Submitted by Anu Moorthy; edited by JJ Pionke
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Institution: Duke University Medical Center and Archives, Durham, NC
Title: Associate Director, Content and Discovery
Brief description of responsibilities
Provide leadership to the Content and Discovery Department for selecting, deselecting, licensing, and ensuring intuitive access to the library’s electronic and print collections, databases, and other electronic resources.
Why is MLA important to you?
MLA helps me with lifelong learning and professional development to provide tools to evidence-based practice. MLA helps me collaborate with colleagues outside of my institution.
What was your first library job or first professional position?
My first library job was a page at Vanderbilt University Peabody Library.
What is your advice to someone taking on a new role in leadership in MLA or in some other capacity?
Lead with courage and compassion. Create an open, inclusive, and collaborative environment for your staff.
What do you consider to be the most pressing issues or trends in librarianship?
Meeting the needs of library stakeholders by providing discovery of electronic resources, increasing and showcasing value, and stretching the budget to provide electronic access to materials.
Bucket list
Visit the Library of Alexandria, Egypt.
What do you do in your spare time?
Read, listen to music, and take long walks
What is the best thing you’ve read/watched/listened to recently?
Podcast: Hidden Brain, episode “One Head, Two Brains,” with Iain McGilchrist. PodCast: How I Built Resilience series.
Five words to describe you
Curious, compassionate, strong, happy, and optimistic
Is there anything about you that others might be surprised to know?
I have traveled to more than thirty countries.
What are you most proud of?
To be a medical librarian.