Alumni are amazing. It’s a network of people across time and professions, but connected through a place that had an important impact on all our lives. Being an IU alumna twice-over (School of Library and Information Science 1981, 1991) I was especially gratified to attain a library position at IU East in 2009. I soon got involved with the Eastern Chapter of the IU Alumni Association and due to our common IU experience, immediately felt comfortable with the members.

As the IU East Campus Library embarked on a journey to develop an informal instruction room (dubbed “The Library Living Room”) I naturally chatted about it at alumni meetings. I was confident others would care about positive changes and innovative instruction as much as me and our library staff. I am happy to report that indeed they did care. In addition to alumna Peggy Hollingsworth’s  generous donation to transform former office space into an inviting instruction area, Matt Grafflin (Bachelor’s of Music Education, 2001) assisted by providing unique décor. He obtained for us those cool spools from Belden (thanks also to Belden staff Wayne Roussel, Bill Abney, Beverly Bright and Randall Dwiggins) to use as a table and unique shelf unit. And the Library Living Room transformation is being put together by IU East alumna and current instruction librarian Emily Samborsky.

Library staff reciprocates to help the Alumni Association whenever possible, such as assisting with the annual IU alumni “Read Across America” event to promote literacy and “Destination IU” to welcome new students. Being a part of an active alumni network is a win-win situation for all, as we work to impact the lives of all the future alumni of IU!