RIAs World, Ethan Liang, '26
As a Research and Information Ambassador (RIA) for the Libraries, one of my first tasks was facilitating sessions of “Is It A Library Thing,” the interactive orientation game where students go down a list of resources provided through the Libraries. As students began internalizing the vast collections, services, and technologies at their disposal, I noticed that there was one crucial point of library interaction that we did not mention in the game, at least not explicitly: the range of the Libraries’ jobs and paid opportunities.
The Libraries are one of the biggest employers of students on campus, and I’m proud to have worked in several of their positions. Akin to how some students belong to labs where they gain a specific skill set with physical results, I like to think of my library and special collections work as a way to bring my studies, history and Asian American studies, to life.
As a RIA in particular, I’ve gotten to hone the art of tapping into community members’ interests. A given interaction might involve eliciting details about a field of interest while probing through our catalogs. On a more macro level, it’s thinking about the best framing of events, and the webs of outreach that get people to engage, what draws their curiosity. Additionally, thanks to my work on the information end, I’ve become a better researcher, both in terms of the technical navigation of databases as well as the conceptual side of considering how information and ideas get organized.
The most valuable part of library positions, though, might be that they come with built-in mentors. Through collaborating on programs and exhibitions as well as participating in the Careers in Library and Information Science (CiLIS) week-long intensive internship, I’m grateful to have established rapport across the libraries’ staff. Knowing how they went from college to graduate school to their current role gives me confidence that a meaningful path is within reach, not to mention their particular advice. It doesn’t hurt either that librarians know each other and have worked through their fair share of institutions.
While I am drawn to the profession of librarianship for its vibrant community-oriented cultural and intellectual possibilities, you don’t need to commit to the field to work in the College’s Libraries. Maybe you have a particular project in mind, and so you apply for a fellowship in Digital Scholarship or Special Collections. Perhaps, in working a forward-facing role, you decide that you love community engagement. Or maybe you get solid intellectual, professional, or life advice from a librarian mentor, and it’s another pathway opened up for your liberal arts degree.
