Friends of the UNCG Libraries

 Nataly Blas, Diversity Resident at the University Libraries at UNCG, is among the 2014 class of Emerging Leaders named by The American Library Association (ALA).  The Emerging Leaders Program is designed to enable library staff and information workers to participate in project planning workgroups; network with peers; gain an inside look into ALA structure and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity early in their careers. ALA Past-President, program facilitator and subcommittee Co-Chair, Maureen Sullivan, stated: “This very successful program has enabled a number of very talented new professionals to assume leadership positions in ALA at earlier career stage. These individuals have brought fresh ideas, new approaches and significant energy to the association. I welcome this next class and look forward to working with them.” Nataly is the third UNCG Librarian so honored.  Mac Nelson was named to the list in 2007 and Lyn...

Left to right are LaTesha Velez, Nataly Blas, and Jason Alston At the recent Joint Conference of Librarians of Color in Kansas City  all three UNCG diversity residents stopped together for a photo.  "We are very proud of our Diversity Residents," noted Dean Rosann Bazirjian, who also attended the conference.  Reference Librarian and Diversity Coordinator Gerald Holmes was also happy to get to see them.  LaTesha is now in PhD program at The University of Illinois, Jason is in the PhD program at The University of South Carolina, and Nataly has recently begun her residency at UNCG.

Nataly Blas has been named the 2012-2014 Diversity Resident at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro libraries. Nataly was awarded a Master’s degree from the School of Library and Information Studies at Florida State University in August, 2012. While in the program, Nataly worked as a Graduate Assistant in the Robert Manning Strozier Library, providing reference and research assistance to graduate students.  In addition to coordinating Scholar Commons programs and events, she also developed collections for the Hispanic Marketing Communication program and assisted with acquiring resources for Latin American Studies.  Nataly received her Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from Florida State University in 2010 and worked as a Library & Museum Assistant while obtaining her undergraduate degree. The two year Residency Program at UNCG’s University Libraries was established to further increase the diversity of the  professional staff and foster the g...