Juan-Andres on receiving the George A. Strait Minority Scholarship and the value of AALL’s continuing education programs
Juan-Andres Fuentes is a student in the Master of Library Science program at the University of North Texas, in Denton, Texas.
WHY DID YOU JOIN AALL?
I am new to the law librarian community. I started the Master of Library Science program at UNT last fall and promised to stand out as a law librarian, so I asked a former professor (Faye Jones) and law librarian for advice. She told me that being involved at AALL was highly recommended to boost my career, and she was right!
A post on My Communities in July 2020 was how I learned about an amazing international law librarian project “Monitoring the Legal Response to COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean,” headed by the active law librarian Marcelo Rodriguez. I have already written three reports (two in English and one in Spanish) about the legal situation in Peru and Argentina amidst the pandemic. Also through AALL, I was able to learn in great detail about Globalex, a publication focused in international and foreign law research and the crucial role of its editor, Lucie Olejnikova. I performed deep research about the Ecuadorian Legal System that will be published soon.
WHY DO YOU STAY A MEMBER?
I will stay a member because of the dynamic and friendly people that are part of AALL. Moreover, I will stay a member because of the numerous opportunities AALL offers, such as being part of different types of projects, as well as the Career Center. AALL members are not only professionally involved with the association, but also personally engaged; this is, in my opinion, its biggest achievement.
WHAT ONE MEMBER BENEFIT IS MOST VALUABLE TO YOU?
Even though I am busy working and studying full time, I have managed to attend a few interesting free webinars on topics I am interested in. Definitely, continuing education for its members is the most valuable membership benefit.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY ASSOCIATED WITH AALL?
My favorite memory associated with AALL in this intense nine months of membership is being the recipient of one of the 2020 George A. Strait Minority Scholarships. This award was the extra motivation needed to empower my future career.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING OUTSIDE OF WORK?
Outside of work, I love doing research on topics I am interested in. I am very active in publishing. In addition, I love to play soccer because it helps me escape from my daily routine and personal problems. I also love going on walks with my family. Just casual walks around the neighborhood give me great joy.
WHAT BOOK(S) ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?
Currently, I am reading Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maughman. Even though the book was written in the second decade of the twentieth century, it is a timeless book. The reader rapidly identifies with one of the characters and/or some passages of the story. I definitely recommend it.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TRAVEL/VACATION DESTINATION?
I am a beach man. Two years ago, I went to a paradisaical resort on Bayahibe in the Dominican Republic and I am counting on the days until I can go back.