Deirdre Sullivan is not just studying library and information science. They’re actively working to tackle the challenges of costly course materials and promote inclusivity in academics.
Currently a second-year student at Syracuse University’s School of Information Science, Sullivan is studying to earn a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS). This November, they presented at the New York Library Association’s annual conference, which was held in Syracuse.
Their presentation will explore textbook and course material affordability on college campuses and the role that Open Educational Resources (OER) and Inclusive Access (IA) programs play as possible solutions to the issue.
“I believe that libraries play an important role in lessening the impact that expensive course materials may have on students and creating a more equitable academic environment,” Sullivan said. “It’s meaningful to me that everyone has the same access to information and that cost isn’t a barrier to knowledge.”
Sullivan first became interested in librarianship as an undergraduate at Gettysburg College, where they earned a bachelor of arts degree in art history and religious studies in 2023.
“I was interested in getting a job at the library because I felt the experience would improve my research skills as a student,” they said.
After getting a position at the Research Help Desk, Sullivan learned how to help fellow students find, access and cite academic sources. Although the job did improve Sullivan’s research skills, they learned a much bigger lesson in the end.
“What I really discovered was my own passion for helping the community around me,” Sullivan said. “Teaching other students about the research process through these interactions at the desk was really rewarding, and I was always happy when a student found the information they were looking for. I felt like I could build positive connections between students and their library and show that the library was a place that could always help.”
Sullivan realized they wanted to do this type of work and started looking into MLIS programs. They chose Syracuse after being offered a position to work with Associate Professor Dr. Renate Chancellor through the Wilhelm Scholar program.
“Working as a faculty assistant is a unique role and I have learned so much about academia and academic research from her,” Sullivan said. “I felt that Syracuse offered me more opportunities as a student researcher than other institutions.”
This past summer, Sullivan worked at the Special Collections Research Center at Syracuse University Libraries as a Public Services Graduate Student Associate, where they assisted patrons with primary source research with the rare book and manuscript collections.
Sullivan also spent the summer volunteering at the Onondaga Historical Association to help catalog and preserve the Barstow Transit Collection, a collection focused on public transportation in Central New York.
This school year, Sullivan is serving as the Social Media Coordinator for the Library and Information Science Student Association (LISSA) and is excited to use the group’s social media platforms to boost the organization’s presence on campus and celebrate the work that MLIS students are doing.
After graduation, Sullivan plans to look for work in an academic library, specifically in positions related to reference services, instruction, or scholarly communication. Long term, they plan to pursue another master’s degree, possibly in art history, gender studies or religious studies. They have also considered working in museums and may apply to museum studies master’s degree programs in the future.