Karna Younger is a faculty engagement librarian at the University of Kansas Libraries in Lawrence, Kansas. Karna has been a member of ACRL for 5 years and is your ACRL member of the week for January 21, 2019.
Describe yourself in three words: Learning, trying, working.
What are you reading (or listening to on your mobile device(s)? I am reading Project Information Literacy’s “How Students Engage with News” report and listening to Rajiv Jhangiani’s critical open pedagogy episode of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast.
Describe ACRL in three words: Supportive, collaborative community.
What do you value about ACRL? I appreciate all of the time, money, and intellectual and emotional labor ACRL and its members invest in trying to initiate change in academic librarianship.
What do you as an academic librarian contribute to your campus? I try to make higher education a more affordable and authentic experience for students by using and creating open educational resources whenever I can. This isn’t always possible but it is worth the time and labor to do so.
In your own words: Academic librarians have the power to make higher education more affordable, authentic, and inclusive. No one can do this work alone, though, which is why it is so important to find a community where you can fail and learn without judgement
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.