Alfonso Huerta
Director, Access & Outreach
ArtCenter College of Design Library
What is your primary library service role?
I am responsible for the access services and outreach initiatives across the two campuses at ArtCenter College of Design.
How does your work align with service to Latine and Spanish-speaking communities?
We have a small community of Latine or Spanish speaking students at ArtCenter College of Design. My hope is that I am able to provide the best possible service to all students regardless of their ethnicity and gender. In the case of Latine or Spanish speaking students, it might include finding research materials in Spanish if that is what is easiest for them or highlighting Latin American artists and designers.
What is your favorite aspect about your work?
My favorite aspect of my work is the daily interactions I get to have with the people I serve and my colleagues. These interactions give me the opportunity to learn something new everyday. In return, I hope that I am able to provide them with some knowledge that helps inform their work. I have had the opportunity to be a part of a few of the students’ projects and witness their steps along the way–from their serendipitous discoveries, to in-depth research, prototypes/ideas, and the final projects.
What advice do you have for other librarians and present/future MLIS students?
While I have only been a librarian for the last eight months, my advice would be to take advantage of going to national and local conferences, getting involved in ALA, REFORMA, or other local professional organizations. Volunteer for committees, join listservs, and attend free webinars whenever possible. When I was a Library Assistant, I took every advantage I could to get involved so that I could gain a better understanding of the profession.
What programs have you been in charge of or involved with?
Outreach for the library is a main area of my responsibilities; I am working on establishing regular programs in partnership with other departments at the college. In February and March, we highlighted BIPOC artists and designers in partnership with five other departments at the college, including the DEI division. Additionally, I worked with the graduate writing center to establish a Graduate Writing Thesis Clinic each term. This term, I am establishing bi-weekly library pop-ups at one of the campuses where we don’t have a permanent library space. The campuses are far apart, so bringing a pop-up library directly to the students will enhance their access to library services.
What personal interests or hobbies do you have that you would like to share?
My personal interests and hobbies have always centered around my family, art, and books. I love spending every single moment I have with my wife, four year old son, and our two corgis (Tyrion and Gimli). They are at the core of my happiness.
From an early age, I knew that I wanted to be involved with art. I originally studied studio art and briefly attended the Art Academy in San Francisco. After I moved back home to L.A., I received my Undergraduate degree in art history from California State University, Los Angeles. While I switched majors to art history, I have continued to create art via photography, drawing, and painting. I have always loved spending time in art museums; my favorite (so far) is the Musee d’Orsay in Paris. I fell in love with reading and books post high school when I had the opportunity to choose what I read, rather than assigned reading. My love of books increased when I started working in bookstores. I worked for Borders Books & Music for seven years, and then at Vroman’s Bookstore (oldest book store west of the Mississippi) for another seven years, prior to working at ArtCenter Library. Working at ArtCenter Library has given me the opportunity to continue working with art and books.
What innovations would you like to see happen in services to Latinx students and/or in academic libraries?
There is a perception that academic libraries are stuck in their ways and slow to adapt. In contrast, public libraries are perceived as innovative and adaptable. I would love to see academic libraries break that perception and show how innovative we truly are. ArtCenter as a college is already an innovative and visually creative environment, but I would love to see that innovation brought to libraries and combined with library services and values. We can see a spark of that innovation in small ways, such as with our Zine collection where we feature original art and works made by professionals and students, but we also include zines made by students during our workshops at the library. I’d love to see us using artificial intelligence in some form in library services. It’s such new technology that’s rapidly developing. I’d like to see academic libraries adapt and utilize that technology for students to enhance their research, or libraries to enhance our reference services.