Gene R. Springs
91´«Ã½ Divisions:
Decisive, inquisitive, catalyst.
I just finished "Less: A Novel" by Andrew Sean Greer, this year's winner of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. I've also been reading through "Somalis in the Twin Cities and Columbus: Immigrant Incorporation in New Destinations" by Stefanie Chambers, which has been very informative about the real truths of the immigrant and refugee experience in the greater Columbus area.
Open, collaborative, leading.
ACRL is willing to explore the most pressing issues facing academic and research libraries and seeking inclusive input to innovate approaches in the form of real working solutions. I've been a member of several ACRL sections and served on various division-level committees, and am always impressed by the intelligent, supportive colleagues I’ve worked with and the initiatives that we have advanced.
In my current position I help guide the libraries' collections program, which encompasses collections analytics, space management, and fiscal oversight. I work with our many subject librarians and curators to help ensure that our faculty and students have access to a wide variety of resources to support their teaching, research and learning.
Working in academic research libraries for the better part of the last fourteen years has taught me that the only constant is change. Much of this change has been for the better - it has been amazing to see the many positive gains made across scholarly communication, shared print and retention initiatives, and enhanced student learning. Recently, I've been very encouraged by the work being done by ACRL and individual libraries to have honest conversations about equity, diversity, and inclusion, making concerted efforts to push past platitudes and really focus on breaking down the inherent and imbalanced power dynamics built in to academic institutions. I am pleased to be a part of creating organizations that really do support all.
Title:Collections Strategist
Workplace:Ohio State University Libraries
Location:Columbus, OH