Junior Tidal is Web Services & Multimedia Librarian for the New York City College of Technology, City University of New York. Junior has been an ACRL member since 2014 and is your ACRL member of the week for April 27, 2015.
1. Describe yourself in three words: Imaginative, thoughtful, and quixotic.
2. What are you reading (or listening to on your mobile device(s)? I am completely obsessed with underground punk and metal. I am currently reading Choosing Death: The Improbable History of Death Metal and Grindcore by Albert Mudrian. On my mobile device, I’ve been listening to post-metal band Sumac’s debut album, The Deal, and punk hardcore outfit His Hero is Gone’s 1997 release, Monument to Thieves.
3. Describe ACRL in three words: Innovative, dynamic, and active.
4. What do you value about ACRL? I value ACRL because of the collective resourcefulness of its members. I read ACRLog and ACRL TechConnect regularly. Both of these blogs provide practical advice to librarians that not only can be applied to their institutions, but can be used as a source of professional development.
5. What do you as an academic librarian contribute to your campus? As Web Services & Multimedia Librarian, I maintain and administer the library’s website as well as oversee and manage the library’s media collection. I get to code and conduct usability tests to improve our library website. It has also allowed me to develop our library’s collection of Brooklyn-based documentaries. I have a passion for film, and I think it serves as a great educational tool to expose students to situations, locales, and subjects they may have never thought of before.
6. In your own words: I believe academic librarianship is a profession that empowers others. Users come to our institutions so they can learn, research, and hopefully make informed decisions based on the information they gather. Our profession champions unfettered access to information, but the process of retrieving it can be daunting and frustrating for the end user. By incorporating our users’ perspectives, as libraries build web applications, adopt emerging technologies, and develop physical and virtual spaces, I feel that making these resources easier to use is more important than ever.
Editor’s Note: Are you an ACRL member? Would you like to be featured as ACRL Member of the Week? Nominate a colleague? Contact Elizabeth Caris at ecaris@ala.org for more information.