Member Spotlights

April 2026

How long have you been a CALA member? What motivated you to join and how is your experience so far? 

I've been a CALA member since the tail end of library school, so probably around 4 years now? I recently upgraded to a Lifetime membership in 2025! I met Sunny Chung (CALA Northeast Chapter Program Chair at the time) at an APALA Northeast Chapter visit to the Princeton University Library. I asked Yuzhou Bai (CALA Northeast Chapter Vice President/President-Elect at the time) about CALA committees when I became a professional librarian. I ended up joining both organizations in different capacities!

Please share a bit about yourself, your ethnic background, upbringing, and anything else you’d like to include. 

I was raised in New Jersey and pretty much have stayed here! I grew up in Monmouth County and went to Rutgers for my BS in Evolutionary Anthropology, then to Rutgers School of Communication and Information for my MI in Library and Information Science. I'm a 1.5 generation Chinese American, my popo (婆婆) is still living in the Manhattan Chinatown! I wish I had a firm grasp of Cantonese - my Mandarin is better than my Cantonese (but my Mandarin is at a 1st grade level, despite 12 years of Chinese School)! A secret/retired talent is that my chosen culture class in Chinese School was Chinese yo-yo. I still have mine and did a short demonstration at a statewide event for librarians in 2024.

Any advice or words of encouragement to help others maintain a healthy work life? 

I think a lot of folks believe their PTO, especially sick time, is only reserved for themselves or for physical sickness. If you have people you care about that are going through procedures or you wake up really not in a mindset to focus on work, take the time especially if you have it!!! You are only going to be able to do decent work if you are mentally able to engage, not when you are worried about loved ones or if your focus just isn't having it that day. The concept of a mental health day isn't something folks realize often should be used. There are a myriad of things that can impact how much you are able to show up at work. Prioritizing yourself and your life outside of work is sometimes difficult but very necessary, so we can continue our contributions sustainably. There is no use in our representation in this field if we aren't able to sustain the momentum! It starts with caring for yourself - first and foremost!

What is your favorite comfort meal?

Some sort of soup- probably spam and noodle soup, wintermelon/cabbage soup, chicken soup with goji berries, or seafood soondubu..... depends on the mood- all with a side of rice!

What is your routine to help kick start or pick up your workday?

I love checking in with my co-workers! Sometimes either after settling into my desk, I'll just pop in and ask about their days or we will grab coffee or food from the Dunkin Donuts in our building. Sometimes we'll just go for a walk!

How do you unwind after a long day?

Lately, playing with my stationery goodies or re-watching whatever is on my mind!

Any unsung hero you’d like to give a shout-out to?

I have already briefly mentioned her, but I'd love to shout out Sunny Chung! She listens to all my very candid (sometimes workplace inappropriate) rants and is a fantastic sounding board and co-author! It would be much more difficult to survive - let alone thrive - in this field without her and her support!

Do you have any news or upcoming work we should keep an eye out for? 

I'm working on a few institutional projects at the moment! One of my collaborators (possibly future co-author- either in this project or another) recently published "The Green Advantage: An Analysis of Open Access Publications at a Mid-Sized University" by Maria Barca! Maria and I will be working on some interesting open access projects soon in the future!

March 2026

How long have you been a CALA member? What motivated you to join and how is your experience so far? 

I joined CALA in 2025, soon after starting my librarian career. CALA has given me a sense of belonging and connection with others who bridge cultures and bring creativity to library work. Originally from China, I’ve moved from wheat fields to seaweed farms to the library, always guided by the same goal: nurturing growth, whether in plants, people, or knowledge.

Please share a bit about yourself, your ethnic background, upbringing, and anything else you’d like to include. 

Before becoming a librarian, I earned my Ph.D. in Agronomy and worked as a postdoctoral researcher in sugar kelp breeding and genomics. That research background shaped how I approach librarianship. I always try to understand what patrons are looking for behind their words, and I love helping them turn uncertainty into progress.

How have your identity and perspective impacted your work in librarianship? 

Coming from a researcher background, and having spent years navigating literature searching, data management, and publication challenges myself, I bring empathy and practical insight to every consultation. I see librarianship as a partnership in discovery, where I help researchers bridge questions with knowledge and transform uncertainty into progress.

