(8 November 2013) The Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association’s (APALA) Scholarships and Awards Committee is proud to announce Ariana Hussain as the 2014 Emerging Leader for the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association. APALA will provide funding to support her attendance and participation in the Emerging Leaders program at the 2014 ALA Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference.
Ariana writes, “I am an Indonesian-Japanese Muslim American public librarian, in a headscarf, working in a primarily African-American neighborhood branch library. Though I know that I do not represent the entire spectrum of diversity in the field, I do know that in appearance I am a bit of an anomaly… I entered the library field because of my interest and belief in the power of libraries, as well as to provide information and dispel misinformation. I thought that it would be empowering for the public to see a person who looks like me at their local level, that I may provide them an important service but also engage in casual interaction.”
The full announcement is here.
