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The lifeblood of the University of New Haven are the faculty and staff members who dedicate their lives to helping our students reach their goals. Periodically, we�Ӱ�ԭ��ll introduce you to a member of the staff so you can learn more about them �Ӱ�ԭ�� beyond their day-to-day work.

Next up is Lauren Slingluff, M.S., the Peterson Library�Ӱ�ԭ��s new director, who, as a college student, spent more time backstage than in her school�Ӱ�ԭ��s library, before discovering her career path as a librarian.

Renee Chmiel: What have you enjoyed the most about this summer?

Lauren Slingluff: This summer has been great for tackling special projects. We�Ӱ�ԭ��re really excited about some improvements we�Ӱ�ԭ��ve made to with signage and updates to the collection. I�Ӱ�ԭ��m hoping that when everyone returns for the semester, they�Ӱ�ԭ��ll be excited for the book displays on the main level. Being new to the University I�Ӱ�ԭ��ve also loved the opportunity to meet more of the members of the community and to work with all the library staff on our special projects.

RC: What do you like to read?

LS: I fit the stereotype of a librarian, as I do love to read, and I read a lot! I�Ӱ�ԭ��m well on my way to reading 200 books this year, and with my long commute, I do a lot of audiobooks. My favorite genres are cozy mysteries, fantasy, and nonfiction. Earlier this summer, I read a great book called �Ӱ�ԭ��Eating to Extinction�Ӱ�ԭ�� by Dan Saladino about endangered foods and ingredients. I always love learning something new. I�Ӱ�ԭ��ve also been trying to convince everyone to read the series �Ӱ�ԭ��Murderbot Diaries�Ӱ�ԭ�� by Martha Wells. It�Ӱ�ԭ��s science fiction novellas with a fun and snarky main character (who is, in fact, a robot).

RC: Do you have any pets?

LS: I have a lot of pets and animals in general! During the pandemic, I got many requests for animal cameos (at various points we�Ӱ�ԭ��ve had ducks, rabbits, and baby goats make an appearance). Of our indoor pets, we have two dogs, one of whom is over 200 pounds and is a big couch potato, along with a rabbit and a cat. On the outside, we have a whole farm with geese, chickens, goats, and a horse. Whenever new people come to our house, I let them know our free-range geese are friendly, but you have to honk to move them away from your car.

RC: What were you like when you were in college?

LS: Well, I�Ӱ�ԭ��m a little embarrassed to admit now that I didn�Ӱ�ԭ��t spend that much time in my college library! I had a lot of work-study jobs in undergrad, both in theater and dance. I got to make tutus and costumes for productions, as well as work backstage. I was on both the dance team and in dance company, in addition to being a teaching assistant for the ballet program, so I spent a lot of time in a leotard! While I started out as a biology major, I fell in love with my courses in religious studies, and I did a program of independent research in India my first year. I ended up majoring in religious studies with a minor in gender and sexuality studies. My junior year I took a course on information science and began working in the college archives, which is how I started on the path to becoming a librarian.

RC: Do you have any special talents or skills?

LS: I have a lot of farm-based talents, I designed and built our barn by hand, and now regularly get to shear goats and sheep. All of my hobbies revolve around fiber and textiles. I�Ӱ�ԭ��ve been sewing since I was young, and I knit, spin, and have designed and published several knitting patterns. I�Ӱ�ԭ��m a member of two different area guilds for knitting and spinning and am pursuing my master handknitting certificate through the . I am also extremely skilled at drinking large quantities of coffee; my motto is �Ӱ�ԭ��with enough caffeine, all things are possible.�Ӱ�ԭ��

RC: What about the upcoming academic year are you most looking forward to?

LS: Welcoming back all the students and faculty! The library gets far too quiet in the summer, and I can�Ӱ�ԭ��t wait to have a full house again. I�Ӱ�ԭ��m also very excited to update the café in the library and to create a comfortable and inviting space for studying and meeting. Over the summer we finalized an agreement to update our library system, so we�Ӱ�ԭ��ll have a new catalog and search functionality for patrons that should be finalized in the summer of 2024.

RC: What do you enjoy the most about your role at the University of New Haven?

LS: This role was such an exciting opportunity for me as it gave me a chance to do all the things I love in my job, with an amazing team, and surrounded by people with a strong commitment to student support. I love how creative and collaborative people here are. In just six months, I feel very connected to the organization already. Librarianship is really a service profession. We�Ӱ�ԭ��re here to support researchers, connect them with information, and facilitate others in their pursuit of information. I feel so privileged to get to engage in this work at such a dynamic institution.