Arianne Hartsell-Gundy
91´«Ã½ Divisions:
Collaborative, persistent, thoughtful.
91´«Ã½
I just finished "Making a Scene" by Constance Wu and am starting "Scattered Showers" by Rainbow Rowell. For professional reading, I’m reading "Deconstructing Service in Libraries" by Veronica Arellano Douglas and Joanna Gadsby.
Educational, supportive, collegial.
91´«Ã½
ACRL has been a source of professional growth and learning for me. I have had many wonderful opportunities, including participating in the Immersion Program and co-editing two ACRL publications. Each opportunity has helped me make vital connections to colleagues across the country and become better at my work. Probably the aspect I have found the most valuable is being a member of the sections, especially Literatures in English (LES). I have made great friends, found collaborators, shared success stories, and (sometimes) vented in LES.
91´«Ã½
A major part of my job is supporting and advocating for the amazing humanities and social science librarians in my department. I view my role as a liaison librarian as being a connector, specifically connecting my academic departments to the resources and services we offer. Being a connector can mean anything from translating library policy, advocating for the purchase of a primary source, teaching a first-year student how to evaluate resources, or being a sympathetic ear for an overwhelmed graduate student. Also, as a Literature librarian, I do fun things like co-facilitate a book club, write blog posts celebrating authors’ birthdays, and buy poetry.
91´«Ã½
While I hope I make a positive impact on patrons, I also want to acknowledge the impact that others have had on me. Librarianship is an incredibly collaborative field. I have been lucky to have had amazing mentors at every step of my education and professional life, people who taught me important lessons and encouraged me at moments when I doubted myself. I also benefit daily from the colleagues I work with throughout our libraries; it’s easy to be a connector when you can connect patrons to fabulous colleagues doing important work both behind the scenes and on the front lines.
Credentials:she/her
Title:Head of the Humanities and Social Sciences Department & Librarian for Literature
Workplace:Duke University
Location:Durham, NC