ACRL Member of the Week: Gerald Holmes

Gerald Holmes is Reference and Instructional Services Librarian at University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Gerald has been an ACRL member since 1992 and is your ACRL Member of the Week.

1. Describe yourself in three words: Imaginative, pragmatic, and principled.

2. What book are you currently reading? I am reading Resonant Leadership: renewing yourself and connecting with others through mindfulness, hope, and compassion (2005) by Richard Boyatzis and Anne Mckee. A colleague who happens to be a former ACRL President told me about how this book has helped her career. Recently, I added some coordinator responsibilities to my position that have increased my opportunity to provide leadership to other colleagues, especially recent graduates. Although I am busy, I am enjoying this book. I feel that this book will go a long way in allowing me to continue to enjoy my career as a librarian while taking on more responsibilities.

3. Describe ACRL in three words: Enriching, participatory, and challenging.

4. Why did you join ACRL? Early in my career, when I was interested in learning about academic librarianship, I was advised to attend AFAS and other ACRL programs at ALA. I decided then to join ACRL and have been active in ALA for over 20 years. One highlight for me was serving on the Local Arrangements Committee for the ACRL National Conference in Charlotte. Looking back, joining ACRL was one of the best decisions I have made. I have enjoyed my career working in academic libraries.

5. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I value working with colleagues who consistently strive to improve library services and resources. It has been an inspiration for me to witness librarians working as a team to achieve common goals. I have seen students and faculty benefit from the creativity and persistence that many academic librarians demonstrate through their work. I value and enjoy the opportunity to maintain and improve library services to academic communities.

6. In your own words: Academic librarians work in an environment that requires them to learn. Maintaining a viable collection can be challenging. I embrace our important role on campus as we serve as information providers and as teachers. I also welcome our significant opportunity to recruit and inspire a new generation of information professionals. What an opportunity we have!

Editor’s Note: Are you an ACRL member? Would you like to be featured as ACRL Member of the Week? Contact David Free at dfree{at}ala{dot}org for more information.