Let’s shine the Member Spotlight on Eboni Johnson from Oberlin College and Conservatory!

What is/are your role(s) in academic libraries?

I was the Outreach & Programming Librarian at Oberlin College Libraries (OCL).  In that role, my role was two-fold: about half of my job was to support programming and events, which were either sponsored by Oberlin College Libraries or held in library spaces. The other half was supporting research and teaching. That included classroom instruction and one-on-one research consultations with students and faculty and serving as the librarian for six academic departments in the humanities and social sciences. 

About two weeks ago, though, I started in my new role as STEM Librarian and Head of the Science Library at Oberlin College! So, in addition to being the head of one of Oberlin’s world-class libraries and all that that entails, I now support ten academic departments/programs in the natural sciences (astronomy, biology, chemistry, environmental studies, geosciences, mathematics, medicine & health, neuroscience, physics, and history of science & technology). I used to be a science librarian many years ago (agricultural and environmental sciences), and I’m excited to get back into it.

What do you like most about academic library work?

One of my favorite parts of academic librarianship is the mental agility that’s needed to bounce between many different subject areas. I especially love demystifying the research process for students and empowering them to be savvy and confident information seekers, consumers, and producers.

What are some interesting projects you’ve been involved with lately?

I think a better question is what I *haven’t* been involved with! Much of my activity has been focused on DEI initiatives. I recently submitted a book chapter that discusses code-switching and code-meshing in the academy, which will be published in early 2024. I’m a member of OCL’s IDEA Committee (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility), which develops measurable actions by which inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility are embedded in the operations of the Oberlin College Libraries. In addition, I recently joined OhioNet’s Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ADEI) Library Cohort. We are tasked with providing the opportunity to assess and explore when libraries are at their best in supporting BIPOC librarians. Outside of library-related work, I was re-elected to Oberlin City Council and am excited to start my second term in January. When I’m not librarian-ing, I like to play with wool – turning fluff into yarn and then knitting it into sweaters or socks, or really anything. And when I’m not doing that, you’ll find me DJing a radio show, pretending I’m on a cooking show while dancing in the kitchen, listening to audiobooks, or bingeing something on TV (right now, I’m knee-deep in The Gilded Age). Sometimes, I sleep!

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.

I am a champion speller! In 1989, I qualified to participate in the Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC.  The word that I missed was “ogival,” which is a word that refers to or describes a pointed arch whose two curving sides meet at a relatively sharp angle at the top of the arch. Think of the arched doorways that you see in Gothic-style architecture.

What do you love about being an ALAO member?

In my 10+ years as an ALAO member, I’ve found the organization to be very supportive of its members, no matter what career stage we are in.  As a newbie, I was welcomed, mentored, encouraged to get involved, and supported every step of the way.  I couldn’t ask for a better professional organization to be a part of. I feel like membership in ALAO has really helped me to grow and thrive as a librarian. At this year’s conference, I was elated to see and meet so many new members, and I hope they get as much out of ALAO as I have.  I’m so incredibly proud to have received the Jay Ladd Distinguished Service Award this year.  It is truly a career highlight for me, and I thank my peers in ALAO for the honor!

–Laura Birkenhauer, Membership Chair, Miami University