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Multicultural Library Survey

The document summarizes an interview with Ms. Clare Ann Withers, the Cultural Studies Librarian at Pitt. Some key points: 1. She was interested in cultural studies and was a good fit for the liaison librarian position due to her interdisciplinary background and skills. 2. No special degree was required for the position, but foreign language skills would be useful. 3. She has learned that being aware of different cultural learning preferences and communicating effectively with all patrons is important. 4. The most important skill is actively listening to understand a patron's full information need and research abilities.

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31 views

Multicultural Library Survey

The document summarizes an interview with Ms. Clare Ann Withers, the Cultural Studies Librarian at Pitt. Some key points: 1. She was interested in cultural studies and was a good fit for the liaison librarian position due to her interdisciplinary background and skills. 2. No special degree was required for the position, but foreign language skills would be useful. 3. She has learned that being aware of different cultural learning preferences and communicating effectively with all patrons is important. 4. The most important skill is actively listening to understand a patron's full information need and research abilities.

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api-289742240
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Armor

Interview with Ms. Clare Ann Withers


Cultural Studies Librarian at Pitt
How did you find out about the cultural studies position that you currently
hold? Or did the position find you?
Our library system recently introduced the liaison librarian model in a shift from
staffing a public services department from a reference desk. Each university
department or program was matched with a librarian (either from the pool of public
services librarians or from the bibliographers). Background, education, interests,
and skills were all taken into account. We were also asked to list which departments
interested us. Each of us acts as liaison to multiple departments. I was interested
in cultural studies for many reasons. To start with, like the other departments I now
serve, it is interdisciplinary. Serving this departments requires broad knowledge
and can , in many cases, require searching seemingly disparate resources in
researching a topic. And it also requires working with my colleagues to ensure that
there's not an uncomfortable overlap (two librarians offering the same services to
an instructor, for instance); equally important, a cultural studies liaison should know
when to turn a question or portion of a question over to another colleague.
Did you have to hold a special degree to apply for the position in Cultural
Studies? No. Did you have to be fluent or semi fluent in other languages as
a job requirement? Because of the recent origin of our liaison program, there was
no language requirement. That said, it would be an asset. I do, however, work
closely with my colleagues who are fluent when the need arises.
Have you worked with any patrons/students who are a part of another
culture in the library over the course of your experience in the library
(overall...this could be the Children's Literature position as well). Yes. I've worked
with many people--children, adults, students, faculty. What have you learned
about the learning needs of people from these various other cultural and
ethnic groups? Awareness of learning and communication differences and
preferences is crucial. Informing oneself is a solid start (learning about a culture,
and ethnic group), but relationships are built with individuals. Get to know each
person as much as possible and take personal preferences into account.
If you could suggest one skill related to your new position in cultural
studies that a library school student should acquire or hone, what would it
be? The ability to listen to a user's question and understand the information need
as well as the technological/research skill level of the user is crucial to great
librarianship. Oftentimes, what's asked initially is far from the real information
need. Drawing out the user to understand both the resources to begin with and the
user's familiarity with the best (for that particular instance) research strategies is
not easy. In this century, knowing what database to use is an important piece of the
process, but so is information literacy--growing a user's skill set. With cultural
studies, there may be an added layer if you're dealing with someone from another
culture. Or there may be an added layer because the information itself may not be
collected in a standardized manner (statistics may be recorded differently; different
terminology may be used; etc.)

Armor

Does your library hold any multicultural events? Yes. Have you been a
part of setting these up? In my past as a public librarian I was more involved.
Right now I've been the liaison to Cultural Studies for a relatively short period and
am still getting to know my department and faculty. Could you describe one that
you think was particularly successful? I think that events for younger
audiences serve more as an introduction to a culture or cultures rather than a more
scholarly introspection into specific aspects of culture that a cultural studies
program might offer. That said, I'll reach back to my public library days when we
arranged for a program about Japanese tea ceremonies. While it was a children's
program, the interest level and attendance wasn't confined to school-age children.
And the information touched on more than just the act of preparing tea and dipped
into commentary about culture and society. While it referenced past by offering
historical information, it couched some information in terms of the present, too.
What advice would you give to a potential candidate applying for a job as
a professional librarian? Get as much experience as possible under your belt.
Create and keep a portfolio. Any advice specific to Cultural Studies positions?
Wherever you're interviewing, get familiar with the Cultural Studies department and
faculty--see what some specific research interests are, participation in cultural
studies organizations--and dig in to understand what resources might be involved in
support of their research. Be ready to present your familiarity with such critical
resources. While you may not be able to demonstrate knowledge of all the
potentially useful resources, you'll want to at least highlight your interest and
understanding regarding a few. Your goal is to demonstrate collection development
prowess and how your skill sets actively support of faculty research and teaching
needs.

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