Session 1C: Cafecito, Chisme, and Community Building: Creating a Network of Support as New and New-to-the-Role Librarians
Event Type
Presentation
Location
U-Hall Classroom 3304
Track
Community Building
Start Date
21-7-2023 11:15 AM
End Date
21-7-2023 12:15 PM
Description
Many academic libraries are recruiting diverse hires, however, the profession and individual institutions continue to lose talented librarians of color due to a lack of support, structural racism, and tokenism. Navigating a new role can be challenging and isolating for any new librarian, but can be particularly difficult for librarians of color. On top of navigating a new field, institution, and colleagues, new librarians of color may be grappling with their intersectional identities, familial and kinship ties, lack of experience in academia, and how to bring their authentic talent and selves to work - especially within structures that were not meant for them. Three early career/new-to-the-role librarians found that community, resource sharing, and support through the promotion process is one way of building resilience in academia. The facilitators will share how their experience of setting up coffee dates, co-working sessions, check-ins, and public encouragement has helped them deal with the trials and tribulations of their positions. They will explore how creating informal networks through social gatherings and formal avenues of support is one way of fostering camaraderie and professional success. After this exploration, participants will engage in small-group discussions around their needs when starting a new role and effective community-building strategies at their own institutions. Participants will walk away with ideas for building community at their workplaces, and a greater sense of community amongst participants in the session. We recommend participants have a device to engage with digital objects during the session.
Outcomes
- Participants will learn tangible ways of building a community of new or new-to-the-role librarians.
- Participants will engage in peer conversations around strategies and ideas for building community at their own institutions.
Session 1C: Cafecito, Chisme, and Community Building: Creating a Network of Support as New and New-to-the-Role Librarians
U-Hall Classroom 3304
Many academic libraries are recruiting diverse hires, however, the profession and individual institutions continue to lose talented librarians of color due to a lack of support, structural racism, and tokenism. Navigating a new role can be challenging and isolating for any new librarian, but can be particularly difficult for librarians of color. On top of navigating a new field, institution, and colleagues, new librarians of color may be grappling with their intersectional identities, familial and kinship ties, lack of experience in academia, and how to bring their authentic talent and selves to work - especially within structures that were not meant for them. Three early career/new-to-the-role librarians found that community, resource sharing, and support through the promotion process is one way of building resilience in academia. The facilitators will share how their experience of setting up coffee dates, co-working sessions, check-ins, and public encouragement has helped them deal with the trials and tribulations of their positions. They will explore how creating informal networks through social gatherings and formal avenues of support is one way of fostering camaraderie and professional success. After this exploration, participants will engage in small-group discussions around their needs when starting a new role and effective community-building strategies at their own institutions. Participants will walk away with ideas for building community at their workplaces, and a greater sense of community amongst participants in the session. We recommend participants have a device to engage with digital objects during the session.
Outcomes
- Participants will learn tangible ways of building a community of new or new-to-the-role librarians.
- Participants will engage in peer conversations around strategies and ideas for building community at their own institutions.
