Your name, pronouns, current or most recent work place and position (for students, please tell us what school you’re attending and if you have chosen a specialization):
Hi! I’m Joan Jocson-Singh (she/her/hers) and I’m the inaugural Director of Library at the new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art set to open in LA in 2025. Prior to that I was the Institute Librarian (Dean) at The California Institute of Arts (CalArts) in Valencia. I’m originally from NY and have an MLS and Archival degrees from Pratt Institute and a Masters in Anthropology from Hunter College.
How long have you been an APALA member? What drew you to join? (If you are currently volunteering on an APALA committee or are an EB officer, please include that here!)
I’m a very new APALA member and started my participation in 2023. I’m currently part of the Statement and Advocacy Committee. I’ve always been part of the art and museum world throughout my career and value the ways in which artmaking can both center and expand one’s experience within the greater world. With that said, I really appreciate seeing my heritage and background represented in our field and feel a responsibility to also give back where I can, so participating in APALA seemed like a great fit!
We’re very interested in the diversity of ethnic/cultural heritage within APALA. Please share your ethnic/cultural heritage with us and any other background information, as desired.
I’m Filipino-American and I grew up in Yonkers, NY. I’ve been very fortunate to grow up in a diverse city but as one knows, the library field isn’t as reflective of the diversity or representation of Asian Americans as someone like me would like to see. Part of my professional lens is becoming the change I would like to see in our field while advocating for other AAPI & BIPOC communities.
What aspects of library work do you find most compelling? Please share some of your professional goals and interests.
Two themes that I advocate for in all of my work (that aren’t necessarily library-specific but should be) are Leading with Empathy and Thinking Outside the Box. I think I find these themes compelling because both allow for growth and innovation within a lens of understanding differences. As disseminators of information, I think it’s important for us to provide safe, welcoming spaces while encouraging novel ways of discursive practice.
If you’ve got a big move, publication, webinar, conference presentation, or social media presence that you’d like APALA members to know about, let us know here!
So many things! My co-writer and fellow librarian – Julie Turley and I published our book this past year: Heavy Music Mothers: Extreme Identities, Narrative Disruptions, where we interviewed and told the stories of mothers who identified as music industry professionals and discuss challenges of motherhood while participating in extreme music genres. In addition, I also moderate a Facebook group called Metal Music Librarians (welcomed to all, not just librarians), where I post the latest on CFPs, academic metal conferences and metal music related news. And of course, I’ve been working non-stop with my library team to shape the new Lucas Museum Library. Lastly, I continue to think up innovative programming ideas, network and situate myself with the SoCal art librarians of both APALA and the Art Libraries Society of North America (ARLIS/NA), whilst continuing to write and research on gender, heavy metal music, and motherhood!
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Just a big thank you!