Lupita Gonzalez is a student in the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Oklahoma, pursuing a Master of Library and Information Studies and a graduate certificate in Digital Humanities. She works as a Graduate Research Assistant for the Digital Collections and Digitization department of the University of Oklahoma Libraries, where she assists in the digitization of archival and cultural heritage materials from the university’s various special collections.
“What are your career goals?”
“My goal is to work in an academic or special library setting, preserving the cultural heritage data and materials of historically marginalized communities. My interest in academic librarianship stems from the coursework I've taken in digital humanities and my work in digitization and digital collections at OU. In my work as a graduate assistant, I've seen firsthand the value of digitization, allowing access for students, faculty, and the public for research, scholarship, and continuous learning. In my coursework, I've learned about how digitization and digital preservation of cultural heritage materials can be used for scholarship in the digital humanities. Through these experiences, I've found a passion for the digital preservation of cultural heritage and archival materials, specifically those belonging to peoples, cultures, and communities that have been historically neglected, undervalued, and underrepresented in traditional archives.”
“What does being a recipient of the Spectrum Scholarship means to you?”
The Spectrum Scholars program recruits and supports students from minority racial and ethnic backgrounds by helping them attain their MLIS and enter the field. For me, this program represents an effort to make librarianship more inclusive by diversifying the workforce and celebrating the valuable perspectives and skills that students from historically marginalized populations bring to library work. MLIS students of color face specific challenges and barriers, and this program provides them with mentorship and leadership opportunities and empowers them to go out into the field and serve their communities.
Click here to learn more about the American Library Association’s Spectrum Scholarship Program.
