By Dan Delmonaco
All of the panels, speakers, and attendees at the 2017 ACRL/NY Symposium affirmed my choice to pursue academic librarianship and receive my graduate degree in library science. I think I was most inspired by the engagement of every single person in attendance. From the questions asked, the discussions during the breakout sessions, and the attentiveness of everyone during the presentations, it was easy to see that I was in a room filled with lifelong learners. Everyone wanted to learn as much as possible to serve their communities to the best of their abilities. They were so supportive and encouraging of those speaking or leading the sessions. The ACRL/NY members I spoke with individually also showed the same support as they met my curiosity and newness to the profession with enthusiasm and answers to all my questions.
The most immediately relevant experience I had at the symposium was my group discussion as part of the breakout session. My group discussed information literacy instruction in the current information landscape and I took away many ideas for instructing undergraduate students. In the spring, I will begin work as an Information Assistant for Rutgers University Libraries and I’ll assist with information literacy instruction. Hearing from current instructional librarians about the difficulties they face when trying to discuss the voracity of certain materials and other information literacy-related challenges they faced prepared me for many of the questions I will receive from my future students and provided tools for handling some of those concerns.
I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to attend the ACRL/NY Symposium and appreciate all I was able to learn and absorb. I feel prepared and inspired to tackle information literacy education and the other issues discussed both in my current positions and in future library roles.
Dan Delmonaco is a current a Master of Information student with a concentration in Library and Information Science at Rutgers University’s School of Communication and Information. He received a B.A. in History with a concentration in Early American History, Material Culture, and Museum Studies from the College of William and Mary.