ACRL Oregon/OLA Academic Division Blog

Robin Paynter (OHSU, Oregon Evidence-based Practice Center) writes:

“I have had a number of wonderful ‘aha’ moments at fall conferences and made some great connections with fellow members over the many years I have been a member and part of the Board.  Too many in fact to do justice to here, so I will focus on one such event since it ultimately led to my current professional position!  I met Janet Tapper (Western States University) when we served on the ACRL Oregon Board together – eventually we co-presented at OLA Annual Conference on evidence-based practice, which later led to my publishing an article on my part of the presentation. Janet also provided the knowing nudge that led to my applying for my current position at the Oregon Evidence-based Practice Center, when she saw my resolve flagging under uncertainty about whether they would ever hire a social sciences librarian (“let them decide whether you qualify for the position, don’t pre-emptively decide yourself!”). A thousand thanks Janet (!), and ACRL Oregon for providing useful content, venues to develop professionally, and networking opportunities – it has made a huge difference in my professional career.”

Interested in adding your thoughts to the series? Please email your blurb to your library’s blog liaison or Robin Paynter (Communications Coordinator) to get it posted.

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Laura Zeigen (Oregon Health & Science University) writes:

“Working with the ACRL Oregon board and being part of ACRL Oregon has provided me with some of my most satisfying inter-institutional professional experiences.   I have thoroughly enjoyed interacting with and working with my colleagues on the ACRL Oregon board, whether it is helping plan an ACRL-sponsored session at the Oregon Library Association conference or trying to figure out the best ways to provide continuing education opportunities to member colleagues. One of the significant outcomes of the connections I have made through ACRL was meeting Robin Paynter, with whom I have partnered on several projects, including some research.  I might have eventually done this research on my own, but being able to partner with Robin provided me with needed impetus (not to mention enthusiasm and energy and a veritable cornucopia of brainstorming!) to really get started.

I am now in the process of partnering with a few other librarians on different projects, including some research. These collaborations have been greatly facilitated by connecting with these colleagues through ACRL. All of these connections and camaraderie have greatly added to my sense of being part of a community of academic librarians in Oregon and in the region.”

Interested in adding your thoughts to the series? Please email your blurb to your library’s blog liaison or Robin Paynter (Communications Coordinator) to get it posted.

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Jim Holmes (Reed College) writes:

“As an MLIS student in the Emporia program, ACRL Oregon provided me with valuable opportunities to connect with academic library staff throughout Washington and Oregon.  The annual conference is a great way to introduce yourself to the profession through lightning talks and social gatherings.  ACRL Oregon is an effective forum for students to build resumes, create opportunities, and make friends!”

Interested in adding your thoughts to the series? Please email your blurb to your library’s blog liaison or Robin Paynter (Communications Coordinator) to get it posted.

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Thanks to Isaac Gilman (Pacific University) for his thoughts on being a member of ACRL Oregon and starting our series of member reflections!

“Librarianship is inherently a collaborative profession and, in my opinion, ACRL-OR is a valuable means of facilitating partnerships.  The annual conference provides the only regional forum that is dedicated to the issues of academic librarianship, and I’ve found it to be a meaningful opportunity both to learn from colleagues and to create connections that are easier to sustain simply because they are local.  ACRL-OR also brings a necessary voice to statewide discussions of librarianship through its participation in the Oregon Library Association.  Common issues like literacy and intellectual freedom are best addressed holistically, not in school/public/academic silos, and ACRL-OR’s active involvement in OLA provides a connection to colleagues in school and public libraries.  To remix an old saying: membership in national organizations enables us to think globally, but membership in ACRL-OR makes it easier to partner locally.”

Interested in adding your thoughts to the series? Please email your blurb to your library’s blog liaison or Robin Paynter (Communications Coordinator) to get it posted.

Filed under: for discussion | Leave a Comment »