The Power of Partnerships: Building Institutional and Community Alliances to Transform Research & Learning
2018-04-27 10:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Hoffman House at Muhlenberg College, 325 N 23rd Street, Allentown, PA, 18104, United States
10:00-10:30 Registration
10:30-11:30 Keynote Presentation: Partners, Partners, and More Partners
Cheryl A. Middleton, 2017-18 ACRL President, Associate University Librarian for Research and Scholarly Communication, Oregon State University
Academic libraries seek out, create, nurture and foster partnerships at many levels, ranging from individual and institutional to national and global. What do these partnerships look like and what are some of the high-level outcomes of engaging in these partnerships? ACRL President Cheryl Middleton will present a variety of examples of partnerships and engage the audience in a discussion about the types of partnerships the ACRL Delaware academic librarians engage in, the work it takes to build them, and their benefits.
11:30-12:00 Learning Alliances for Students’ Academic Success
Elise Ferer, Drexel University
Presentation on the goals and outcomes of Drexel’s Learning Alliance, a formalized group, joined by the library, with members from departments and centers on campus that support academic success.
12:00-12:30 Building Partnerships around Student Needs
Deborah Gaspar, Rowan University
Presentation on Campbell Library’s collaboration with offices across campus to address student affordability issues; projects include a textbook alternative program, financial literacy fair, and a campus food bank.
12:30-1:30 Lunch
1:30-2:10 Bridging Learning Communities with Scratch and Makey Makey
Chava Spivak-Birndorf, Katherine Ahnberg, and Meagan Moody Stalnaker University of Pennsylvania
Interactive sessions of classroom activities used at Penn Libraries, exploring the possibilities Nnd challenges of using basic programming and computing projects to integrate undergraduate digital literacy instruction with community outreach.
2:10-2:50 Collaborations with Faculty: Reaching Outside of the Classroom
Rachel Hamelers, Susan Falciani Maldonado, and Kelly Cannon Muhlenberg College
Panel presentation and discussion on faculty partnerships outside of the classroom. The panel will discuss three successful initiatives: WWII alumni archive, public health programming, and open access publishing.
2:50-3:30 Round-table Discussion & Wrap-Up

Librarians as Advocates: Leading Activism on Your Campus and Beyond
2018-10-26 09:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Drexel University Learning Terrace, 3300 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States
9:30-10:00 Registration and networking
10:00–11:30 Panel Discussion
Moderator: Justin Hill, Department Head, Access and Media Services, Temple University Libraries

Yvette Davis, Director of Outreach and Organizational Development, POWER Interfaith
Alex Gil, Digital Scholarship Coordinator, Humanities and History Division, Columbia University Libraries
Titus Moolathara, Branch Manager, Free Library of Philadelphia
Emily Wagner, Assistant Director, Knowledge Management & Communications, Amaerican Library Association

11:30-12:30 Lunch
12:30-12:45 Business Meeting
12:45-2:00 Lightning Round: Presentations on action, preservation, partnerships, and privacy.
2:00-2:50PM Roundtable Unconference
2:50PM Closing Remarks

ACRL DVC Winter Social
2018-11-29 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Drexel University Academic Bistro, 101 N 33rd St 6th Floor, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States
SLA Philadelphia invites librarians and information professionals from the Philadelphia & Delaware Valley region to join them in welcoming the holiday season! Enjoy the amazing food of Drexel University’s Academic Bistro, connect with colleagues new and old, decorate cookies, bid on a variety of silent auction items.
$40 for members of ACRL–DVC, SLA, MLA, GPLLA.
$20 for students.
Fee includes serious appetizers, cookie decorating, soft drinks, wine & beer.

