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):
My name is Kylie Hargrove (she/her) and I am currently an Interlibrary and Circulation Library Assistant and Notary Public at the Nashua Public Library. I’ve worked in libraries and archives for approximately 12 years, but am only now pursuing my Master’s in Library and Information Sciences at Simmons University. I am concentrating in Archives Management.
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’ve been an APALA member since 2021. I was really excited during the coronavirus pandemic to discover there was a professional organization specifically geared towards Asian-Pacific groups. Experiencing the pandemic in actively public roles as someone of Asian descent, and within a not particularly diverse region, proved extremely demoralizing and isolating, especially following my undergrad in Philadelphia. So it was encouraging to find this group and very cool to keep abreast of their endeavors and collaborations across the country. It’s been very inspiring!
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 am a mixed Asian American. Both sides of my family are predominantly mixed white military backgrounds, but my grandmother was Japanese and of Mongolian descent. I never had the opportunity to know her or her culture, so I have always felt strange in claiming that heritage. Even so I have always cherished learning through my mother and relatives.
What aspects of library work do you find most compelling? Please share some of your professional goals and interests.
I found my way into library work by accident, but it’s so engaging that it’s difficult to imagine a different career path! Growing up in rural, predominantly white regions I really lacked a sense of belonging, and even now often find myself “othered.” I think my past experiences fuel my desire to help others in hopes of cultivating a better future. Libraries are invaluable community resources, and I love helping create safe, equitable, and inclusive spaces where everyone has the opportunity to flourish. It is just incredibly rewarding to impact people in a positive way at very different life stages and to build meaningful relationships every day.
At this current point in my career, I’m feeling drawn back to archival work. I aspire to become involved in cultural restoration and preservation, though I also am interested in learning more about curating special collections.
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!
Not really, other than officially pursuing my MLIS! I’m very excited to have started.
I do love connecting and learning from others, so if anyone wishes to get in contact, I have recently resurrected my LinkedIn account (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylie-hargrove). I’d love to be in touch!
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I am so grateful for the existence of APALA, and I hope to become more involved here in the future. Thank you for having me here!
Credit to Trayce Gregoire Photography for my photo.