Today's Hours:
By Michael Gardner '25
What is your name and where are you from?
Hi, my name is Nina, I was born in Havana, Cuba in a small coastal town called Cojimar. At a certain point, my mom made the decision to leave my birth country and relocate to Gander, Newfoundland in Canada where I lived for a few years. My family eventually made their way to Toronto, Canada and I consider Toronto to also be my home.
Where did you go to school, what was your major, and when did you graduate?
I received my Honours BA from the University of Toronto in Canada where I completed a double major in Professional Writing and Communications (PWC) and Communications, Culture and Information Technology (CCIT). During this time, I received a Certificate in Digital Communications from Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario which was intertwined with the CCIT program.
Currently, I am in my second year at Simmons University in the Masters of Library and Information Science program in the Archives Management track. I recently completed a summer archive internship at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where I processed, digitized and expedited access and use to various high-demand collections. I am also the Co-chair for Simmons' Student Chapter of the Society of American Archivists (SCoSAA), where I organize virtual events and in-person tours to various archives and libraries in Boston. I will complete my MLIS next year.
Why did you choose FSU? What about your field are you passionate about?
As a public institution located in the city of Framingham, FSU’s diverse student population is what attracted me to the role of part-time Reference Librarian. I understand firsthand the immense opportunities that public institutions like FSU offer to first-generation students. Additionally, during my interview and tour of the library, I noticed how highly valued the student workers are, and that speaks volumes to me about the librarians at Whittemore Library and FSU’s core values.
I am passionate about supporting people in their lifelong learning goals, especially those who have historically been marginalized. I want to ensure that everyone feels welcome and comfortable to seek assistance. Libraries empower people to learn, grow and offer diverse viewpoints in an inclusive and welcoming environment, and it is important not to take this for granted.
What will you be doing for the library?
I am the part-time Reference Librarian where I assist students in-person and over chat at the Research and Learning help desk located on the second floor of the library. I am also looking forward to offering support in library instruction and research workshops.
On Saturdays I am at the Circulation Desk from 12pm to 5pm with our dedicated student workers, Aisha and Matthew. So, make sure to stop by and say hello to us.
What makes your field so important?
The library field is important as it promotes life-long learning, free access to information, diverse viewpoints and ability to come together as a community to learn from each other. Also, with the advancement of technologies, especially Artificial Intelligence (AI) - the way we as humans receive and process information has really transformed. As we look into the future of libraries, Information Professionals are looking into how AI will personalize the library experience for users and how to address concerns about the information gap introduced by current technologies. This is important because as part of our core values as librarians we want to ensure that everyone has equal access to information and diverse viewpoints.
What are your hobbies? Favorite book/movie/TV show?
My hobbies include hiking (I love spending time outdoors in nature!), visiting museums, spending time with family and friends and cooking dishes from different parts of the world. I normally enjoy reading historical and historical fiction books. However, my all-time favorite book is Pedro Páramo by Juan Rulfo, which I only discovered this past summer while visiting a used bookstore in D.C.
My favorite movies are the LOTR trilogy, The Matrix, Speed and a few other ones, but I haven't seen a movie in quite some time!
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