Kristy Nowak
¾«¶«´«Ã½Divisions:
Creative, conscientious, dedicated.
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Right now, I’m reading "Transformative Library and Information Work: Profiles in Social Justice" by Stephen Bales and Tina Budzise-Weaver. Outside of work, I’m reading "A Treatise on Stars" by Mei-mei Berssenbrugge.
Community, development, leadership.
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I’m grateful to ACRL for providing me the opportunity to become more involved in the profession, learn more about best practices, and take on new leadership roles. As an ACRL member, I've been able to meet librarians and learn about inclusive practice from all over the country. I’ve also had the opportunity to lead committees that help determine the direction of the profession.
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As a first-year instruction librarian, I help students develop core information literacy skills that support their success in their academic careers and beyond. I’ve been involved in a wide range of student success initiatives, including in-depth instruction for first-generation students transitioning to college. I believe these student success initiatives make a significant difference in supporting students, including underrepresented students, find their paths in college. Currently, I’m also working on a campus-wide project to provide free laptops to students with financial need, and this initiative has the potential to address information access gaps on campus.
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I think librarians are well-positioned to make significant contributions to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice on academic campuses, but we have to focus more seriously on the issues within our own profession. In the years I’ve spent working in libraries, I’ve become aware of the scope of the issues we face—including systematic oppression of marginalized identities, exclusionary hiring practices, burnout, and a host of other challenges. In order to move forward, we need to collaborate not only with each other, but also with scholars in other disciplines to find ways to grow our professional practice and make our community more inclusive.
Credentials:MLIS
Title:First-Year Experience & Student Success Librarian
Workplace:Colorado State University
Location:Fort Collins, CO