Maria Smyer

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

SJ4A Fellows, Su Lan Sheehan, Tsinnijinnie Russell, and Maria Smyer, Attended Keep Calm and Save the Archives: Emergency Planning and Disaster Response Presented by the Society of Rocky Mountain Archivists (SRMA) 2025 Annual Conference in Castle Rock, Colorado https://alabama.box.com/s/xrir2lcp85kmk6hu3xpbr8mp2l5ifk4t

SJ4A Fellow Maria Smyer Participates in Hosting the 11th Annual Latino/a/x Book Festival at the Rawlings Library in Partnership with CSU Pueblo, Pueblo, Colorado.​​

Maria attended the 2024 4th Annual Aztlán Research Center Summer Institute: Language & Identity: Implications for an HSI in Southern Colorado, on July 29, 2024. 

Dr. Bharat Mehra (SJ4A PI), Dr. Robert Riter (SJ4A co-PI), Ron Harris (SJ4A Graduate Research Assistant), Angela Houser (SJ4A Practitioner-Mentor), and Sabrina Robinson, Sandy Yang, Su Sheehan, and Maria Smyer (SJ4A Fellows) participated in an Education Program entitled Training of Community-Embedded Racial/Ethnic Minorities in the Archival Studies Social Justice Master’s Scholarship Program at the American Library Association Annual Conference, San Diego, CA, June 27 – July 2, 2024.  
https://alabama.box.com/s/gv9g3lzpb4a702qxbux9mttpn3c6iuzl

Maria is interning in Summer 2024 with Colorado State University (CSU) in Pueblo, Colorado in their Archive and Special Collections department. Her project is to conduct oral history interviews with Chicano and Hispanic community members about their experiences during the Colorado Chicano Civil Rights Movement that took place in the 1960s and 1970s. 

In Summer 2024, Maria received a special grant from the Latino Poetry Project for her annual Latino Book Festival which will take place at the Pueblo City County Library District later this year and which will host Rigoberto Gonzalez, the editor of, Latino Poetry: The Library of America Anthology. In August, she will be traveling to Mexico City and presenting, Develop a Social Justice Interest Group at Your Library: Encourage Diverse Perspectives and Enhance Workplace Culture, at the symposium, Unshelving Voices: Empowering Libraries Against Censorship, in the Mexican Information Global Forum at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Maria will be presenting Bringing Spanish Speakers In: Tips on Serving Your Spanish Speaking Community at the Colorado Association Library Conference (CALCON) in Breckenridge, Colorado in September. 

In May 2024, SJ4A Fellows, Su Lan Sheehan, Tsinnijinnie Russell, and Maria Smyer, attended the 2024 Unconference: Archival Bodies regional conference presented by the Society of Rocky Mountain Archivists (SRMA) in Denver, Colorado.

In Summer 2023, Maria Smyer hosted conversation English classes at the Pueblo City County Library. She and a fellow librarian launched a pilot program that provided a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Maria also attended the 2023 Aztlán Research Center Summer Institute & CLLARO Latino Action Council Summit: The Mestizaje Connection: Exploring our Mestizo Roots and Planning for the Future in Pueblo, Colorado, in August 2023. 

My SJ4A ROAD MAP [STRATEGIC EDUCATION PLAN]

FALL 2024

CIS 675: Community-Engaged Scholarship
I have created this Community-Engaged ePortfolio (CP-eP) as part of my work for the CIS 675 course (Community-Engaged Scholarship) during fall 2024. In my CP-eP I analyze existing communication and information responses to the Hispanic and Chicano Communities by the Colorado State University (CSU) in their Special Collections and Archives Department located in Pueblo, Colorado. I also identify existing and potential collaborators and partners in local, regional, national, and international communities (in the physical setting and online) to facilitate actual and/or planned activities of mutual interest to operationalize and implement. In the process I propose a range of responsive strategies to further community needs, expectations, and representation in the specific setting and workforce environment.

As part of my analysis, I critically evaluate how CSU-P Special Collections and Archives Department serves the Hispanic and Chicano communities and develop a strategic diversity action plan for the communication or information organization to identify future directions of progressive growth and professional practice in consolidating future collaborations and partnerships.

Analyzing Existing Communication and Information Responses to the Hispanic and Chicano Communities by the Colorado State University (CSU) in their Special Collections and Archives Department located in Pueblo, Colorado –  https://mesmyer-cis675-fall24.myportfolio.com

SPRING 2024

LS 557: Archival Appraisal
The Archival Appraisal course had us examine the principles and approaches of archival collections.  Through archival appraisal, we looked at the different methods of determining what to add or take out of collections.  It stressed the importance of applying practical policies and obtaining historical understanding when analyzing, accepting, and documenting archival materials. One of our assignments was to appraise an object or collection. I appraised a Mola painting as a work of art and a cultural item for my personal archives. Through this course, I also learned the significance that well-written archival policies have regarding public access to collections. 

