Langston chosen for Institute for Early Career Librarians

Participants will focus on collaboration and connections around library issues

The University of Minnesota Libraries has invited William Langston, the Libraries’ Student Success and Engagement Librarian, to its week-long Institute for Early Career Librarians in mid-July.

Since 1998, the biennial institute has gathered 26 early-career college and university librarians who are from traditionally underrepresented groups and are in the first three years of their professional careers. The 2018 Institute will focus on making connections between significant issues facing libraries and archives and the leadership required to develop collaborations, innovations, and new services in these areas. Leadership and managerial concepts and specific skills will be introduced in the context of major issues presented by expert faculty.

“I am very much looking forward to participating at this year's Minnesota Institute for Early Career Librarians,” Langston says. “It means a great deal to be selected to attend and build networks and practices with peers in the profession and to learn from mentors who have walked in this path. Despite all the work to get to this point, there is much that is still desired and unknown for where this career will lead, and it's a fortune to work with a cohort of colleagues across the profession who will be taking a similar journey.”

In his role at the NCSU Libraries, Langston draws upon his varied experience working with students of many age ranges and backgrounds to develop activities and programs to engage NC State students in their early college careers. Before joining the Libraries, Langston was a high school librarian at Latin School of Chicago where he ran programs and services around entrepreneurship and the Chicago start-up business scene.

He earned his M.S. in Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois in May 2014, and is a former ALA Spectrum Scholar.

“William has natural leadership abilities, and has taken quickly to his role as a campus ambassador for the Libraries,” writes Interim Vice Provost and Director of Libraries Greg Raschke in Langston’s nomination letter. “He has proven himself to be a keen student of campus and organizational culture which has served him well as he forges new collaborations and partnerships between the Libraries and student-centered organizations on campus, from the Exploratory Studies program for undeclared majors to TRiO Student Support Services for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.”