2012 Best Practices for Government Libraries

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BEST PRACTICES 2012
Growing the NewFeds: A Brief History of a New Community of LIS
Professionals
By the NewFeds Leadership: Aimee Babcock-Ellis, MLS; Sarena Burgess, MSIS; Kristin
Anne Carr, JD, MLIS; Caralyn Champa, MLIS; Jennifer Davis, MLS, MIS; Jessica
Hernandez, MLS, MS; Aileen Marshall, MA, MLIS; Abigail Morgan, MLS; Amelia Nuss, MLS;
and Danielle Walker, MA-IRLS
1. Overview
NewFeds was founded in early 2011 by new federal librarians Jessica Hernandez and
Aimee Babcock-Ellis, who sought to establish a forum to connect and support the
development of early-career federal library and information science (LIS) professionals.
As with many new communities, NewFeds benefitted from the guidance of more
established professionals, including FEDLINK Executive Director Blane Dessey, Careers in
Federal Libraries founder Nancy Faget, and FEDLINK Advisory Board Member Amanda
Wilson.
NewFeds strives to create a collaborative network of engaged Library and Information
Science (LIS) professionals. We are a FEDLINK Working Group that supports the
development and advancement of information professionals who have approximately five
or fewer years of experience in the federal government work environment. We aim to
raise awareness of LIS competencies, best practices, and other issues relevant to working
in federal information centers. Our goal is to support our members in their leadership
development and skill-building efforts as well as career planning, networking, and
mentoring.
In addition to the co-chair roles, the NewFeds leadership structure includes four Sub-
Committees, each with two co-chairs.