in touch!

About the List
The biannual Notable Works list recognizes and showcases excellent professional contributions that inform the work of library colleagues who support graduate students. Submissions included projects and publications by library workers or by researchers in related fields who shed light on important elements of serving graduate students. 

Working Group Members

• Alissa Droog, Education & Social Sciences Librarian, Northern Illinois University 
• Arianne Hartsell-Gundy, Head of the Humanities and Social Sciences, Duke University Libraries, Duke University
• Billie Walker, Head Librarian, Penn State University
• Monica Moore, Head of Researcher Services & Scholarly Communication, Hesburgh Libraries, University of Notre Dame
• Mou Chakraborty, Director of External Library Services, Salisbury University
• Odile Harter, Head of Library Engagement and Experience, Harvard Library, Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences
• Rhiannon Jones, Director Learning Support, University of Calgary

Interested in Participating? 
If you’d like to join the Working Group for the next cycle, please reach or watch for the call for members in the spring of 2027.

Describe yourself in three words: Orange, lasagna, Mondays.

What are you reading (or listening to on your mobile device)?  I am reading Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova.

Describe ACRL in three words: Connections, community, opportunity.

What do you value about ACRL? 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.

What do you as an academic librarian contribute to your campus? 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!

In your own words: 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!

Editor’s Note: Would you like to be featured as ACRL Member of the Week? Nominate a colleague? Fill out this form and we’ll be in touch!

Describe yourself in three words: Curious, multifaceted, effervescent.

What are you reading (or listening to on your mobile device)? I’m currently reading Libricide by Rebecca Knuth for research and Hell’s Heart by Alexis Hall for fun.

Describe ACRL in three words: Connection, engagement, support.

What do you value about ACRL? As a librarian at a small, private college, ACRL has been incredibly valuable for making connections and accessing resources beyond my campus. Having a place to go when I’m feeling uncertain or when I need support has helped me grow in my librarianship and connect with other library professionals who have similar interests and experiences. Whether it’s chatting about gamified instruction at a conference, sharing ideas for assessment at a webinar, or talking about tabletop role-playing game collections, the people I have met through ACRL have made such a positive impact on me. The ACRL College Libraries Section has been especially crucial for finding mentorship, which has helped me to develop professionally and personally.

What do you as an academic librarian contribute to your campus? Librarianship at a small college requires agility (I wear a lot of different hats)! In my role as Student Success & Engagement Librarian, I collaborate with instructors and staff to help students navigate an increasingly complex information landscape. Some days, this means visiting classes to talk about evaluating information, research ethics, or AI. Other days, this means throwing an I Love Data party to help students learn about data resources. I love having critical conversations with students about information and the ways it is created, shared, revised, and censored.

I also work closely with students, clubs, and organizations on campus to create meaningful opportunities for connection and belonging in the library and beyond. My goal is to empower students to take ownership of projects, events, and spaces. I work closely with students to collaborate on exhibits that provide resources for current topics of interest, to create events that bring together people from different areas of campus, and to develop welcoming spaces in the library. These projects also help students develop their communication, collaboration, resilience, professional agility, and other soft skills that they can use after graduating.

In your own words: One of my favorite parts of being an academic librarian is participating in the research process with students. Talking through difficult parts and getting to an “aha” moment is incredibly rewarding. I also get to learn a lot about different topics, from the history of the color pink to the impact of marketing on the stock market in the late 1800s. Often, I’m learning alongside students as they share their expertise in a niche topic, and I share my expertise in the research process. In the current climate, it can be difficult to find moments of joy, but connections with students, whether we’re talking about research or sharing a good book we just read, are what sustain me.

Editor’s Note: Would you like to be featured as ACRL Member of the Week? Nominate a colleague? Fill out this form and we’ll be in touch!

ACRL announces the publication of Faculty and Librarian Partnerships, Volume 1: Information Literacy and Faculty Empowerment and Volume 2: Customized Program Support, edited by Amy Dye-Reeves and Erica Watson. These books are packed with practical insights, real-world examples, and inspiration for the many types of faculty collaboration—from instruction to technology to outreach to collection development.

Faculty and Librarian Partnerships, Volume 1: Information Literacy and Faculty Empowerment contains ideas, lesson plans, and sample documents for collaborating with faculty on instruction and research. Volume 2: Customized Program Support provides information on discipline-specific projects, leveraging liaison roles, and maximizing the use of special collections. Both volumes contain detailed descriptions of different kinds of collaborations from all types of institutions: one-on-one partnerships, larger team efforts, on campus and with the wider community, virtual collaborations, and strategic organizational alliances.

Academic librarians and disciplinary faculty have many partnership opportunities that can contribute greatly to student learning and experience and the academic community as a whole. Planning and scoping these collaborations—and beginning them with a clear understanding of each other’s roles and responsibilities—can help make them as rewarding and beneficial as possible. Whether you’re teaching one-shots or courses, are part of the student success team, or are just navigating the complex world of faculty engagement, Faculty and Librarian Partnerships can provide easy-to-implement strategies, relatable stories, and innovative ideas to inspire and guide your work.

The Faculty and Librarian Partnerships Two-Volume Set is available for purchase, individually (Volume 1 and Volume 2) and as a set, in print through the ALA Online Store and Amazon.com; as an ebook through the ALA Online Store; via EBSCO, ProQuest, and other ebook vendors; and by telephone order at (866) 746-7252 in the United States or (770) 442-8633 for international customers.