Michigan State University Librarian Zoë McLaughlin has been selected as a 2019-20 Emerging Leader by the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS). Each year, the national association sponsors one Emerging Leader who has chosen collections and technical services as a career. Dean of Libraries Joseph Salem said the selection and associated sponsorship bring national recognition of McLaughlin’s commitment to library service and will create opportunities for growth that will serve not just McLaughlin and the MSU Libraries but other libraries and librarians as well.
“This is high praise for McLaughlin,” Salem said. “It’s well deserved. We’re delighted she’ll have this opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity and we’re glad she’ll have more opportunities to network with peers in libraries throughout the country. This opportunity positions her well to develop more skills in areas that interest her, which will benefit our community of users.”
The Emerging Leaders program is designed as a leadership development program that gives librarians across the country opportunities to participate in problem-solving work groups and projects, and build a deeper understanding of the American Library Association.
McLaughlin serves as the liaison librarian for South and Southeast Asia, collecting materials from and about the regions relevant to research and teaching at Michigan State University. She provides in-depth reference and research services and library instruction for students, faculty, and staff with research interests in South or Southeast Asian studies.
In her role at MSU Libraries, McLaughlin also contributes to accessibility initiatives and efforts within the libraries and on campus as a whole and to cataloging efforts requiring language or subject-specific expertise. In 2018 she was elected to serve on the Center for Research Libraries’ Southeast Asia Materials Project’s Executive Committee. She also serves on the Michigan State University President’s Advisory Committee on Disability Issues and on committees within the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association. Additionally, she is co-chair of the Michigan Academic Libraries Association’s Residency Interest group. She earned a B.A. in Biochemistry & Creative Writing from Oberlin College, and an M.A. in Southeast Asian Studies and an M.S. in Information from the University of Michigan. Her research interests include decolonial practices within area studies and translation theory and practice.
The Association for Library Collections & Technical Services is the national association for information providers who work in collections and technical services, such as acquisitions, cataloging, collection development, preservation and continuing resources in digital and print formats. ALCTS is a division of the American Library Association.
The MSU Libraries are at the center of academic life at Michigan State University, providing expertise, collections, and infrastructure for discovery and creation. The Libraries facilitate connections that support research, teaching, and learning in local and global communities. Faculty and staff at the Libraries are committed to providing equal access to Library collections, services, and facilities for all library users. The Libraries employ an Open Educational Resources (OER) and Student Success Librarian and recently launched a faculty incentive program for course affordability. In 2019, the Libraries joined the Open Textbook Network, a diverse community of higher education institutions that promote access, affordability, and student success through the use of open textbooks.