Scholarly Communication: From Understanding to Engagement
2019-04-26 09:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Penn State Great Valley Campus, 30 East Swedesford Road, Malvern, PA, 19355, United States
Academic and research librarians increasingly recognize scholarly communication as a core competency of the profession. Whether helping researchers meet their funder’s mandates for public access and data sharing, guiding responsible copyright practice, or supporting new types of scholarship and instruction, librarians are leading change across campus and around the world.
The goal of the structured, interactive program is to equip participants with knowledge and skills to help accelerate the transformation of the scholarly communication system.
At this workshop we have asked the presenters to incorporate their latest targeted modules on the subjects of Accessibility and Open Education.
This workshop is presented by ACRL National. Presenters will include:

Carla Myers, Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Scholarly Communications, Miami University Libraries,
Will Cross, Director of the Copyright and Digital Scholarship Center, North Carolina State University

This project is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Wolf, Governor, through the College and Research Division (https://crdpala.org/) of PaLA. Show your appreciation by becoming a member of PaLA! And if you are a member – thank you!”

Chapter Event: free film screening of The Public!
2019-09-29 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Artquest Center at the Steel Stacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem, PA, 18015, United States
Join us for a pre-screening social networking event at 5:00pm at Bonn Place Brewery in the Southside Bethlehem — even if you are unable to attend the screening!

Beyond Diversity Speak: Practicing Cultural Humility in your Library
2019-10-25 09:00 - 15:30 UTC | Cedar Crest College, Tompkins College Center, Administration Circle, Cedar Crest College, Allentown, PA, United States
This year’s program will be focused on incorporating cultural humility into equity, diversity, and inclusion professional development in academic libraries.
Sara Ahmed (2012) describes diversity initiatives as frequently being “happy talk” that institutions write into their strategic plans and mission statements to manage their image but then do not integrate into everyday practice. While some libraries make a concerted effort to provide diversity or cultural competency training opportunities, often the attention is superficial and/or uninformed. Nicole Cooke (2016) stresses the importance of cultural humility in serving diverse populations.
Cultural humility is a cousin to cultural competency, but while cultural competency means learning about other cultures, cultural humility means continuously working to uncover how we and the institutions in which we engage are complicit in underserving some and overserving others and making ourselves accountable for rectifying the disparity. To do this, librarians and libraries need tools to help them reflect on themselves and their institutions, facilitate difficult discussions, and imagine new possibilities.
In the afternoon, Theatre of the Oppressed in NYC (TONYC) will run a workshop devoted to reflecting on some of the ways that systems of power structure how we and our institutions do our work.* Their methodology is based on techniques developed by the legendary Brazilian theatre director and activist Augusto Boal, who based his work on Paolo Freire, who many of us are already familiar with. The workshop promises to be fun, enlightening, and practical and we are very excited to be able to offer it.
* Due to extenuating circumstances, Lorin Jackson will no longer be able to run the afternoon workshop. We are disappointed that she won’t be able to share her expertise, but hopefully, we will be able to work with her in the future.
Schedule
9:00-9:30 Registration
9:30-9:45 Welcome
9:45-10:15 Building Toward Social Justice Practice
Presented by Maisha Carey & Dr. Adam Foley from the University of Delaware
10:15-10:30 Community Reading Group: An Exploration in Cultural Humility
Presented by Molly Wolf from Widener University
10:30-10:45 Break
10:45-12:00 Special Collections Panel:
Elephant Bites: Scoping out a Special Collection Through the DEI Lens
Presented by Gary Galván from The Free Library of Philadelphia
Minding the Gaps: Using the silences in College and LGBT Community Archival Collections
Presented by Susan Falciani Maldonado & Kristen Leipert from Muhlenberg College
Cripples, Prostitutes, and Quacks: Practicing Cultural Humility in Historical Collections
Presented by Caitlin Angelone from The College of Physicians Historical Medical Library
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-1:15 Chapter Meeting
1:15 – 3:15 Spect-Actor Workshop: Moving Practice into Action
Presented by Theatre of the Oppressed NYC
3:15 – 3:30 Wrap-up
In correlation with this event, the organization is seeking to support the library studies of an individual that is focused on helping to create a more equitable society. A $1000 scholarship will be awarded to a student enrolled in an ALA-accredited program to help offset the cost of educational expenses. To apply, please submit your resume and a 250-500 word essay describing your interest in cultural humility in librarianship. Eligible applicants must reside in, work, or attend school in the chapter’s service area.

