Ursula Romero (Outreach Librarian, Lilly Library, Indiana University Bloomington)
Jasmine Sykes-Kunk (Head of Research Services, John Hay Library, Brown University Library)

Episode summary

Jasmine Sykes-Kunk and Ursula Romero discuss a day in the life as public services librarians working in special collections. They discuss what cultural heritage work means to them, the challenges of the profession, and the things about the work that bring them joy. A heavy focus is placed on accessibility and the question of how to make people feel comfortable and welcome in a space which can feel intimidating and exclusive. They also discuss the sometimes unconventional paths they each took to enter the profession.

Keywords

archives, special collections, accessibility, education, cultural heritage

Yuqiao Cao (Visual Literacy Librarian and Museum Educator, University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press)
Jhensen Oritz (Librarian, CUNY Dominican Studies Institute)

Episode summary

In this episode, Jhensen Ortiz and Yuqiao Cao discuss their career milestones with the highlights from their home institutions' collections. Yuqiao shares her journey to become a librarian and museum educator by celebrating the rich multicultural art and artifacts at the University of Delaware's museum collections. Jhensen shares his continued involvement with the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute, highlighting Dominicans' involvement and influences across fields locally and nationally.

Keywords

academic museums, museum education, archives, Dominican, Dominican American art

Resources

"The World is Following its People": Indigenous Art and Arctic Ecology

Stevens-Acevedo Anthony, Tom Weterings and Leonor Álvarez Francés. Juan Rodriguez and the Beginnings of New York City. CUNY Dominican Studies Institute, 2013.

CUNY Dominican Studies Institute, A History of Dominican Music in the United States, 2020, dominicanmusicusa.com.

CUNY Dominican Studies Institute, Fighting for Democracy: Dominican Veterans from World War II, 2024, https://dedsi.ccnydigitalscholarship.org/dominican-veterans-wwii/

CUNY Dominican Studies Institute, Dominican Artists in the United States, 2024, https://www.jstor.org/site/ccny/dominicanartistsintheus/

Yao Chen (Director of East Asian Collection, University of Chicago Library)
Lorena Gauthereau (Digital Programs Manager, US Latino Digital Humanities Center/Recovering the US Hispanic Literary Heritage Program, University of Houston)
Rosa Peña (Library Assistant I, Los Angeles County Library and President, La Historia Historical Society)

Episode summary

Yao Chen interviews Lorena Gauthereau and Rosa Peña about their roles in preserving history at community and public archives that focus on US Latino community collections. They discuss the importance of community outreach to preserve community histories. By sharing personal career experience and insights of the field, the group hopes to shed light on the field, helping students to understand the scope and skill sets required for potential careers in this area. 

Keywords

archives, community, Latino, outreach, pathways to the profession, cultural heritage

Speakers

Rhiannon Sorrell (Assistant Professor and Digital Services Librarian at Diné College)

Jaime Valenzuela (Archivist and Scholarly Communications Lead at the Cracchiolo Law Library)

Episode summary

In this episode Jaime Valenzuela and Rhiannon Sorrell (Diné College) discuss what excites them about their work, their career paths, and what cultural heritage means to them.

Keywords

allyship, cultural heritage, exhibition, Indigenous community, information literacy, pathways to the profession

Krystal Tribbett (Curator for Orange County Regional History at the University of California at Irvine)
Zayda Delgado (Supervising Librarian at the Sonoma County History & Genealogy Library)

Episode summary

In this episode Zayda Delgado, Supervising Librarian at the Sonoma County History & Genealogy Library, and Krystal Tribbett, Curator for Orange County Regional History at the University of California at Irvine, discuss their pathways to special collections librarianship and how serving communities brings meaning to their work.

Keywords

archives, curator, pathways to the profession, community, cultural heritage