LaVerne Gray is a Ph.D. Student in the College of Communication and Information at the University of Tennessee – Knoxville. LaVerne has been an ACRL member since 2006 and is your ACRL member of the week for December 16, 2013.
1. Describe yourself in three words: Determined, humble, encouraging.
2. What are you listening to on your mobile device? Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue.
3. Describe ACRL in three words: Innovative, collaborative, welcoming.
4. What do you value about ACRL? ACRL provides opportunity to engage with professionals from all types of academic libraries with similar interests. I value the professional development programs, service opportunities, and the platforms for networking.
5. What do you, as an academic librarian, contribute to the profession? As a former Outreach Librarian and now Ph.D. student I stress the importance of diversity and cultural competence of colleagues and those that we serve.
6. In your own words: The best professional decision I made was to pursue academic librarianship. I appreciate the peer support, academic learning environment, and service to students and professors. While on campus I feel like a part of a rich community where role of the librarian is to support and direct scholarship and learning. The innovative nature of our profession nourishes my need to continue self-development in a dynamic collaborative environment.
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.
The ACRL Member of the Week is taking a holiday break following this edition and will return on Monday, January 6. 2014.