Sponsored by the School of Information, University of California Berkeley
From Art Librarian to Publishing Professional: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love ScholComm - Meredith Kahn, Publishing Services and Outreach Librarian, University of Michigan
Not Not a Librarian - Ian McDermott, Collection Development Associate, ARTstor
Outsider Art - Jamie Lausch Vander Broek, Exhibits & Programming Librarian and Learning Librarian, University of Michigan
Sailing the Seas of Interdisciplinarity - Alice Whiteside, Librarian & Information Technology Consultant, Mount Holyoke College
Moderator: Shannon Marie Robinson, Fine Arts Liaison Librarian, Denison University
While our conception of the archetypical ARLIS/NA member might remain lodged somewhere between an art history subject specialist at an academic institution and a librarian at an art museum, a quick search of the member directory proves that our landscape is changing. Titles such as “Fine Arts Librarian” and “Art & Architecture Librarian” are joined by “Digital Asset Manager,” “Learning Zone Librarian,” “Metadata Coordinator,” and “Digital Initiatives Librarian.” ARLIS/NA’s membership is diversifying and alt-ARLIS, an alternative to the traditional path, is a way of life for many of these new members. Inspired by the “alt-ac” movement--an exploration of alternative academic careers--the term alt-ARLIS represents a new way to define oneself as an art information professional.
Four alt-ARLISians will introduce the concept of alt-ARLIS and examine how and why ARLIS/NA remains our professional home. Attendees will leave this session with ideas about how to approach job searches outside of traditional art librarian positions, how service in ARLIS/NA might remain relevant to these careers, and how experiences from outside of traditional art librarian jobs can enrich the society as a whole.