Three questions with new Policy Advisory Council representative Rachel Milani

Rachel Milani is an assistant librarian at the Marinelli Library on the Hibbing Campus of Minnesota North College. She represents central and northern state colleges on the Policy Advisory Council. Representatives serve three-year terms. Depending upon whom they represent, they are either elected by their constituency or selected by State Library Services, a division of the Minnesota Department of Education.

1. What got you interested in library work?

Growing up I loved the local library and the wide array of worlds it made available to me.  I became a librarian because I wanted to be a part of making those worlds available to others. As an academic librarian, those worlds are a little less fantastical than the ones I loved as a child, but I enjoy assisting students in accessing, evaluating, and understanding the information they need.

2. What do you like about your current organization and the community where it's based?

Minnesota North College in Hibbing (formerly Hibbing Community College) is based in the community where I was born and raised, but reaches a much wider demographic than reflected in the community itself.  I love being able to live and serve in the community where I grew up while supporting students from all walks of life, both near and far.

3. How do you hope to be a voice for Central & Northern State Colleges on the Policy Advisory Council?

Having seen the wonderful support that Minitex provides to all different types of libraries across Minnesota, I hope to be able to advocate for more cooperative purchasing and state-funded resources like the recently supported nursing databases that benefit small, rural academic libraries with limited budgets and the patrons those libraries serve.