Welcome back to another installment of 5 Questions! If you would like to choose 5 Questions yourself, feel free to choose 5 from this form.
Sandy Rodriguez, Associate Dean
Tell us about what you do at ZSR Library?
I have library-wide, administrative responsibilities focused on supporting library employees, program assessment and development, and library services. Specifically, I manage faculty affairs, employee hiring, onboarding, performance management, and professional development and training; coordinate communication, planning, and assessment; and collaborate on annual budget planning and employee compensation reviews. Additionally, I serve as the backup to the Dean so I need to stay well-informed of our initiatives and be prepared for anything.
What is a typical day in your work life?
My day-to-day is a reflection of my responsibilities, but I don’t have a “typical day” outside of participating in meetings with various folks in ZSR Library and across campus, doing my best to maintain and respond to emails, and spending time completing work that comes out of those meetings. Having been here for less than one year, I also spend quite a bit of time thinking and making mental connections as I build relationships and learn about ZSR Library and Wake. Once I’m more acclimated, I look forward to collaboratively developing cohesive strategies for the programs I manage and support, having more conversations through informal drop-ins, and participating in library outreach activities.
What is your favorite project you have worked on in your career?
It’s difficult to choose, but I generally enjoy any collaborative project that addresses long-ignored or under-addressed challenges. I understand that transformational change is a slow, collaborative, and relational process so I derive a sense of purpose from digging in deep and playing the long game with colleagues. One example is an effort I initiated to implement mutual aid in the workplace in the advent of the COVID pandemic. Working with the Libraries’ Equity Committee, the worker relief fund not only immediately addressed financial challenges faced by library employees, but also led to a broader initiative to address low wages and salary equity, long-term. Additionally, I often consider the possibilities of scaling up or down, and sharing successful models that others can use. For instance, this particular project was a scaled down, local version inspired by the Archival Workers Emergency Fund. The small- and wide-scale applications of mutual aid in libraries and archives led to the development of the resource, Mutual Aid at Work, a joint effort of the Digital Library Federation’s Labor Working Group and the Archival Workers Collective.
What is something we can’t know by looking at you?
I was a high-steppin’ drum major at the University of Kentucky, blowing a whistle, loudly barking commands (from the diaphragm), and conducting a 200+ member marching band in front of tens of thousands of people. It was a lot of fun and hard work, but I prefer the much quieter world of libraries.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever gotten?
This isn’t advice as much as an opportunity to share one of my favorite community agreements, “No one knows everything. Together, we know a lot.”* While this speaks to humility, recognizing one’s limitations and expertise, and honoring the expertise of others, it also calls us to make space for each other and ensure there are communication mechanisms in place that allow employees to safely share their expertise, be heard, and recognized.
*Anti-Oppression Resource and Training Alliance. “Anti-Oppressive Facilitation: Making Meetings Awesome for Everyone.” www.aortacollective.org
5 Comments on ‘5 Questions with Sandy Rodriguez’
Thank you for sharing, Sandy!
We’re lucky to have you Sandy!
Thanks so much for sharing, Sandy! Hands-down my favorite part is your drum major history. I love this!
As I’ve said before, I’m so glad you’re here, Sandy! I love the community agreement — I used to run meetings with library faculty, staff, and department admin in the same room, and this was my philosophy then (although the quote is new to me). Collaboration is so much more effective when everyone is able to speak up, and the best ideas often come from those with hidden expertise.
Also, I can’t imagine you projecting your voice in front of tens of thousands. Must have been intense!
Drum major is such a cool fun fact! So glad to get to know you more, Sandy!