My name is Audra and I am a professional librarian and certified archivist.

I currently work as a local history, special collections, and genealogy librarian in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It is my first professional position after finishing my MLIS with a specialization in archival studies at UCLA. While I am a new librarian, I am not new to libraries/archives. I have worked at libraries and archives for over six years, including the Duke University Libraries, the Library of Congress, UCLA Libraries, and the Walt Disney Company.

My greatest joy is in helping people find historical information. I focus on information access, where the user is given the freedom to discover special collections and archives on their own (sometimes with guidance from the librarian and/or archivist). I love to teach people how to find answers and identity through primary sources (archival materials, original documentation, etc.) and I love to teach people about preservation and digitization.

Most primary sources belong in the hands (or on the computer screens) of users — hence the name “Touchable” Archives. Librarians and archivists give context and longevity to primary sources through digital libraries, interactive finding aids, metadata, digital preservation and digital curation. We can also educate people about what archives and special collections have to offer.

I explore these issues and my development as an archivist and librarian at Touchable Archives. Thanks for reading!