Meet Haley Lott

Haley Lott joined the RWU library staff in August 2023.  She received her Master's degree in Library and Information Science from the SLIS program at the University of Iowa in 2016. 

What is your official job title, Haley?

My official job title is Collection Strategies Librarian.

What does that mean? What do you do in the library?

 A large part of my job is to think deeply about the library’s physical and digital collections and make sure that they meet the informational needs of the RWU community, both academically and non-academically. I am currently analyzing the collection to figure out how to make it more diverse.

What is the most satisfying part of your job so far?

I am a huge reader, so I love combing through the coming selections list.

Do you have a favorite book genre?

Yes, I like Social Science non-fiction books. I recently read  24 Hours in Charlottesville: An Oral History of the Stand Against White Supremacy. I was in Charlottesville when the protests took place and thought it was a good accounting of what happened there.

Do you have a favorite book?

That’s a hard one, but I think Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides might be my favorite book. If you ask me again tomorrow, I’ll probably have a different answer, though!

What do you like best about RWU so far?

The campus is beautiful, and the views spectacular. Everyone I’ve met has been very friendly and open to collaboration.

Where are you from originally?

I’m from Pawnee, Illinois. It’s just like Pawnee, Indiana from Parks and Recreation, without the waffles.

Where did you work before coming to RWU?

My first professional job was as the Outreach Librarian at Lynchburg College in Virginia. I was there for a few years before taking a job as the Student Success and Engagement Librarian at Beloit College in Wisconsin. It was a natural progression from there to transition to Collection Development work.

You’ve lived in quite a few places. What do you think of Rhode Island?

I like it! There’s so much that I want to see and do in the area – I’ve wanted to visit the Ware Collection of Blaschka Glass Models of Plants at the Harvard Natural History Museum since I first read about it in Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin – and I’m enjoying the variety of food in the area, too. I’d never had Portuguese food before I came here, and it turns out I really like it!

Do you have special areas of interest within librarianship?

Yes, I am interested in the idea of “belonging” in higher education. I believe that everyone has a place in the Higher Ed community, and I want to make sure that the library provides the support that is needed for all students to succeed academically and socially, and to know that they are valued members of the RWU community. Our job as librarians is to prepare students for what comes next, and that begins with making sure that everyone feels valued and included.

Do you want to say anything directly to RWU students, staff, and faculty?

Yes, I want to tell everyone to please take the time to come and find me in the library. My office is in the technical services area at the back of the library, and I can’t wait to meet you!