The Next Chapter Awaits…

Two weeks from today will be my last day at the Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University Libraries. I have accepted the position of United States Corporate Archivist with HSBC, based in Brooklyn, NY. My new position is permanent, full-time, and will be something I have never done before. I’m really excited to begin working there and get to know my new colleagues (both in-person and internationally!) as well as my new collections.

Since putting in my notice, I’ve been trying to wrap everything up. My previous blog post did a good job discussing things for which I am most proud. I really can’t believe all I have accomplished over the last four years and four months.

I supervised a total of 18 library school interns, not only from NYC schools but also from other locations in the US, as well as France and Canada. I’ve also supervised 17 other students who are matriculated at Columbia or Union Theological Seminary. Thirty-five students in four years – wow!

An increased numbers of courses are also using the collections I’ve processed and made available. Today for example, a Columbia course about Global Book Histories is using ten MRL collections. A UTS class called “International Roots of the Civil Rights Movement” and a Barnard College course called “Methods in the Study of Religion” are two other courses recently in the archives.
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And let’s not forget about those researchers! This week alone, there are between 8-10 people using collections such as MRL2: Near East Relief Committee Records, MRL6: George Newell Papers, MRL12: American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions Records, WAB: World Council of Churches Records, UTS: Harry Fosdick Papers, and UTS: Henry Smith Leiper Papers. There have been so many researchers, we’ve had to do some “overflow” paging into the Conference Room!

I also can’t say enough nice things about the amazing people I’ve worked with over the last 4+ years. Yesterday, my coworkers Betty and Matthew both called me down to see how many researchers were using my collections (and encouraged me to write this blog post about it!). Other directors and archivists have emailed me from across the Columbia Libraries congratulating me. It has been a wonderful place to work and so thankful for the opportunities.
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Until next time…