Unmasking Imposter Syndrome: Navigating Anxiety, Uncertainty, and Systemic Challenges in Librarianship
Join us in this enlightening session to uncover the hidden aspects of imposter syndrome, fostering a resilient and empowered community within the field of librarianship. Imposter Syndrome, a pervasive phenomenon, manifests in two distinct components: the internal struggle of anxiety and uncertainty, and the external challenge of confronting systemic issues within the librarian profession.
About the presenters
Beth Garboczi (she/her), is the Circulation Supervisor at Aurora Central Library in Aurora, CO. Beth was a Librarian with Douglas County Libraries for four years (specializing in working with older adults and teaching basic technology to patrons). She has held many part time and volunteer positions in public libraries both in Colorado and Maryland from the age of twelve. Beth is passionate about Intellectual Freedom, Access, and supporting mental health in library staff.
Bridget Farrell is the Head of Library Instruction and Research Services at the University of Denver Libraries. Her research interests are many and varied including imposter syndrome in academic libraries, mentorship of librarians and graduate student, and the scholarship of teaching and learning in library instruction.
Elizabeth Booe Dawson is earning her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at Northern Arizona University and is the Science Librarian at University of Alaska, Fairbanks. Her research focuses on critical pedagogy, Open Education, and academic libraries. Her interests encompass librarian instruction, instructional library resources, and student belonging in the library. She values the importance of digital literacy, including access and navigation, and advocates for intellectual freedom and individual information rights. Elizabeth was recognized as an American Library Association Emerging Leader in 2022.
Kali Draper is a Special and Digital Collections Archivist at Auraria Library, serving the University of Colorado Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Community College of Denver, and wider community. She is passionate about the preservation and accessibility of unique materials, especially those that are significant to the history, culture, identity, and interests of users. A few topics relevant to her work at Auraria Library include Aurarian Displacement, campus history, Camp Amache, and wartime correspondence.
Deborah Bumbie-Chi is the E-resources Access Librarian at the Auraria Library, which serves the University of Colorado Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Community College of Denver, and the wider community. She has 10+ years of experience working in academic libraries in various roles and is interested in accessibility, open-access, information literacy, AI, and learning design. She just completed her PhD in Library and Information Science and is working on becoming a certified accessibility specialist.
Ashley Fahey is a Youth & Family Services Librarian at Douglas County Libraries (Lone Tree) who inspires young readers to discover the joy of reading through engaging storytimes and programs. She served on the Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy (CLEL) CLEL Bell Awards committee in 2021-2023 and is currently co-chair of the Colorado Association of Libraries (CAL) Mentorship Interest Group. Ashley is a 2022-2023 Colorado Association of Libraries Leadership Institute (CALLI) graduate. Areas of professional interest include career mentoring, leadership development, and mental health in library work.