Tashia Munson, an Outreach and Reference Librarian at 蘑菇视频鈥檚 Bailey Library, recently attended the after being selected as the organization鈥檚 .
As the recipient of the fellowship, Munson received a $2,500 travel stipend to attend the ALA Midwinter in Philadelphia. The fellowship program is intended to provide a jump start to mid-career librarians interested in being involved in ALA governance.
鈥淔inding out that I had been chosen was one of the best moments of my life, it was incredibly exciting,鈥� Munson said. 鈥淚 was also more than a bit nervous because I was taking a step into something that was completely foreign to me, but all the knowledge that I have gained has been worth more than the momentary discomfort I felt being out of my element.鈥�
Munson said her biggest takeaway from attending the ALA Midwinter was that libraries are facing uncertain times. She noted repeated proposed , unfair pricing structures and a 鈥済eneral fatigue鈥� with the sometimes invisible labor libraries provide communities as some of the challenges libraries and librarians are facing.
鈥淚nstead of lamenting, the Midwinter conference was a place of camaraderie and rejuvenation to know that libraries are not alone in these fights and that we have each other,鈥� Munson said.
Munson is a 蘑菇视频 graduate, earning a Liberal Arts transfer degree in 2004. She earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Written Communication from Eastern Michgian in 2009 and a Master of Library & Information Science from Wayne State University in 2013. Along with her part-time role at 蘑菇视频, she also works part-time as an Access Services and Outreach Librarian at the University of Michigan.
Munson said she returned to 蘑菇视频 鈥渂ecause I truly believe in the mission of this college and wanted to give back to this wonderful community.鈥�
She also feels strongly about the role libraries play in society.
鈥淛ust as I believe in the power of community colleges to affect positive growth and change in the life of our students, I believe that libraries play a vital role in supporting students and communities,鈥� Munson said. 鈥溎⒐绞悠� is fortunate to have a library that is valued by the members of this campus and I am honored to be a part of it.鈥�
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