2023 ULS Candidate for Member-at-Large: Jeffrey D. Graveline
Tell us more about yourself and how you became an academic librarian.
I’ve been an academic librarian at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) since 2006, but my route to academic librarianship has been circuitous. Before coming to UAB, I practiced law in Birmingham for several years and served as a law clerk for a federal bankruptcy judge. I also have professional experience as a newspaper librarian and with an international library systems vendor.
I had always been drawn to academic libraries so when the position at UAB was posted I decided it was time for a dramatic career change. My first position was as a General Reference Librarian, focusing on government documents. Over the next 16 years I served as liaison to the UAB School of Business and Chair of the Reference Department, ultimately landing in my current position of Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Scholarly Communication.
I’ve also been involved with other professional organizations over the years. Most recently, I served as President of the Alabama Library Association, expanding that organization’s relationships with groups throughout the state. I was also involved with SLA, serving as Chair of the College & Business Librarians (CUBL) Section and on the Business & Finance (B & F) Division’s Executive Committee.
How long have you been involved in ULS and what attracted you to the section?
I am a relatively new member of ULS but the scope of the section is what drew me to it. I love the opportunity to learn from other academic librarians and believe sharing our experiences benefits the profession as a whole. I’ve learned so much from my colleagues over the years I’d like to give back. This position is a great opportunity to do just that.
In your opinion, what are some of the most interesting topics or trends we’re seeing in university libraries?
There are so many! This is a great time to be an academic librarian. My background is in scholarly communication and copyright, so my interests tend to lean in those directions. Opportunities for open access publishing have matured in recent years and academic libraries will continue to play a major role in supporting open access on campuses. Another interesting and controversial topic is Controlled Digital Lending (CDL). I think academic libraries will have the opportunity to be leaders as CDL continues to develop.
What goals for the section would you have if elected to this position? How do you envision committees and members helping the section achieve those goals?
With large organizations like ALA and ULS, feeling a part of the group is key. It is easy for members to feel disconnected. Getting them engaged and excited about what we are doing would be one of my main goals. Everyone has something to contribute, and I would work to make our members feel more integral to the success of the ULS.
Where do you see ULS going in the future? How does it need to change and evolve to stay relevant to academic librarians?
As with any professional organization, ULS needs to provide a benefit to its members. ULS members need to feel that they are getting something out of the group. We should listen to their ideas and plan events and professional development opportunities that will help them grow.
Tell us something interesting about yourself that not very many people know.
I grew up in coastal Virginia where one of the major industries in the area was crab processing. It was so important that our high school’s mascot was a crab. For 2 years, I walked the sidelines of Friday night football games and pep rallies dressed in a crab costume as the school’s mascot, Freddie the Crab!
