Charlotte Roh (MS ’14), scholarly communications librarian at the University of San Francisco, enjoys working in a position that combines her interests in scholarly communications and social justice.
Where do you work and what is your role?
I'm the Scholarly Communications Librarian at the University of San Francisco.
What do you like best about your job?
The University of San Francisco is a Jesuit institution with a social justice mission, which aligns with my goal of operating at the intersection of scholarly communication and social justice. I believe in providing access to both information and the means of production, so I'm happy to do that in my role.
What do you see as the most important impact of your work?
I have a broad job description that allows me to work with everyone from faculty to staff to students. I enjoy bringing a critical lens as well as my scholarly communications expertise to the table; I think it’s a unique perspective that should be more widely taught as part of the canon.
How did the iSchool at Illinois help you get to where you are today?
I had fantastic professors who challenged me to read and think differently about libraries and myself, and I am so grateful to them. The amazing teaching and scholarship at the iSchool serves as a model for what is possible in LIS. I was particularly happy with the many practical experiences available to me as a student—internships, programs, volunteer opportunities. The iSchool's reputation opened a lot of doors for me.
What advice would you like to share with iSchool students?
Learn more about critical race theory and social justice in librarianship; there's a lot of wonderful scholarship right now. Also, get practical experience in librarianship, especially outside of your current knowledge and expertise.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I enjoy hiding from my toddler and watching short videos of Black vegan plant enthusiasts on TikTok. I don't know how I fell down this rabbit hole, but I love it.