Though the value of collection digitization was well understood, the Mason County Historical Society, like many rural cultural institutions, lacked the funds, support, and knowledge to properly create, tag, and manage their digitized holdings. This project proposes an intuitive workflow for attaching metadata that will follow the artifact through its physical and digital lifecycle. New workflows allow the current MCHS team to tag their digitized artifacts with metadata sans programming knowledge, leading to enhanced accessibility and community engagement.

Over the past ten years, tensions have grown between libraries and the publishing industry as eBooks have become more popular and as eBook costs have risen. As library workers, we are motivated by the core mission of libraries to provide access to information, which is threatened by current licensing models. In this project, we assess the current practices and power imbalances in eBook licensing through interviews with 40 stakeholders. Our research suggests that legislation is one of many possible strategies to achieve a sustainable and equitable system of access to information for future generations.

The project is a landscape analysis of the state of digital equity for people with disabilities in the United States. Through our user-centered design process, big data mapping, and disability culture-based approach, we discovered issues and gaps in the current research. To address these gaps, we designed participatory design sessions for people with disabilities. The design sessions would take place in public libraries and other Internet-capable locations that use Microsoft Airband’s services. Including the perspectives of people with disabilities empowers people in all marginalized communities to participate in designing solutions for their communities and take control over their own stories.

In 2021, the Washington State Library (WSL) purchased Northstar, a program that teaches digital literacy skills. The WSL provides Northstar to libraries and community-based organizations, but the COVID-19 pandemic created constraints around library programming and partnership development. Washington communities need access to this training, but libraries have had limited capacity to provide it. This project streamlines the process of launching Northstar for libraries by providing resources for staff and materials for patron outreach. By creating this infrastructure, we’ve made it easier for patrons to gain access to these essential skills and helped to close the digital divide in Washington state.

After a year of attending school online and their access to cell phones less inhibited, our students needed to practice and learn skills that would help them in their daily digital lives. In partnership with my school’s librarian, I researched and discussed digital literacy and citizenship for over a year. Together, we decided it was time for some action. We created, adapted, and implemented four lessons addressing these concerns. We then reflected with students about that learning and developed a plan for future collaboration.

This project analyzed community feedback and current research on digital programming and the issues that arise in rural communities where internet access, scheduling, and low communication with library patrons leads to lackluster attendance at events and concerns about not serving library patrons effectively. I assisted with the initial steps of creating a Teen Advisory Board to return programming for teenagers to the library, though a first meeting has not occurred yet. This project will help Asotin County Library and other small systems figure out how to adjust to post-pandemic programming that serves all patrons, not just toddlers or adults.

As a person of color, I often receive requests to recommend books by Indian or Asian authors. Though I do have some favorites, any library staff member (not just those of color) should feel confident recommending work by authors of color. The site “Diversifying Readers’ Advisory” highlights popular authors of recent years. Each author page will provide recommendations for similar titles written by authors of color. I believe emphasizing work by authors of color will encourage immersion into diverse perspectives, increase empathy, and allow diverse work to receive more attention.

Currently, about 20% of all college students live in dormitories. These students spend more than half of their time at their residence halls. Students' dorm experiences are an important aspect of their overall college experience. Dormino is an information sharing platform for all things related to dorm life. From sharing stories about the dorm to connecting with friends. With Dormino, students can live, share, and reflect beyond their dormitory rooms.

The Washington State Library pays over $400,000 each year to provide LinkedIn Learning to library patrons. LinkedIn Learning is an incredible online e-learning platform which provides access to courses. However, in light of "freely available" online learning platforms appearing, the state legislator has begun questioning the costs required to maintain the LinkedIn Learning partnership. As a result, the Washington State Library was asked to create a report and give it to the legislator outlining and evaluating the freely available alternatives out there, and comparing them to LinkedIn Learning. I made the report: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EdWQBl5gUpw5J8ovHoocsYqOsdRi5dcysEiWRh49H1s