Working Out Loud: Reflections, Revisions, & Recipes
2020-04-03 | Charles Library at Temple University, 1900 North 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, United States
Due to the rapidly developing COVID-19 situation, we have decided to postpone the 2020 DVC Spring Program until Fall 2020. We will post the date once it is set. There has been a lot of positive buzz about the Temple program and we look forward to seeing you all there in the fall.
Existing registrations will be refunded.

Please join us on April 3rd at Temple University’s brand new Charles Library for an interesting day of presentations, discussions, and networking. You can REGISTER here or below. The day will focus on the benefits of learning how to “fail forward” and will be kicked off by Eamon Tewell of Columbia University Libraries as our keynote speaker. We will explore the challenges, compromises, revisions, and breakthroughs that have been experienced by our colleagues in many different areas of librarianship and consider the advantages of integrating more opportunities to take risks into our own library communities. We believe that to innovate we need to practice a growth mindset where we feel free to take risks, experiment, and be creative.
Due to early interest in the program, we advise registering promptly to secure your space.

Convening Librarians: Creating community and supporting students during COVID-19
2020-04-03 10:00 - 12:00 UTC
Although our 2020 Spring Program at Temple University’s new Charles Library has been postponed until September 25th, the Delaware Valley Chapter of ACRL is planning an online professional development meet-up on April 3, from 10:00am – 12pm to address how to best support one another and our students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Plans are underway to have a large meeting via Zoom followed by breakout sessions tackling the issues that are most important to you. We believe that it is more necessary than ever to forge relationships and community during what will be an isolating time for many.
Our preliminary agenda is as follows:

Develop a shared understanding for how COVID-19 and the affiliated closings are affecting regional academic libraries and students
Brainstorm strategies to create community and support students
Crowdsource resources we can use to do this work

You can register and suggest topics for the breakout sessions HERE.

Working out Loud: Critical Reflection on the Next Normal
2020-10-16 10:00 - 14:30 UTC
Please join us on Friday October 16, 2020 “Working out Loud: Critical Reflections on the Next Normal”. The day will start with a keynote by Fobazi Ettarh and Eamon Tewell followed by a series of discussions based on pre recorded presentations on how library workers have reflected on, revised, and reimagined, and continue to reimagine, our values, ideologies, procedures, and practices.

Registration is free. Donations are welcome and will go towards organizing future events. We look forward to seeing you there.

Register Here

Schedule

10:00 – 11:30 a.m. – Welcome and KeynoteKeynote Dialogue with Fobazi Ettarh and Eamon Tewell

Fobazi M. Ettarh is currently the Undergraduate Success Librarian at Rutgers Newark. A school librarian by training, she specializes in information literacy instruction, K-12 pedagogy, and co-curricular outreach. Her research focuses on the decolonization of white supremacy in librarianship. She is the creator of the open-access video game Killing Me Softly: A Game About Microaggressions, which leads the user through the personal and professional effects of ongoing microaggressions. Recently, she coined and defined the concept of vocational awe, as seen in the article Vocational Awe: The Lies We Tell Ourselves. She is a 2020 Library Journal Mover And Shaker and author of the blog WTF is a Radical Librarian? which examines the intersections of librarianship, labor, identity and diversity.

Eamon Tewell (he/him/his) is Head of Research Support & Outreach for Columbia University’s Science, Engineering, and Social Science Libraries. Eamon has published and presented on the topics of critical information literacy, library instruction, critical reference practice, and questioning narratives of grit and resilience in libraries. You can find Eamon on Twitter at @eamontewell.

1:00 – 1:45 p.m. – Discussion Session 1Outreach

Rethinking Archival Outreach: Trials & Tribulations of Engagement with Archival Materials, Beaudry Rae Allen

Why Won’t They Return My Emails? Undertaking a Needs Assessment Project to Better Serve Subject Students and Faculty, Sarah Jones and Courtney Eger

Student Workers

Somehow We Manage: Overcoming Student Employee Challenges, Abigail Cengel

Cultivating Student Employees: Developing, implementing, and improving an employment program centered on career growth, Andrew Yager and Franklin Ofsthun

1:45 – 2:30 p.m. – Discussion Session 2Instruction

“Well that Bombed”: How to Quickly Fix a Bad Lesson in 15 minutes, Brendan Johnson

