UMSI alum Jeremy Barney named Michigan Academic Librarian of the Year

University of Michigan School of Information graduate Jeremy Barney has been named the Michigan Academic Librarian of the Year. 

The award recognizes the “outstanding accomplishments of a Michigan Academic Library Association member and their contributions to their institution and academic libraries.”

Barney, a 2008 graduate of UMSI’s Master of Science in Information program, focused on archives and record management during his time at UMSI. He currently serves as an assistant librarian for metadata and digital collections at Hope College’s Van Wylen Library. 

“I feel honored that my colleagues nominated me for this award,” Barney says. “It’s a recognition of the background work that technical services and metadata librarians do in advancing this field.” 

Since graduating from UMSI, Barney has held various positions in the library science field. He has over a decade of experience and says his time at UMSI shaped his career. 

“The biggest thing the program did was bring a diverse group of people together into one room” he says. “It’s a strong program with great faculty. It encouraged us to solve complex problems by using our different experiences.” 

During his time at UMSI, Barney says he took advantage of unique internship opportunities. His favorite memory includes participating in alternative spring break, visiting Washington, D.C and working at the National Museum of American History. 

“My biggest advice for students, aside from embracing the different perspectives and backgrounds at UMSI, is to take advantage of opportunities,” he says. “I’m a shy person, but I feel like any opportunity where you can push yourself and try something new does a world of wonder for your career and your personhood.” 

Related

Learn about the Master of Science in Information program and how to apply.