Sandy Enriquez
How did you become interested in librarianship?
I've been an avid researcher since I was an undergraduate doing anthropological fieldwork, but I loved the idea of getting to learn and explore new areas of scholarship as a librarian. I really enjoy supporting researchers and helping students find their way into the archives. I also took a course called "Archive Fever in Latin America" in graduate school that really inspired me.
Describe the first time you worked in a library.
My first time working in a library was as a graduate student in library school. I worked as a Graduate Assistant in the Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives in New York University's Bobst Library. This was a great introduction to the world of special collections and archives since the Tamiment has so many interesting and radical collections on socialism, feminism, etc. My favorite thing to do was serve on the reference desk because it was a different experience everyday. It also felt supremely satisfying to find the right answer or item for a patron's inquiry.
I currently serve as the LAUC-R Delegate. This is my first time participating in LAUC and I'm very excited to meet other librarians in the UC system.
What do you like best about being a UC librarian?
I like feeling connected to a larger community, it's always exciting when I'm attending a conference or event and I come across another UC librarian or library worker. I feel like there's an instant connection and solidarity there.
Describe a recent or current project on which you are working.
Describe your recent professional work outside of work, such as association work, writing, research, or anything else.
I graduated from a dual-degree program with my MS in Library Science and MA in Latin American Studies, so I stay informed in my second field by participating in SALALM (Seminar for the Acquisition of Latin American Library Materials). In my spare time, I participate in Rimay Raíz, an Andean oral history collective. I also help co-organize the annual May Sumak Quichwa Film Showcase, which highlights films from the Andean diaspora with a focus on Kichwa/Quechua language and culture. I co-wrote two publications this year, one advocating for archives to collect more fandom materials (such as slash fanfiction and yaoi manga) and the second detailing the development of the Indigenous Media Collection at NYU.
What would you like the next big thing in libraries to be?
Complete this statement: "One surprising fact about me is...”
I am a heritage learner of Quechua, an Indigenous language of the Andes. My grandparents spoke it, but unfortunately, they didn't teach my parents. I am fortunate to have been able to study Kichwa at UCLA and Quechua at NYU, but now it's a struggle to keep practicing and maintaining it outside of the classroom!