Tech Services

A tale of risk, failure and “success”? Lessons and thoughts on the quest for an open source library management platform at Lehigh Libraries, Sharon Wiles-Young and Chulin Meng

Getting Better All the Time – Villanova University’s Affordable Materials Project, John Banionis, Christopher Hallberg, Linda Hauck, and Marianne Watson

Critical Connections, Emergent Organizing: Black Library Workers in Community
2020-11-12 18:00 - 19:30 UTC
Led by Andrea Lemoins, who helmed the organization of the Concerned Black Workers of the Free Library of Philadelphia, this workshop will focus on community-building for Black LIS students and academic library workers using organizing principles from adrienne maree brown’s Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds. Register here. Registration for this event is free, though please consider ACRL DVC membership in order to contribute to our programs.

Please note this event is for Black LIS students and workers.

Preread material includes:

Free Library of Philadelphia Director Siobhan Reardon Resigns After Criticisms of System-wide Racism | Library Journal, July 24, 2020

Why Free Library workers are calling for their director to resign | Billy Penn, July 12, 2020

Andrea Lemoins is an Asset Based Community Development practitioner looking to support Black communities in preserving their local memory institutions. Currently enrolled in the Masters of Library and Information Science program at Clarion University of Pennsylvania and is a 2020 ALA Spectrum/ProQuest Scholar. Andrea lives in Philadelphia and works for the Free Library of Philadelphia as a Community Organizer and was previously a union organizer. She writes poetry, collects typewriters, enjoys reading science fiction and walking around the city.

ACRL DVC Chapter Meeting
2021-11-12 10:00 - 12:00 UTC
This Fall, ACRL DVC is taking a breather, too. We are exhausted and from talking to many of you, we know you are too. Instead of hosting our usual Fall Program, we will be holding a brief Chapter Meeting on Friday, Nov. 12th. The meeting will be followed by time for intentional rest where we will encourage all participants to take a break from work, email, to-do lists, and do something restorative.

Agenda:

Chapter UpdatesStudent Stipend Application InfoIntroduction of this year’s Guiding Questions Restorative Restoration Block

Recording: https://capture.udel.edu/media/ACRL+DVC+Chapter+Meeting/1_tbbuhnkp

Minutes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-L9uSMkNU5u6_8G8OPdKE6xw4YbKmOlqX_em6HvomxI/edit?usp=sharing

The Essential Work: Centering Our Values, Health, and Humanity - Part I: Presentations
2022-04-22 10:00 - 12:00 UTC
Register Here

The Delaware Valley Chapter of ACRL invites you to participate in our Spring 2022 Programs, collectively titled The Essential Work: Centering Our Values, Health, and Humanity. This program and our guiding questions were inspired by the ongoing uncertainty around and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past 22 months we have been asked to reinvent our work, (re)define what is “essential,” and negotiate the tension between our values and our responsibilities. This spring we invite you to join us as we explore our guiding questions:

How has the pandemic changed our understanding of the value of our work and which workers are most “essential” to our organizations? How has the culture of our workplaces and our profession supported or undermined our health and wellbeing?How can we negotiate the conflict between our personal values and our practical responsibilities?

Shared learning is a fundamental part of our mission, and we have so much to learn from one another as we reflect on the past two years. To support that continued learning, this first event in our series will feature “sparkler talk” (15min) presentations from a selection of our community members on topics relevant to our guiding questions. Following the presentations, there will be a short panel discussion and Q&A.

“Retooling Technical Services: Life After the Great Resignation” Melissa Brooks, Head of Technical Services and Associate Professor at the University of Southern Mississippi “Treating Illness with Trust: How COVID-19 Changed Attitudes Toward Illness at Trexler Library”Sarah Pelczynski-Kunda, Public Services Assistant at Muhlenberg College Trexler Library “Are Librarians Essential Workers?” Allyson Wind, Electronic Resources Librarian, East Stroudsburg University

This event is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors:

College and Research Division of the Pennsylvania Library Association https://crdpala.org/ This project is made possible by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Wolf, Governor. Show your appreciation by becoming a member of PaLA! And if you are a member – thank you!

