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Tara Radniecki Associate Dean University of Arizona Libraries she/her/hers |
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Tell us more about yourself and how you became a librarian.
I am the Associate Dean at the University of Arizona Libraries. My portfolio includes our Student Learning & Engagement Department, Research Engagement Department, Health Sciences Library, and All Liaisons Group. Prior to this role, I served as the Head of the DeLaMare Science & Engineering Library, Makerspace Director, and Engineering Librarian at the University of Nevada, Reno. I always envisioned myself working in higher education, initially assuming I would do so in a faculty instructor role. However, after discovering the impact librarians can have on student and faculty success and the diverse range of work involved, I decided to
pursue my MLIS degree. My career as a librarian has been incredibly rewarding. It’s given me the chance to grow both professionally and personally in ways I never expected.
How long have you participated in STS, and how have you been involved?
I have been a member of STS for about ten years. I was initially drawn to the group by the opportunity to benefit from the collective knowledge of STEM librarians, especially as I began supporting disciplines in which I had no prior experience. I remain a part of STS because it continually exposes me to new ideas and solutions within a supportive (and fun!) community of individuals who look for ways to build bridges and help one another.
Please share either how you have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, or how you might do so in STS, libraries, and/or the community.
I have always centered my management and administrative work around creating libraries where people want to work. This involves fostering departmental and organizational cultures that value open communication and feedback, respectful collaboration, and a diversity of experiences and perspectives. Achieving this requires a commitment to both learning and unlearning, engaging in difficult and vulnerable conversations, and consistently reevaluating our organizational structures and the policies and assumptions that hinder us from building libraries that are psychologically safe, supportive, and provide equitable opportunities for all personnel regardless of their identity, background, position, or rank. Additionally, we must be committed to ongoing DEIA work internally as much as we do for our external communities.
How do you envision STS growing and changing, and what role would you play in that process?
If elected, my priorities for the continued development and growth of STS include:
i. Assess and Adapt for Impact: STS is a large and diverse membership organization. Acknowledging the significant financial
investment required for participation in our Section, STS must assess our offerings considering our members' evolving interests,
their need for flexible engagement modalities, and the decrease in volunteer capacity. I endorse the efforts of the Taskforce on Section
Structure and Responsibilities as they investigate changes to better address the needs and capacities of today’s STS members.
ii. Uniting Around Common Causes: STS can better support our members and the profession by increasing involvement in
advocacy on issues affecting them. For instance, the 2025 publication and data-sharing mandates resulting from the Nelson
Memo will significantly impact STEM researchers and libraries. I envision STS being flexible in structure and resources to address
timely issues, such as the memo, that would benefit from direct librarian advocacy and feedback.
iii. Keep Diversity and Inclusion at the Forefront: STS members work with communities with significant racial, ethnic, and gender disparities. This, and our own profession’s systemic lack of diversity, highlights the need for STS to continue its focus on
inclusion, ensuring participation, and empowering our members through learning and advocacy to promote change in their libraries
and communities.
