Ashelee and Elizabeth recently represented Archivists and Academic Librarians at a Career Day program for children at the Central Branch of the Forsyth County Public Library. This inaugural program, held in honor of Women’s History Month, featured an inspiring lineup of women professionals from our community and showcased a wide range of careers. Other careers represented at the event included a Reporter from WFDD, a Curator from Reynolda House, Deputy County Manager of Forsyth County, Police Sergeant with the Winston Salem Police Department, an Entrepreneur from ByGood Coffee, and more!

Elizabeth and Ashelee stand at the ZSR booth at FCPL Career Day

We introduced attendees to Archives and Academic Libraries, shared insights into our daily work and how we ended up in this profession, and highlighted the many other careers within ZSR to demonstrate the different paths you can take with an MLIS. The ZSR reading ghost stickers were a huge hit, as were the cute cake magnets from Special Collections, and we may or may not have told everyone about Humans vs. Zombies…

Competing with the Fire Department ladies for attention from the kids in attendance was a struggle, but thankfully visiting each table was incentivized with a “passport” that attendees could redeem for a prize if it had stamps from all careers represented. Despite the lack of fancy gear, kids who visited our table learned that working in an academic library or archive can be a lot of fun!

We had a wonderful time speaking with kids of all ages about our work here at ZSR and connecting with other amazing women in our community. We hope this event continues next year!

Ashelee talks with a family at the ZSR booth at the FCPL Career Day program