Spotlight: Maureen Williams

What is something you have experienced that has inspired you in your work?

Being in instruction and reference, I often see the immediate gratification of finding good resources with students. When students discover new information, or new ways to find information, they are often visibly happy and grateful. This personal and positive interaction with students is probably the most inspiring part of my work. We play a role in student success, and while often that work can be behind the scenes or subtle, there are times we get to see how impactful the library can be on a student’s academic journey.

What do you think is an important opportunity facing universities and academic libraries? Alternatively, do you see opportunities for TCLC?

In our current climate of misinformation, disinformation, and the mistrust of verified experts and authority, academic libraries can be leaders in promoting high quality information written or created by experts in the field. That information is at times located in subscription databases; but there is good information on the open web and there are content experts and trained journalists whose work is published for free. Teaching the skills to understand how to identify a trustworthy source, how to research the person and platform publishing an article, and how to critically examine the information within a source are skills not just for college; they are necessary to maintain an informed populace whose beliefs and values are based on legitimate information. This is a challenge academic librarians can take on in their instruction, collection development, and programming.

What’s a recent book you read for fun or what are you binge watching?

I’ve decided to start reading a book that takes place in whatever location I travel to. My in-laws live in rural Ohio and so on our trip in June I read a book called “Stay and Fight” by Madeline ffitch, which I saw described as “a contemporary feminist spin on the traditional pioneer novel”. It was about living off the land and off the grid in Appalachian Ohio and the trials and tribulations of not engaging with most of modern society. It’s not a life I would ever choose, but it was a great read, and fun to be in the location where it took place as I was reading.