In honor of back-to-school season, we are dedicating September to featuring students and early career librarians as the Member of the Week! Interested in becoming a student member of ACRL for only $5 a year? Learn more here.
Hytham Dali is an operations supervisor at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant. Hytham has been a member of ACRL for 2 years and is your ACRL member of the week for September 23, 2019.
Describe yourself in three words: Curious, calm, humorous.
What are you reading (or listening to on your mobile device(s)? I’ve been a longtime listener of The NoSleep Podcast, a short story horror podcast, perfect for those interested in a condensed thrill. I’m currently reading The Great Leveler: Violence and the History of Inequality from the Stone Age to the Twenty-First Century by Walter Scheidel.
Describe ACRL in three words: Community, support, inclusive.
What prompted you as a student to join ACRL? I heard how beneficial ACRL can be from my colleagues at CMU. Additionally, initiatives like the ACRL Diversity Alliance immediately grabbed my attention. I wanted to have access to a network of peers and resources that helped further these causes in the profession.
What are your career goals? How might ACRL help you achieve those goals? I hope to be a resource librarian at an academic library. I have passion for history, religion, and librarianship and channeling that passion into my career is my dream. Staying informed of trends and developments in academic libraries is an incredibly important to me, and ACRL can help provide me a community and resources to stay informed.
In your own words: Academic librarians have an incredibly important role to play in the education of students. They provide the tools and resources for students to succeed both in their academic careers and personal lives. The education and values academic librarians provide helps create lifelong learners. The opportunity to educate, inspire, and empower students is a responsibility I’m excited to pursue.
Editor’s Note: Are you an ACRL member? Would you like to be featured as ACRL Member of the Week? Nominate a colleague? Contact Mary Jane Petrowski at mpetrowski@ala.org for more information.