Meet the New IACRL Secretary/Treasurer: Sanga Sung
September 27, 2023
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Interviewed by Dee Anna Phares, Northern Illinois University
Sanga Sung is the newly-elected Secretary/Treasurer of the IACRL. But she also serves as the Government Information Librarian at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library—overseeing and promoting the use of materials produced or published by state, national, and international government entities, as well as delivering instruction and reference services, and “highlight[ing] important issues” related to governmental and intergovernmental collection and resources. We wanted to welcome Sanga to the IACRL board and find out more about her and her thoughts on librarianship.
What three words best describe you?
Adaptable, curious, and community-oriented would be the three words that describe me best.
Could you talk about your journey to librarianship? Was it a direct route or was it a winding road leading to this destination?
This is a question I love to ask others in our field because it seems everyone has such a different journey to get where they are now. When I was completing my Masters in Information Science at Florida State University (FSU), I really didn't have a clear path in mind. I was doing a little bit of everything, including collection development, customer services, reference, instruction, website work, etc., at the various local public, university, and community college libraries. At one point, I had to find an internship for course credit, and I missed all the deadlines for the library internship opportunities except for the one for Government Information. Fortunately, I applied and got it. I went in without knowing much about government information, but, with the support and guidance of the Library, I quickly fell in love with its interdisciplinary nature and its value, not just to the academic community but also to the general public.
Why is professional service important to you?
I started professional service work because I wanted to contribute to improving access to information and to connect with colleagues from around the country and the world. I love meeting other library professionals and learning about the amazing work they are doing. I am inspired every day, and it has been a valuable experience for me to find collaboration opportunities, apply what I learn to my everyday work, and ask questions and receive support.
What do you think are some of the biggest challenges facing libraries and librarians today and in the near future?
I believe one of the most significant challenges is the rapid pace of technological advancement and evolution. Every day, new forms of information and information tools emerge, quickly changing how people find, access, and understand information. Take artificial intelligence (AI) tools, for instance; they're becoming increasingly prevalent and altering how people interact with information. As libraries, we must adapt to these changing information-seeking behaviors and understand how to leverage these technological advancements to serve our communities effectively. Additionally, in this age of information proliferation through new information formats and platforms, there's also a surge of misinformation/disinformation. I believe it is important for libraries and librarians to proactively address these issues and help our patrons navigate this information overload by fostering their ability to critically evaluate the information they encounter.
What would be your “desert island” read?
I already read it enough times, but I wouldn’t mind reading the Lord of the Rings series for the rest of my life stranded on a desert island. I also enjoyed reading comic books and graphic novels growing up. The only one that my parents would let me read was One Piece. They would buy me a couple volumes on my birthday each year.
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