In this post, we introduce our newest Instruction and Research Librarian, Rachel Hogan!
Name:
Rachel Hogan
Title:
Instruction and Reference Librarian
What does your job entail?
I am a part of the Instruction & Research team. That means that I work with my colleagues to provide research and instructional assistance to members of the W&M community through information literacy sessions, reference questions, and one-on-one research consultations. I also serve as a liaison for the Arts and Digital Humanities. As a liaison for the Arts, I work with the departments of Art and Art History; Theatre, Speech, and Dance; and Music. As liaison for Digital Humanities in the library, I can help the W&M community with research support for digital humanities projects.
What interests you most about this job?
Something I love about librarianship is that every day looks a little bit different. In this role particularly, there will be some days when I must engage with large groups, some days when I collaborate with my colleagues, and some days where I work independently. I am passionate about both the arts and digital humanities. My whole family is very creative, and I grew up doing a wide gamut of arts including dance, drawing, choir, instruments, and theatre. I was introduced to digital humanities as an undergraduate student at Pepperdine University, and it has been a big part of my research and training as a librarian for the last few years. So, I am thrilled that this role includes my favorite parts of librarianship and allows me to engage with topics that I love.
What do you hope to accomplish in your first year?
In my first year, I really hope to engage with the William & Mary community as well as the larger Williamsburg community. Every campus is different, and I look forward to learning what makes W&M special to the students and people who work here. I also hope to create a digital humanities scholarly community and get people get excited about the possibilities of DH in their research. I look forward to becoming immersed in the vibrant arts community on this campus, both as a librarian and as a lover of the arts.
Tell us a little about your work background:
I have had various internships, assistantships, and part time jobs—in and out of the library—from undergraduate to graduate school. However, this position at William & Mary is my first full-time job, and I am excited to begin my career here.
What attracted you to W&M?
I was attracted to W&M by the university reputation, history of the area, and environment of both the campus and library. My job is a dream role for me, and that was a major part of the appeal during my application process. I also have a familial collection to W&M Libraries with the Blow Family Collection in Special Collections. This job had appeal for me in many areas and I have thoroughly enjoyed my first few weeks here.