Interview with SALALM Scholarship Awardee: Betsaida Reyes

• By: admin
• On: 01/14/2015 14:55:40
• In: Scholarships

Betsaida M. Reyes was awarded the SALALM Scholarship in spring 2013. She is the librarian for Spanish, Portuguese, Latin American, and Caribbean Studies at the University of Kansas.
She earned her Master's in Information Science at the University at Albany/SUNY, focusing on academic librarianship. Reyes did an internship in Information Literacy and one in Collection Development. She also holds an MA in Hispanic Literature and Linguistics. Like others before her, Reyes was encouraged to apply for the SALALM Scholarship by Jesus Alonso-Regalado, Subject Librarian for Romance Languages and Latin American Studies and History at the University at Albany/SUNY.
What drew you to the field of librarianship/archival studies?
I am passionate about connecting people to information. I love helping people, which is why librarianship is a natural fit. I started working in acquisitions before I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in librarianship. Once I was accepted into the program, I looked for as many opportunities as I could to learn about the various areas in the library. I did internships in different departments and volunteered at the circulation desk. In the end, collection development really drew me in. I love the flexibility and variety of activities involved. It also allows me to connect with users across campus, which is the part of my job that I treasure the most.
How did you become interested in Latin America/Iberia? Describe your language abilities and experiences studying and/or traveling in Latin America.
I spent a semester in Barcelona through a study abroad program and, interestingly enough, my host mother was a librarian. So who knows? Maybe it was in the cards all along. Later, I backpacked through Peru during a winter break. I was born in the Dominican Republic and thus Spanish is my mother tongue. This helped me do my job in acquisitions, but it was also one important aspect that helped shape my career path. Being a native Spanish speaker allowed me to volunteer for special projects where I furthered my understanding about the library environment. It was then, when I realized that I had found the career that I wanted to dedicate my life to.
Have you worked with a Latin American/Iberian archival or library collection? In what capacity?
While I was studying at the University at Albany, I worked as a student assistant for collection development. That was a great opportunity where I discovered exactly what I wanted to do in my career as a librarian. For three years I worked alongside Jesus Alonso-Regalado learning about collection development, outreach activities, archival materials, and much more. That experience prepared me for the next phase in my career as I entered the job market. Currently, I am working as the librarian for Spanish, Portuguese, Latin American, and Caribbean Studies at the University of Kansas.
Were you able to attend the annual SALALM conference?
Yes, the scholarship award allowed me to attend the annual SALALM conference in Miami, Florida. In 2013 I was in my last semester of the master's program so [without the scholarship], attending the conference [would have been] definitely out of the question.
I was not required to present a paper when I was awarded the scholarship in the spring of 2013. However, I did present during the meeting in Salt Lake City. I was part of the Roda Viva panel, where I talked about how mentorship relations can help you succeed in your career, and later presented on my experience with embedded librarianship.
What was the most interesting or unexpected thing that you learned at the conference?
I was able to meet so many of my colleagues. However, since I knew I was going to start working at the University of Kansas, attending the conference allowed me to meet and talk with the vendors I would be working with shortly after. The conference essentially gave me a head start.
Did you attend any committee meetings?
Unfortunately, I originally believed that in order to attend the meetings you had to be a committee member. I would like to inform new members that they are welcome to attend the committee meetings.
Was the SALALM scholarship helpful in the development of your career?
Yes! I have built valuable relationships with colleagues and vendors thanks to the SALALM conference. SALALM was instrumental in starting my career. It was through the SALALM listserv that I learned of the opening for my current position. I am not sure where I would be without the SALALM family.