Spartans of UD: Sarah Slaughter
Dec 4, 2019
Spartans of UD highlights what makes University of Dubuque special – the people who live, work, and study on campus.
Sarah Slaughter is a reference and instruction librarian at the Charles C. Myers Library.
1. What do you enjoy most about your role at the Charles C. Myers Library?
“Being a librarian gives me a chance to combine my two favorite things – learning and helping others. I always enjoy working with students on their research projects, because while I’m helping them find what they need, I also get to learn about their topic along the way. When I was in college, I was interested in a lot of things so it was hard for me to pick a career path, but being a librarian in an academic environment means I get to indulge my curiosity every day!”
2. With finals in mind, what advice do you have for students?
“My advice to students during finals week is to prioritize. There’s a lot going on all at once, so be realistic about which tasks will take the most time and effort and plan accordingly. I’ve done the last-minute paper thing more times than I care to admit – it’s awful; don’t do it. Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Everyone on campus wants you to succeed, so take advantage of all the resources available to you.”
3. What is the biggest misconception students have about the library?
“That it’s all about academics. Of course student learning is our first priority, but we also want to support students in other aspects of their lives – that’s why we have collections of adult and young adult fiction, graphic novels, magazines, movies, TV series, and board games.”
4. What is the one book you couldn’t live without?
“When I was a kid, my dad always read me stories before bed. We went through nursery rhymes, picture books, and as I got older we started reading classics, eventually making our way to J.R.R. Tolkien. It took us a few months but my dad read me all three books of the Lord of the Rings trilogy out loud. The stories are still some of my favorites, and they’re especially memorable to me because of all the hours we spent reading together.”
5. What is your favorite spot on campus? Why?
“This is going to be a huge shock ... it’s the library! I went on a tour of campus when I interviewed for my position and I was impressed with how busy the library was. The building is located right in the heart of the campus, and there are always people passing through to attend a class, find a book, meet with a librarian, or get a coffee and some study time. I love that it’s such a central gathering place on campus – and it has a fireplace.”
