Your name, current work place and position, and a little bit about the path that’s taken you there (i.e., where else have you worked? How have you been able to grow professionally?)?
My name is Dawn Wing, and I am currently a reference and instruction librarian at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, Minnesota. My first professional academic library job was Media Librarian at SUNY-Suffolk County Community College from 2014-2018. Prior to becoming an academic librarian, I taught English as a Second Language in NYC public schools for four years. At one particular school, I had the opportunity to design an interdisciplinary literacy curriculum and oversee graphic novels collection development for a program supporting adolescent Students with Interrupted Formal Education (SIFE). I also took my students to the local public library to get their library cards and learn about free resources available to them outside of the classroom (shout out to Queens Public Library!). My work experience during that time helped me decide to transition into a career in libraries in 2011, and it has been an incredibly exciting and rewarding adventure since!
How long have you been an APALA member? Why have you continued to be an APALA member? Are you currently involved as an officer/committee member/other volunteer?
I first joined the APALA when I started my library career as an MLIS student at University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2011. I became involved as a member of the web content and newsletter committee in 2012 and that was how I got to better connect with other fabulous APALA members like Melissa Cardenas-Dow, Gary Colmenar and Alyssa Jocson-Porter (who would become my most committed, inspiring pen-pal ever!). Since then, I have been contributing web content to APALA including APIA author and librarian interviews, updates on my creative research projects, and graphic novel book reviews.
I continue to be a member of APALA because I appreciate the warmth, openness, generosity, flexibility and support from other members – whether at special meal gatherings at ALA, seeing familiar faces and catching up with library friends at JCLC and other conferences, or through regular professional development updates on our email listserve. It means a lot to me to know how committed we are to helping one another in achieving our goals, resolving work issues, and addressing APIA issues and, more broadly, continuing to expand efforts of diversity and inclusion within our profession and beyond. It helps to know I am not alone in navigating challenges and difficulties in the workplace and know I can turn to the APALA family, and also other BIPOC library networks such as “we here” on Facebook (if you’re not a part of it, please consider joining! I’ve gotten helpful advice from the group numerous times).
What aspects of librarianship are key to your personal satisfaction at work? Has that changed since you joined librarianship?
I love how I can wear many different hats to support a diverse population of learners in a variety of ways as a reference and instruction librarian. I enjoy the stimulation and challenges of problem solving whether handling unique research questions from students and faculty via email, chat or Zoom reference. Speaking of technology, I also like that I am constantly having to learn new skills and e-resources, especially now with all online courses during COVID where I need to be innovative in figuring out patron accessibility to all kinds of information and providing engaged information literacy learning opportunities for students.
At my current institution, I also truly feel I am valued as a liaison librarian to the History department, School of Urban Education and College of Individualized Studies. Faculty members in those areas regularly tell me how much they appreciate my efforts in supporting their students through research consultations and in-class research sessions. It makes me feel like I am making a difference and contributing positively to the growth and learning of students who want to also be agents of change and social justice in our society. I also enjoy serving in various faculty of color, academic and student success-related committees where I can collaborate with the wider university community and, in conversation with them, gain a better sense of faculty and student needs in terms of library resources. The library dean and my department colleagues have been truly supportive, understanding and open to my creativity in my teaching, graphic novels collection development, and research-based graphic novels project. I truly enjoy what I do, and am so appreciative to be able to apply my skills and interests towards nurturing life-long learning for everyone, a value I cherish and uphold dearly.
If you could go back in time a few years ago to when you participated in the Member Highlights series, what would you tell your younger self?
I can’t believe it has been eight years since that piece was published! Time flies too quickly.
Words I’d tell my younger self:
-Be your own best friend and advocate in all life situations, including in the workplace.
-Trust your intuition. Be honest with how you’re really feeling about a particular matter.
-Take your time to observe interpersonal dynamics and communication styles.
-If you need more time and information to respond to a situation or decision, ask for it.
-Be patient with yourself when adapting to new situations, changes and obstacles. Ask for support and help, when needed.
-Don’t stop imagining creative possibilities in teaching and research! Share your ideas and passion widely. This drive and energy will connect you to individuals in your field and in other disciplines in ways you could not have expected. They will play crucial roles in offering you meaningful professional development opportunities.
What’s next for you? 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!
I will be presenting on the research and creative development of my historical graphic narrative project “Tien Fu Wu and Tye Leung Schulze: Translators for Justice” at the 42nd Annual Southwest Popular/American Culture Association Conference in February 2021.
I have been working on these graphic novel manuscripts since 2017, and hope to see them published someday.
To see other recent conference presentations and publications I have recently done, please visit http://dawnwing.weebly.com.