Associated College Libraries of Central Pennsylvania https://www.aclcp.org/

Delaware Library Association https://dla.lib.de.us/

"The Essential Work: Centering Our Values, Health, and Humanity" - Part II: Keynote by Nisha Mody
2022-05-20 14:00 - 16:00 UTC
Register Here

This virtual keynote address, from Feminist Healing Coach, Writer, and Library Advocate. Nisha Mody, will be on how we can become more trauma-informed in libraries by shifting toward a relational approach rather than a transactional one. She will address the questions: What forces subconsciously take us away from being relational? How can we be more relational leaders and colleagues as well as with patrons and ourselves? How does being relational reframe urgency along with other characteristics of white supremacy culture?

This event is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors:

College and Research Division of the Pennsylvania Library Association https://crdpala.org/ This project is made possible by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Wolf, Governor. Show your appreciation by becoming a member of PaLA! And if you are a member – thank you!

Associated College Libraries of Central Pennsylvania https://www.aclcp.org/

Delaware Library Association https://dla.lib.de.us/

"The Essential Work: Centering Our Values, Health, and Humanity" - Part III: Healing in Nature
2022-06-17 10:00 - 12:00 UTC
While some parts of our work can be negotiated, the importance of our individual health cannot be questioned. Plan to join us on Friday June 17th as we learn to find strength and healing in nature.Join us in person at the Wissahickon Environmental Center (WEC) Tree House in Northwest Philadelphia for a Guided Meditation and Nature Walk, facilitated by Joanne Woods, Branch Manager of the Andorra Library.

Please register HERE by Friday June 10

This event is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors:

College and Research Division of the Pennsylvania Library Association https://crdpala.org/ This project is made possible by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Wolf, Governor. Show your appreciation by becoming a member of PaLA! And if you are a member – thank you!

Associated College Libraries of Central Pennsylvania https://www.aclcp.org/

Delaware Library Association https://dla.lib.de.us/

Annual Membership Meeting
2022-11-11 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
This Fall, ACRL DVC is holding its annual Membership Meeting as a Town Hall, where we want to hear from YOU!

Save a spot on your calendars for Friday, November 11th at 2:00 pm to be introduced to new ACRL DVC Board members; say hello to seasoned Board members; as well as ask questions, or provide suggestions for how this group can be most helpful and inspiring to you.

We are also conducting a Membership Survey so that we can get an idea of what the broader ACRL DVC membership values in the organization. Please take the survey here .

Here is the agenda:

Chapter UpdatesMentorship Program InformationGuiding Questions for 2022-2023Questions, Comments, Suggestions, etc. from Membership

ACRL DVC Membership Meetings are open to everyone interested in the work of the chapter. Thank you for considering attending the ACRL DVC Membership Meeting and Town Hall, and please spread the word!

Wellness and Our Work
2023-05-18 09:00 - 16:00 UTC | Charles Library at Temple University, 1900 North 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, United States
Wellness, including mental, physical, social, financial, environmental, and vocational, can be challenging to achieve. Ettarh’s (2018) description of vocational awe is a warning to the modern library worker not to conflate the importance of one’s profession and the joy of work with overall wellness and meaning in one’s life. Librarians often overstate the importance of their vocation, describing it as a calling “because the sacred duties of freedom, information, and service are so momentous.” Which leads us to ask – How does our work in libraries impact our wellness? How can we center wellness in our interactions with colleagues? Patrons? Local communities? How do library spaces contribute to wellness?

For this year’s Spring Program, DVC welcomes submissions on any area related to wellness, but encourages you to consider our 2022-2023 guiding questions:

How do you find meaning in your role/work? How do you disengage in extraneous work that you don’t find meaningful?

How do you feel about the idea of “quiet quitting?” Does periodic reassessment of how much time that you devote to work versus other important factors in your life (e.g. family, health, etc.) automatically constitute abdicating your job responsibilities?

Reflect on the ways that your work intersects with your well-being (or doesn’t). We welcome public reflection in the form of stories, presentations, panel discussions, lightning rounds, prompts for play and inspiration, or facilitated community conversations.

