Errol on how AALL has helped him grow professionally and stay engaged with other librarians of color
Errol Adams is a Reference & Scholarly Services Librarian with the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University Law Library.
WHY DID YOU JOIN AALL?
I joined after finding out about AALL though my job. It was a benefit to me as a senior law librarian at New York City Civil Court Law Library. Having been a member and serving on the board of my local chapter (i.e., LLAGNY) I thought this membership would be useful to further advance my career and socialize with other law librarians on a national level.
WHY DO YOU STAY A MEMBER?
I have remained a member because I can learn much more about the many aspects of law librarianship via various training sessions and just by speaking to other law librarians about their specific roles. Being an AALL member also allowed me to engage more with other law librarians of color on a national level. It also allowed me to grow professionally as I have maintained some sort of volunteer role on a committee or committees throughout the years of my membership thus far.
WHAT ONE MEMBERSHIP BENEFIT IS MOST VALUABLE TO YOU?
This benefit changes based on my personal annual goals. Being able to receive targeted training in specific aspects of law librarianship remains constant. However, over the recent years, I think the benefit of being in a position to make changes within AALL to allow for more retention and recruitment of other law librarians of color, especially black male law librarians is most important.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY ASSOCIATED WITH AALL?
I love food, so eating bison for the first time, while at the 2010 AALL Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING OUTSIDE OF WORK?
I enjoy caring for my dog Shelly (a shih tzu), travelling, visiting museums, and going to the theater, operas and dance shows. I also like to experience different cuisines at various New York City restaurants.
WHAT BOOK(S) ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?
I read parts of books mostly. Currently, I am reading Just Mercy, and Dan Brown’s Inferno. Although I went online several times at Barnes & Noble to purchase some of the Harry Potter series. Yes, I have read them all. I also have a running list of books to read in Goodreads, Amazon Books, Google Books, and Library Thing. I am about to read How to be an Anti-Racist by Ibrams Kendi.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TRAVEL/VACATION DESTINATION?
This one is tough as I enjoy travelling to many places. My birthplace is Guyana, South America. So I would say anywhere in the Caribbean, as I love beaches, waterfalls, tropical fruits, etc.