Collections Profile: Kevin Farley
Collection librarians advise on acquisitions and materials to support teaching and research as well as new course and degree development.
Humanities Collections Librarian Kevin Farley serves the VCU Department of Music.
Schools and Departments Served: African-American Studies, English, History, World Studies (including Philosophy, Religious Studies, and world languages), MATX, Music
Expertise/education:
- Ph.D., English, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
- MLS, Library Science, UNC-Chapel Hill
- MA, English, Kent State University
- BA, English, Old Dominion University
Areas of Interest
- The future of humanities publishing
- Cultural theory
- Digital Humanities
- Shakespeare
- World literature and translation studies
- Poetry and poetics
- Film studies and experimental film
- Music history
What do you like most about what you do?
Collections are at the forefront of tremendous changes underway in academic libraries, reflecting the transformations taking place in how disciplines are taught, studied and practiced. This is challenging but also very exciting, and with the increasing role of digital collections, it’s possible to see researchers find connections that are now often more visible than ever before. The variety of ways of thinking about oneself and the world that is the foundation of doing the humanities has been my lifelong fascination. Creation in the humanities is especially vibrant at VCU. Contemporary humanities are diverse, inclusive and internationalist in thinking and approach, and to be part of that is fulfilling both professionally and personally.
What currently has your attention?
At work, the shift into digital environments for media access, and ways to provide dynamic and wide-ranging streaming access to the VCU community. At home, the intricacies of the classical guitar, which I am determined to learn.
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Collection librarians like Farley work in collaboration with outreach librarians, who support research, curricular and information literacy. More about other outreach librarians for the arts: Creative Catalysts: VCU’s arts librarians