9:00 AM Registration and Library Tours

9:30 AM WelcomeNick Cunningham, ACRL DVC Vice PresidentJoe Lucia, Dean of Libraries at Temple University

9:45 AM Lightening Round: Library StaffingHow Vocational Awe Taught Us to Prioritize; Heather Dalal, Instruction & Emerging Technologies; Dr. Sharon Whitfield, Electronic & User Access Librarian; Marissa Stinson, Instructor-Librarian; Melissa Hofmann, Bibliographic Control Librarian at Rider University

Managing Oneself in the Face of Downsizing: Strategies for Empowering Academic Librarians; Russell Michalak, Library Director at Goldey-Beacom College

(Re)Write Your Job Description; Tina Hertel, Director at Muhlenberg College

10:45 AM Break and Tours

11:30 AM Lightening Round: Library Space and ServicesPlay and Belonging through Making; Hannah Tardie, Makerspace Manager at Temple University

Wellness Benefits of Community Services in an Academic Library Environment; Justin Hill, Head of Access Services; Emily Schiller, Circulation Supervisor; John Oram, Stacks Supervisor at Temple University

Student Use of Academic Libraries to Cope with Stress; Brendan Johnson, Outreach and Engagement Librarian at Penn State Abington

Impact of Green Roof on Student Study Space Preferences: Does Biophilic Design Matter?; Steven Bell, Associate University Librarian at Temple University

12:30 PM LunchBYO/Food Trucks

1:15 PM Keynote PresentationJames Templeton, Assistant Vice President and University Architect at Temple UniversityJohn Cearley, Associate at The S/L/A/M Collaborative

2:15 PM Roundtable Discussions

3:30 PM Closing and Final Opportunity for Tours

Fall 2023 ACRL DVC Membership Meeting/Town Hall
2023-11-15 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
Hello ACRL DVC community!

My name is Nicholas Cunningham and I am the ACRL DVC President for the 2023-24 academic year.

The ACRL DVC is holding its annual Membership Meeting as a virtual Town Hall via Zoom, where we want to hear from YOU!

Save a spot on your calendars to be introduced to new ACRL DVC Board members; say hello to seasoned Board members; as well as ask questions, or provide suggestions for how this group can be most helpful and inspiring to you.

Details:

2023 Fall ACRL DVC Membership Meeting/Town Hall

Zoom Event

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

2:00 – 3:00 pm

Register Here!

Meeting agenda:

Chapter Updates

Mentorship Program Information

Guiding Questions for 2023 – 2024 (Questions to come)

Questions, Comments, Suggestions, etc. from attendees

ACRL DVC Membership Meetings are open to everyone interested in the work of the chapter. Your membership helps us support our community through programming and services!

We are also conducting a membership survey so that we can get an idea of what the broader ACRL DVC membership values in the organization. Please complete the survey as soon as you’re able. Cheers,Nick Cunningham and the ACRL DVC Board

2024 ACRL DVC Spring Conference
2024-05-16 09:00 UTC | Cedar Crest College, 100 College Dr, Allentown, Pennsylvania, 18104, United States
Communicating for Impact: Navigating Communication in Higher Education

Registration link

ACRL DVC Spring Conference, May 16, 2024

Communication stands at the heart of higher education, wielding the power to either elevate or diminish one’s journey through campus life. The quest to strike the perfect balance between the pursuit of transparency and the essence of clear, unambiguous dialogue is a challenging one. The ACRL DVC cordially invites you to bring your unique insights to the in-person table on May 16th, 2024. We’re eager to explore communication’s pivotal role within your domain or institution. How does it shape your experiences and outcomes? We encourage you to ponder our guiding questions as you prepare your proposal. We’re looking forward to your valuable contributions to this critical conversation.

Non-ACRL DVC Member Registration – $40.00 (USD)

ACRL DVC Member Registration – $30.00 (USD)

Current (Undergraduate OR Graduate) Student Registration – $0.00 (USD)

2025 ACRL DVC Spring Event
2025-05-19 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Krauskopf Memorial Library at Delaware Valley University in Doylestown, PA, 700 East Butler Avenue, Doylestown, Pennsylvania, 18901, United States
Join us for an active discussion on the impact and implementation of open educational resources (OER) in academic libraries, including the relationships between OER and social justice for learners who have been minoritized in higher education.

