I Am MLA: Tamara Law
Institution: Medical University of South Carolina
Brief description of what you do/your responsibilities at your institution:
I answer reference questions, conduct expert literature searches, and provide instruction services to our college of graduate studies programs.
Why is MLA important to you?
As a new health science librarian, MLA has been invaluable in offering training courses, attending conferences to stay up to date on evolving trends, building my network, and connecting me with other health science librarians.
Why did you become a librarian?
This is a career change for me, and I wanted to find a path that fulfills my purpose. I am naturally curious and have a passion for lifelong learning. I sought a career that would allow me to combine my love for discovering new things, reading, and helping people connect with their information needs. I found that librarianship was the perfect fit for me.
What was your first library job or first professional position?
My first librarian job was as a Supervisory Librarian at an Air Force library. While I learned a lot about how libraries function serving our nation’s military families, this job helped me realize I wanted to work more in an academic environment.
What do you consider to be the most pressing issues or trends in librarianship?
Showing our very human services and skills are still essential in this era of AI.
What is something you have on your ‘bucket list’?
Traveling to several countries on the African continent. I recently visited Ghana. I’d love to scratch Egypt, South Africa, and Tanzania off my list.
What do you do in your spare time, for fun, or to relax?
I love to read, travel, work out, and shop.
Describe yourself in 5 words:
Curious, adventurous, introverted, open-minded, focused.