What is your routine to help kick start or pick up your workday?

A cup of hot tea or a bagel with cream cheese is my gentle start to the day. A small ritual that helps me center myself before meetings and classes begin. But I still miss hú là tāng (spicy pepper soup) from my hometown, which used to warm me through the cold mornings back home.

What is your version of a perfect and relaxing day?

A warm, crisp fall day. I would sit on a swing chair, a light breeze in the air, watching maple leaves gently drift to the ground. That quiet rhythm of nature reminds me to slow down and simply enjoy the present moment.

What is your favorite comfort meal?

A bowl of lamb noodle soup (yáng ròu huì miàn) with a few simple cold dishes on the side, flavors that taste like home. The warmth of the soup, the handmade noodles, and the familiar spices always bring me comfort no matter where I am.

FEbruary 2026

How long have you been a CALA member? What motivated you to join and how is your experience so far? 

I have been a CALA member for about 5 (or so) years. I first joined as a 2020 Spectrum Scholar and was largely what I call a “list-serv lurker”, where I get the emails but don’t really engage beyond that (which is a completely valid way to go about things). I moved to New York City to start my first librarian role and wanted to meet other AANHPI librarians. When I mentioned interest in getting involved to a CALA member at the 2022 JCLC Conference, I got an email from the 2023-24 CALA Northeast Chapter President, Edward Junhao Lim, asking if I might be interested in serving as the chapter’s Treasurer. I said yes and the rest is history. I have served as the 2023-24 Chapter Treasurer, 2024-25 Chapter Vice President/President-Elect, and now as the 2025-26 Chapter President. I am really glad that I said yes because serving as an officer helped me meet CALA members in the Northeast area, build relationships with regional NALcos, and feel a sense of community outside of my institution. It always brightens my day when I get to see someone I know from the NALcos at an event or conference, so please say hello!

Please share a bit about yourself, your ethnic background, upbringing, and anything else you’d like to include. 

I was born and raised in San Francisco, California. My family is from Zhongshan, China (shoutout to my fellow Cantonese speakers). I completed my BA in Biology at Kenyon College, MS in Library and Information Sciences at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and my MA in Higher Education and Student Affairs at New York University. I was a 2020 ALA Spectrum Scholar and a 2023 ALA Emerging Leader, sponsored by the Social Responsibilities Round Table.

What inspired and led you to the library field?

While I was an undergraduate working in a microbiology lab, I had a second job working as a reference desk intern at the library. I really loved helping students, particularly encouraging my STEM classmates to engage more with library databases. When I dropped out of my PhD program in microbial pathogenesis, I was lost and not sure what career path I wanted to pursue. I worked in food service and science museums. Eventually, I found my way back to academic libraries as a copy cataloger. I learned that I enjoyed both work in patron-facing and behind-the-scenes services and decided to go to library school.

Any advice or words of encouragement to help others maintain a healthy work life? 

One of the best pieces of advice I got early in my career is that there are a lot of opportunities out there, so prioritize what holds value for you and say no to those that do not. There will be opportunities that can be exciting and interest you, but might not serve you in the ways you need. Vocational awe causes many library workers to take on more because each opportunity feels like a way to support our communities, but taking on too much causes burnout. I still struggle with consistently following this advice. As someone who grew up in a low-income household, I can be prone to a scarcity mindset, where I fear saying no removes an opportunity and I miss out. It is important to remember that you are talented and bring a lot to the table. These opportunities will come back around when you have more capacity.

What is your favorite comfort meal? 

It is so hard to narrow down into a single comfort meal because it depends on what I’ve eaten recently. There are some days when a bowl of roast duck wonton noodle soup soothes the soul, days when I crave my dad’s stir-fried ginger scallion Dungeness crab with tomalley, days when I want a Mission-style carne asada super burrito and pupusas revueltas, and other days when an excessive amount of French fries will scratch that itch. 

How do you unwind after a long day? 

After a long day, depending on my energy levels, I like to go for a walk while listening to music or podcasts to decompress, get a tasty meal/treat, and curl up on the couch or in bed, recapping the day’s events to a loved one.

Is there anything else you’d like to share? 

Please feel free to reach out if you’re curious about getting more involved with CALA, STEM librarianship, or want to chat!