Non-ACRL DVC Member – $30.00 (USD)

Existing ACRL DVC Members or Members of a Regional ACRL – $15.00 (USD)

Current (Undergraduate OR Graduate) Student – $0.00 (USD)

ACRL DVC Fall 2025 Event: Empowering Library Student Workers
2025-11-05 09:00 - 13:00 UTC
View the recording of this event below! (For timestamps of each presentation, please click “Watch on YouTube” and view the video description.)

The Delaware Valley Chapter of the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL DVC) is pleased to announce our fall event, Empowering Library Student Workers, which will be held online on Wednesday, November 5 from 9 AM to 1 PM EST.

Founded in 1951, ACRL DVC is the oldest local ACRL chapter and serves library and information professionals in college, university, and research organizations in eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware.

This event will be free and open to all, including attendees outside of our region. A full schedule of the event is outlined below.

9:00 AM

Welcome and logistics

9:10 AM

Autonomy, Competence, Relatedness: A Framework of Practical Strategies for Meaningful Student Work (slides)

Matthew Weirick Johnson, University of South Florida Libraries, Director of Research & Instruction

Jennifer Slagus, West Chester University Libraries, Assistant Professor and Social Sciences Librarian

Daniel Neil, University of South Florida, undergraduate student and Library Research Assistant

Student workers play a vital role in academic library operations, and their work experiences shape both personal growth and the library’s effectiveness. This presentation applies self-determination theory to explore how routine tasks can be transformed into meaningful opportunities that foster students’ autonomy, competence, and relatedness. An undergraduate employee will share his experience engaging with meaningful project-based work, regular shifts on a research help desk and online chat service, and mentorship by supervisors and peers. Together, we will offer practical recommendations for managers overseeing student worker programs.

9:25 AM

All around the Library: Connecting Student Employment to LIS Career Exploration

Laura Surtees, Bryn Mawr College, Manager of Library Experience and Engagement

Jadyn Patrick, Bryn Mawr College, Library Summer Resident and undergraduate

Hayden Fahey, Bryn Mawr College, Library Summer Resident and undergraduate

Sunny Lucal, Bryn Mawr College, Library Summer Resident and alum ’25

Jess Smith, Bryn Mawr College, Library Summer Resident and alum ’25

Academic libraries offer a unique opportunity to introduce students to Library and Information Science (LIS) careers through meaningful employment. Yet, many student workers remain siloed in distinct roles, unaware of LIS pathways. This presentation highlights the Library Summer Resident Program, a 10-week initiative connecting student employment with career exploration. Through departmental rotations, hands-on training, and mentorship, students gain insight into the collaborative nature of library work. Former residents will share how the program deepened their LIS understanding and expanded career horizons. Through intentional design, student employment fosters skill-building, experiential learning, and professional growth while illuminating LIS career possibilities.

9:45 AM

Building a Sustainable and Worthwhile Student Worker Experience: From Silos to Leadership Development

Kris Beutler, Moravian University, User Experience and Assessment Librarian

Liliana Brockway, Moravian University, Graduate Intern

This presentation examines transforming a fragmented student worker program into an integrated system supervising 60+ students across multiple disciplines. By consolidating management and implementing comprehensive cross-training, operational challenges like coverage gaps and scheduling inflexibility were resolved while creating meaningful professional development opportunities. Program innovations include expanded internships for students from diverse academic backgrounds and student worker lead positions offering advancement pathways and increased compensation. Co-presenters will share administrative and student perspectives on implementation strategies, career impact, and practical guidance for adapting these approaches to different institutional contexts.

10:10 AM

Leveraging Student Talent for Library Marketing & Outreach (slides)

Catherine Paolillo, University of San Diego, Head of Access & Outreach Services Librarian

Unlock a new approach to library marketing by leveraging your student employees’ existing talents, skills, and interests! This presentation will showcase four successful projects where student assistants led marketing and outreach initiatives. We will demonstrate the value of centering their unique voices and skills, which allows for more authentic, peer-to-peer outreach. Attendees will gain actionable strategies and inspiring examples for building campaigns that resonate with students and create a more dynamic connection between the library and its users.