LS 580: Outreach to Diverse Populations
In my O-eP, I analyze existing outreach information responses to the immigrant community in the Pueblo City County Library District located in Pueblo, Colorado.  As part of my analysis, I critically evaluate a variety of existing outreach services in my community-centered organizational setting.  I also develop a strategic community outreach action plan for the information organization to identify future directions of progressive growth and professional practice.

Analyzing Existing Outreach Information Responses to the Immigrant Community in the Pueblo City County Library District located in Pueblo, Colorado – mesmyer-ls580-spring24.myportfolio.com

FALL 2023

CIS 668: Social Justice and Inclusion Advocacy
I have created this Social Justice ePortfolio (SJ-eP) as part of my work for CIS 668 (Social Justice and Inclusion Advocacy) course during fall 2023. In my SJ-eP I propose social justice actions based on analysis of existing communication and information responses to the immigrant population participating in the English Language Learner (ELL) Program provided by the Hispanic Resource Center, a special library within the Pueblo City County Library District (PCCLD) located in Pueblo, Colorado.

I also propose and implement very select responsive strategies and actions to further community needs, expectations, and representation in the specific setting and workforce environment of the Pueblo City County Library District to identify future directions of progressive growth and professional practice. The SJ-eP provides a glimpse of social justice actions proposed and/or taken through application of select systematic methods. It documents this process upon reflection of the limited experience to gather insights that can get operationalized in greater depth during future initiatives.

Analyzing a Decade of ELL Program in PCCLD’s Hispanic Resource Center – mesmyer-cis668-fall23.myportfolio.com/​

LS 500: Information Science & Technology
This course introduced us to the history and foundations of information science. We learned about the relationships developed with individuals, organizations, and societies in the field of information. We looked at how technology can be utilized in libraries for customer service, collection development, inventory, and reference services. I participated in a group project presenting on how Artificial Intelligence is currently utilized in libraries. It was interesting to discover how Alexa is being used for translation services for customer service and how robots are being used for inventory purposes. This course showed us how we should develop a plan to obtain different technology skills to have a well-rounded portfolio for our future careers.  

SUMMER 2023

CIS 650: Applying Diversity Leadership Theories and Praxis
I have created this Diversity & Inclusion ePortfolio (D&P-eP) as part of my work for the CIS 650 (Applying Diversity Leadership Theories & Praxis) course during Summer 2023. In my D&P-eP I analyze existing diversity and inclusion responses to library services provided by the Hispanic Resource Center for the immigrant and Hispanic population in the Pueblo City County Library District located in Pueblo, Colorado. I also propose a range of responsive strategies to further cultural competence and effective leadership in the diverse workforce environment. 

As part of my analysis, I critically evaluate a variety of existing information responses (e.g., collections, services, programs, resources, policies, and best practices) to ensure equality/equity of representation, access, and information use of diverse stakeholders in my community-centered organizational setting. The focus is on an evaluation of website-based and on-site information offerings. I also develop a strategic diversity action plan for the information organization to identify future directions of progressive growth and professional practice.

Developing a Strategic Plan for the Hispanic Resource Center of the Pueblo City-County Library District – mesmyer-cis650div-sum23.myportfolio.com/

LS 555: Introduction to Archival Studies
In this course, we were introduced to the role of the archivist in their institution and community. We looked at different types of archival collections, interpreted finding aids, examined different types of access and collection policies, and archival theory and practice. One of our assignments was for us to reflect on our own archival values while examining the SAA Core Values Statement and Code of Conduct.  Another assignment was to develop a personal archival mission statement in order to look at our professional goals and objectives. This allowed us to reflect on what communities we want to work with and support. 

SPRING 2023

LS 501: Information in Communities
This course provided assignments on utilizing different professional resources such as listservs to help with professional development and searching for employment. We learned about academic publishing companies, the different models, how they operate, and their relationships with universities. We also learned about the significance of open access to scholarly articles and how some universities are dealing with these issues. We explored the ALA’s Core Values of Librarianship and Code of Ethics. This course had us examine serious issues libraries are currently dealing with such as censorship, homelessness, and drug use. I learned very useful information about the effects of meth contamination. This is an issue at the library I work at and throughout my state. 

LS 513: Professional Paths
This course demonstrates all the different directions one can pursue in librarianship. I enjoyed learning about all the different types of libraries.  Special libraries were very important for me to learn about because it made me realize I have been in charge of one for the past ten years. It has its own special collection, programming, outreach, partnerships, and staff. In this course, we were assigned to curate a communal toolkit for each type of library. We were assigned to provide a content analysis of employment advertisements, create a professional resume and job application packet, and to write about what professional paths we would be interested in taking.