Derek T. Mosley, Candidate for Council

Derek T. Mosley

Archives Division Manager,
Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History

“I feel that it is important for effective partnerships to be explored in terms of our annual meetings and educational offerings. Joint conferences have been great in the past, but SAA leaders must look to other allied professional groups and see what collaborative projects can be undertaken.”

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Archives Division Manager, Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History, Fulton County Library System, 2016–present.
• Assistant Head, Archives Research Center, Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library, 2014–2016.
• Director and Archivist, Ernest J. Gaines Center, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 2011–2014.

EDUCATION

• Master of Science, Archives Management, Simmons College, 2011.
• Bachelor of Arts, History, Morehouse College, 2009.
• Leadership Training: Archives Leadership Institute, 2019.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Society of American Archivists: Appointments Committee (2020); Diversity Committee, Member (2017–present); ARL/SAA Mosaic Program Advisory Committee, Member (2016–present); Nominating Committee, Member (2015–2016), Public Library Archives & Special Collections Section, Vice-Chair (2019–2020); Archivists and Archives of Color Section, Senior Co-Chair (2013–2014); Harold T. Pinkett Student of Color Award, Chair (2013–2014); Annual Meeting Programming Committee, Member (2013). 
• Society of Georgia Archivists: Education Committee; Nominating Committee. 
• American Library Association: Presidential Advisory Committee, Member (2013–2015); Committee on Membership Meetings, Chair, Member (2014–2016); Spectrum Scholarship Jury, Member (2015); Association of College and Research Libraries African American Studies Librarian Section, Chair (2015–2016).
• Black Caucus of the American Library Association: Executive Board Member (2012–2014); E.J. Josey Scholarship Committee, Vice-Chair (2017–present).

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS AND AWARDS

• "Social Media Outreach: How the Ernest J. Gaines Explores New Platforms,” The Primary Source: Journal of the Society of Mississippi Archivists 30, no. 1 (2011).
• Co-Author, “Bridging the Gap: Exploring the Racial Divide in Louisiana,” Library Services for Multicultural Patrons to Encourage Library Use, ed. Carol Smallwood and Kim Becnel (Scarecrow Press, 2013).
• Emerging Leader Award, American Library Association, 2012. 

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS

• Southern Conference on African American Studies Inc., Annual Conference, “African American Cultural and Archival Resources” (2017).
• Association for Library and Information Science Education Annual Meeting, “Engaging Diverse Local Communities: Lessons from the Archives" (2017).
• Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society National Conference, “Research Opportunities at the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History,” Genealogical Society, Inc. (2016). 
• Association for the Study of African American Life and History, “1968 and Beyond: New Opportunities in Civil Rights Research in Atlanta” (2015).

QUESTION POSED BY NOMINATING COMMITTEE

In the past, the SAA Council has had to face situations that challenge the strategic priorities and values of the organization. How would you balance the need to support members’ needs and the archival community with the financial needs of the organization?

CANDIDATE'S RESPONSE

As SAA moves into this next decade, it is imperative that we become more strategic in what can be realistically done for the members and the community. I feel that it is important for effective partnerships to be explored in terms of our annual meetings and educational offerings. Joint conferences have been great in the past, but SAA leaders must look to other allied professional groups and see what collaborative projects can be undertaken. Seeking ongoing partnerships is of great importance to continue to support members’ needs and also satisfy the financial needs of SAA. These endeavors would help minimize some of the ongoing cost that SAA is responsible for. 

If elected, I would like to make internal operations more transparent. Many members are unaware of how SAA operates and the financial operations and obligations that are ongoing. I would work to make sure there is more published data so that all dues paying members can make sure the organization is moving. As a profession we should engage the public and bring a wider awareness of the profession. The advocacy for the profession is strong within SAA and we must continue as an organization to fight for adequate funding at all levels of government.

SAA also has strategic goals and it is up to our leaders to push those goals to completion. If elected, I would like to make sure the strategic goals are aligned with member desires. For the future, we must be open to change, accepting of differences and working together to achieve the best for SAA.

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