Behind the Shelves: A Librarian Spotlight Interview with Rachel Stein
Rachel Stein is Scholarly Engagement Librarian for History, Anthropology, Political Science, Jewish Studies, Africana Studies, Asian Studies, and Middle East and North African Studies. She provides academic support to these departments and programs through library instruction, workshops, research consultations, library guides, and the selection of books, journals, databases, and other scholarly resources.
Through three insightful questions, we gain a glimpse into the life of this librarian, understanding the challenges they encounter and the fulfillment they derive from connecting readers with the perfect book.
What’s your favorite section in the library?
That's a tough call! There are three stacks areas I always return to because of my research on the history of the book in early modern Spain and Portugal. The books in the stacks are organized by Library of Congress call number, and each letter corresponds to a certain subject. So I spend a lot of time in the Z's (book history, 1st floor), the DP's (Iberian History, 3rd floor), and the PQ's (Spanish and Portuguese Literature, 2nd floor).
Ever since I was an undergrad, I've loved sitting on the floors of the stacks and browsing through books I might want to check out. One of the things I enjoy most about my job is helping undergraduates navigate the library and sharing the joys of engaging with our print collections. There is still so much information that you can't access online—and they can access it here, for free!
Do you feel like living and working abroad has influenced your work within academia?
Absolutely. I lived in Madrid, Spain for five years in my twenties. One of those years I was doing an M.A. in Spanish; the others I worked as a copy editor, translator, and dance teacher. I decided to return to the U.S. to pursue a Ph.D. in a Spanish Department, knowing that I wanted to take a deeper dive into the literature and cultural history of Spain. Through a series of accidents, I became fascinated with a 17th-century Lisbon printer who published books in both Spanish and Portuguese about America, Asia, and Africa. For my doctoral research, I spent a lot of time in rare book libraries and archives in Madrid, Lisbon, Antwerp, and New York City. Those hands-on experiences with old books made me passionate about libraries and the work they do to preserve culture and make knowledge accessible. In short, living in Spain shaped my Ph.D. research, and my Ph.D. research ultimately led me to a career in academic libraries.
What does Scholarly Engagement mean to you?
Scholarly Engagement means connecting scholars to Tulane Libraries. I consider a scholar to be anyone doing research, from undergraduate and graduate students to faculty, staff, and members of the public. "Connecting" can take many forms. On a given day, I might help a student discover library resources for their research in a one-on-one consultation; teach a class on how to navigate academic databases; purchase a book that a faculty member needs for their research or teaching; work with colleagues to improve the library search interface; or curate a book display or library guide to bring visibility to all the resources we have to offer.
Interviewed by Jasmine Young | Tulane Libraries Social Media & Marketing Assistant
