Welcome to the IU Southeast Library newsletter!

Featuring the latest Library news, featured articles, research help info, and much more!

Spotlight On: Peer Mentor Jake Ackley!

This month we sat down with Peer Mentor Jake Ackley to ask him a few questions about his hobbies, sustainability, his thoughts on libraries, and more! See his answers below: 

Q: Tell us a bit more about yourself. In addition to being a student, what are some of your interests and hobbies?

A: I am a 27-year-old non-traditional student who moved to Southern Indiana at the beginning of 2020. I moved here in order to get a degree in Sustainability for IUS. I moved with my partner Casey and cat Winston, and later adopted another cat from a local shelter named Nola. I run a weekly game of Dungeons and Dragons online with some friends back east. I enjoy reading, hiking, camping, playing boardgames and video games.

Q: We know you're interested in sustainability. Tell us about some of your work and involvement with that. 

A: I am the current President of the GREENadiers, IUS’ Sustainability club. I am leading a project to attempt to get a community garden going on the IUS campus. I am a student representative on the Faculty Senate Sustainability Committee at IUS. I also try to live a sustainable life which involves growing my own food and buying bulk orders of food to cut down on transit costs, buying thrifted clothes and goods, upcycling things just as holiday decorations and home décor, and generally just being conscious of my actions and their effects.

Q: How do enjoy being a Peer Mentor? What are some of the benefits you've noticed from being involved with that program and from working in the library?

A: I really enjoy being a peer mentor. I learned a lot about the reference side of library work, which is beneficial in areas that extend beyond my work study duties. I also have some experience in leadership roles, but I like this position because it doesn’t assume the implication, or feel like, I am the boss of anyone. Which is nice because it doesn’t lead to any weird power dynamics or awkward feelings, I can still just be another student and interact with the other work study members in that way. Also, my work in the library has generally led me to be able to further pursue roles in different sustainability initiatives on campus. Melanie Hughes, the libraries archivist, is also a faculty sponsor of the sustainability club, and I learned about the club through her. She has also been an invaluable resource in attempting to get the community garden project up and running. Also, Christopher Proctor, the coordinator of access services, knew about my interest in sustainability, and offered me the position of student representative on the Faculty Senate Sustainability Committee.