Introduction

My name is Nancy Lee (she/they), and I’m from Los Angeles, traditional lands of the Tongva people. I’m more than halfway through the MLIS program and interested in public librarianship. Previously I worked in art museums doing PR for 15 years and am excited for a second career as librarian. I chose this course because the emphasis on open-ended and playful adaptation resonated with me. I’m looking forward to thoughtful discussions about how libraries intentionally and ethically engage and evolve, especially in light of AI’s widespread impact in nearly every industry.

I’m a fiber artist (crochet and knitting) and Korean language interpreter. I love when my varied interests and passions come together, and everything feels cohesive for at least a brief moment. One example is a finger-knitting workshop I taught at my local library makerspace. The participants ended up being multilingual so I was able to instruct some folks in Korean and English. Other bilingual attendees were able to help teach monolingual Spanish speakers, and everyone enjoyed themselves while making scarves. The friendly atmosphere of neighbors gathered for a fun and free activity embodied that library magic of third place and community accessibility for me.