About Me.

BIO 
​
I was born in Seoul, South Korea, and grew up in Connecticut. After attending undergrad in Poughkeepsie, NY, I spent half a year teaching at a middle school through Americorps and then worked in the Education Department of an art museum. From then on, I have defined my career as "education-adjacent" and dedicated my work to public libraries. I live in Columbus with my husband, two cats, and a hoard of stationery.

You can read about my moral philosophy below in an essay I had to write for library school. :)

EDUCATION

• Master of Library and Information Science (Public Library focus) - Kent State University
• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing ​(Fiction focus) - Western Michigan University
• ​Bachelor of Arts in English - Vassar College

View My Résumé

My Values.

These are the guiding principles for my life and work.

Creativity

I approach everything from a creative angle, seeking out fun and fresh solutions.

Equity

Fighting to rectify wrongs is essential for any forward progress.

Collaboration

The best way to find real solutions to real problems is by working together.

This I Believe Essay.

Racism is a poison that I would hope most reasonable Americans would recognize as such. Equity is an antidote that I would hope most reasonable Americans would strive for. Theoretically, at least, I believe they’d like to see the wrongs of this world righted. However, I think folks often overestimate how much they know about the injustices of the world. They, especially the privileged, aren’t always aware of the magnitude of the changes that need to be made to achieve any sort of fairness in society. We can’t all work together to fix the world’s problems if we’re not all working with the same accurate information, which is why access to education and information is one of my core values. It is necessary to fight for equity which I also hold as a core value. 

Unfortunately, there is no easy roadmap to equity. Even fueled with education, there is only so much any one of us can do on our own. Together, however, we are stronger. Remember Finding Nemo? We are the school of fish caught in the net, swimming about frantically, failing at achieving freedom. But if we all swim together in the same direction, we could break the net. We could achieve something great but only if all of us are swimming in unison in one direction. Working for the library, I have the opportunity to give access to information and materials that can help educate the public. I can do my part to help get us all swimming together. 

As an information professional, I also have the opportunity to provide equitable service. In providing access to all, I am helping to level the historically unbalanced playing field. I recognize the public’s need for equity and champion diversity and inclusion in our materials and programs and among other library staff. Not only is it my responsibility to do so, it brings me true joy to be able to do this for a living. In doing so, I am supporting democracy and the hope that we will one day thrive and be a shining example for all. In simply doing my job, I am upholding the ALA’s Core Values of Access, Democracy, Diversity, Education and Lifelong Learning, The Public Good, Service, and Social Responsibility (ALA, 2006). Charged with these values, I have faith in myself and in the library’s ability to bring about positive change.

Reference
ALA. (2006, July 26). Core values of librarianship. American Library Association. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/corevalues