By Tess Goldwasser
Update: Our bonehead editor (me) forgot to put the picture on this article. It has now been added -JMF
What is your role in the GLBTRT?
I’m a member of the News Committee, where my “beat” is Media of Note. I also write a column for the blog (previously bi-weekly, soon to go monthly) called Queer Quest, about LGBT+ issues and representation in geeky media: games, fantasy/SF, animation, comics, etc.
What does the GLBTRT mean to you?
It’s been really wonderful for me since joining the RT just to meet and talk to other people concerned with some of the same issues I am, dealing with some of the same stuff. I’ve spent a lot of time being sort of isolated professionally, as an out lesbian, due to being in smaller and more conservative libraries, so it’s really a moving experience for me to start building this network and finding people.
Are you involved in ALA in other ways?
Yes, I’m a LITA member and I serve on the Assessment and Research Committee there, and I’m a member of NMRT, although kind of from the sidelines. I’ve also joined the GameRT, and try to participate in activities there when I can.
What professional work do you perform?
I’m the (first ever!) Instructional Design Librarian at the University of Houston Libraries. My primary role focuses on developing asynchronous, self-paced online instruction modules on core information literacy concepts, aimed at our online and hybrid courses. I also do some classroom IL teaching though, and work on plenty of other committees and projects.
What would you like to tell us about your personal life?
I have a lovely wife who’s currently working on her Ph.D in American religious history – which I actually hold a Ph.D in myself as well. (I usually tell people I went into librarianship just so we don’t have to fight over teaching positions.) We have two sweet goofy dogs, a brother and sister from the same litter, named Curry and Heyes. That’s Curry in the picture with me, from when he was about three months old – but now he’s over a year and about 80 pounds!
What are you most proud of?
I’d say it’s a toss-up between my creativity, and being a part of the team where I work. It’s an incredible, dynamic, collaborative environment that I’ve already learned a ton from, and I’m happy that I have a skill I really shine in that I can bring to it.
Who inspires you?
My dad, who’s one of the people I’ve always looked up to most. My wife, who’s very different from me and we learn something from each other every day and always make it work. My closest friends, who are a bunch of insanely talented and intelligent people I’m happy to know. My supervisors and team at work, who I’ve learned a huge amount about teaching from and still have tons left to learn in the future. Also Nicki Minaj but I feel like that’s kind of a given.
What is your favorite holiday and how do you celebrate?
Halloween! I love horror and all things scary, it’s my favorite thing in the world. I always make my wife watch a ton of horror movies and eat candy with me to celebrate, but to be fair, that’s how we spend a lot of nights anyway.
If you could be transported into the fictional world of any book, where would you go?
I think I might go for Harry Potter. It seems like the best of all worlds in terms of getting some high fantasy elements and magic in there, which is fun, but without giving up things like modern plumbing, which is kind of a deal-breaker for me.
What do you have to say about the future of libraries?
I’m excited to see where it goes. I think it’s hard for us to imagine, from where we stand now, what things might look like in 50 years, just given how fast change is moving in terms of technology and possibilities. What’s most important may be just to be ready to adapt, and to welcome it as an opportunity instead of being afraid.
Where would you like to see GLBTRT go in the future?
I’d like us to really pursue more conversations about intersectionality: how the issues we deal with meet with other issues of diversity in the profession, and how we can help each other. Social justice is a major focus for me personally and professionally, and I’m always interested in doing more as far as that goes.
