Residency Interest Group

Series Information: 
Library residency programs have existed for over 40 years, with the oldest known diversity program–the Pauline A. Young Residency–established at the University of Delaware in 1984 (Program History – Pauline A. Young Residency, n.d.). Over the past four decades, the library & information science (LIS) field has experienced significant changes in institutional engagement, program implementation, along with a growing body of scholarship examining residents' experiences and overall efficacy of residency initiatives.

Today, the field is undergoing another notable shift marked by a decline in the number of residency programs. In response, the ACRL Residency Interest Group is excited to host its inaugural Show & Share, a virtual gathering designed to take the pulse of current and former residency efforts, document ongoing work, and capture a snapshot of library residency programs. 

This virtual event series–scheduled across Summer 2026 (May-July)–will provide a collaborative space for discussing research, projects, activities, and experiences of current and former resident librarians. We invite proposals that address, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Reflection on your library residency experience

• The post-residency transition process

• Tips for making the most of the residency experience

• Highlights of one or more projects accomplished or research published during the residency

• Discussion of current trends that impact residencies and/or early career librarianship

• Resident-centered research

• Overview of work-in-progress research

• Impacts on residency programs from federal, state, and/or institutional policy change