Your name, current work place and position (for students, please tell us what school you’re attending and if you have chosen a specialization):
My name is Rose Chou, and I’m Budget & Personnel Manager at American University Library in Washington, DC.
Where did you attend school for your MLIS degree?
I attended the online program at San Jose State University while I worked full-time in Circulation at AU Library and then later at the Smithsonian’s National Anthropological Archives.
How long have you been an APALA member? Why did you first join? Are you currently involved as an officer/committee member/other volunteer?
I joined APALA back in 2011 while I was still in library school. Since I was in an online program, I tried to be proactive in finding ways to meet other librarians. Also, I was involved with a number of cultural organizations in college and was seeking a similar place of belonging. I have served on a few APALA committees over the years, and I’m currently on the Scholarships and Awards Committee.
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.
My father was born and raised in Cambodia, and my mother was born and raised in Thailand. I’m ethnically Chinese, but I also strongly identify as Cambodian and Thai. My mother’s family has been in Thailand since the late 19th century, and my paternal grandparents left China during the Chinese Civil War. Most of my extended family still lives in Cambodia and Thailand. My parents lived in France for a few years before immigrating to the United States in the 1980s.
I grew up in South Carolina, where I was often the only Asian person in the room. My extended family growing up was the small local Chinese community, and while I didn’t realize it at the time, being surrounded by people who look like you is really important.
What aspects of librarianship are key to your personal satisfaction at work. Please share some of your professional goals and interests.
Librarianship initially appealed to me because of its values of access, service, and social responsibility. While the profession certainly isn’t perfect, and there is much room to improve, it’s these core values that keep me doing this work. I really appreciate that in my daily work responsibilities, I get to spend time thinking about and implementing strategies for diversity, equity, and inclusion at my institution.
Additionally, I prioritize my research and other scholarly work in LIS. I recently finished co-editing a book with APALA Secretary Annie Pho — Pushing the Margins: Women of Color and Intersectionality in LIS, which will be published later this year. I am also a series editor for Litwin Books/Library Juice Press Series on Critical Race Studies and Multiculturalism in LIS, where we are always looking for new books that people want to write or edit. Please reach out to me if you have any ideas or want to learn more about publishing!
This interview was conducted by Jaena Rae Cabrera, with editorial assistance by Shanna Kim.