10:40 AM

Break

10:45 AM

Centering Student Labor in Digital Scholarship at a Small Liberal Arts College

Anna Lacy, Haverford College, Digital Scholarship Librarian

Brandon Morales, Haverford College, Digital Scholarship Assistant

Digital Scholarship (DS) at Haverford College centers student workers as the foundation of its digital humanities ecosystem. Through paid assistantships, internships, and fellowships, undergraduate researchers contribute to technical development, metadata creation, UX testing, and documentation while gaining mentorship, project management, and hands-on experience. Structured work plans make invisible labor visible, and offboarding procedures ensure continuity as students complete internships, move between projects, or graduate. This presentation will share strategies and documentation for sustaining a student-centered digital scholarship program at a small liberal arts college, highlighting mentorship, equitable practices, and the crucial role of student labor.

11:00 AM

Student Jobs as Entry Points to LIS Careers

Zara Strauss, University of Delaware, Processing Assistant

My presentation shows how undergraduate jobs in university libraries can help students develop important foundational skills for a future career in LIS. As a history major, I was drawn in by the prospect of physical and digital processing items with a range of historical significance, but once employed I realized that LIS jobs demanded an array of skills. Having worked in three different departments, my eyes were opened to a career working in libraries and archives. With supportive supervisors and exposure to different tasks I developed practical skills that prepared me for what I am now learning as a graduate student doing my masters.

11:15 AM

Student Engagement in Library Projects as a Pathway to the Profession (slides)

Kerry Walton, West Chester University, Associate Dean

Mira Benson, West Chester University, student

Cathleen Dunn, West Chester University, Cataloging Technician

Wes Miriello, West Chester University, Circulation and Stacks Technician

Leigh Dawson, West Chester University, Student Employee Program Coordinator

This presentation will highlight the journey of an undergraduate student, Mira Benson, at West Chester University Libraries. Mira’s involvement in a library-wide reclassification project demonstrates the transformative potential of student engagement in library initiatives. Mira plays a pivotal role in the project, and has quickly taken on leadership responsibilities, developed technical and organizational skills, and contributed meaningfully to library operations. The project not only spurred her interest in pursuing a library science degree but also connected her with mentorship that shaped her professional goals. Attendees will gain insight into supporting student growth through impactful projects and roles.

11:45 AM

Raise the Bar – They Can Reach It! Students in Library Leadership (slides and other documents)

Claire Drolet, Delaware Valley University, Access Services Librarian

Over the last several years, the Krauskopf Memorial Library at Delaware Valley University has been developing a student employment program that goes well beyond the basic check in / check out and shelving tasks. Using student feedback, focus groups, and the NACE core competencies, our students are now learning information literacy, curation, marketing, customer service, supervisory, and teamwork skills. This serves the library well, but more importantly, it makes the students’ jobs more challenging, professionally beneficial, and satisfying. Custom tasks are created and given to students to help them pursue things they are passionate about, and supervisory responsibilities and training are given to those who want to step up and learn to lead their peers. We are raising the bar – because we know they can reach it!

12:15 PM

Break

12:25 PM

Beyond the Desk: Engaging Student Talent to Unlock Cross-Unit Collaboration

Rebekah Smith, American University Library, Library Access Outreach Coordinator

Alexis Boyages, American University Library, Library Accessibility Coordinator

Sydney Evitts, American University Library, Circulation Services Operations Coordinator

Laura Xayasaeng, American University Library, Library Systems Coordinator

Sophie Bergey, American University Library, Circulation & Reserves Lead (III) Student Assistant

Stella del Carmen, American University Library, Circulation & Reserves (I) Student Assistant

This case study provides an overview of a Spring 2025 pilot program at the American University Library that matched select Circulation student staff with project-based opportunities across multiple library departments. This initiative created meaningful experiential learning and career-readiness opportunities for students while advancing the library’s operational goals in innovative ways. Hear from full-time and student staff participants as they share their reasons for creating the initiative, the logistical and operational challenges encountered, the outcomes achieved, and the key lessons learned along the way.

12:50 PM

Concluding remarks
