Veronica Gonzalez
June 1 - August 31, 2018

Verónica A. González is a librarian in the Sound and Image Resources Department at Florida International University Libraries. Ms. González holds a Bachelor of Science in Library Science from the Metropolitan University in Santiago de Chile and a Master of Arts in Library and Information Science from the University of South Florida. In 2004, she was hired by the FIU Department of Digital Collections. In 2006, she was honored with a Smithsonian scholarship to participate in a professional development program in Washington, D.C. This opportunity expanded her knowledge of the use of new technology and best practices related to digital audio and preservation.

Veronica is currently in charge of one of the most extensive publicly available collections of Cuban music in the United States, the Díaz-Ayala Cuban and Latin American Popular Music Collection (DAC), which she utilizes to support research and advance efforts in preservation, access, and digitization. Veronica has been awarded with preservation grants from recognized institutions such as the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation and SEFLIN.

Share a library program or service that you are excited about:
I believe that Universities have treasures that can be shared not only with academic communities but also with all the individuals interested in learning and acquiring new knowledge. One of the most attractive ways to absorb new information is through the enjoyment of audiovisual materials. Therefore, I created a community program that allows us to promote the Diaz-Ayala Collection (DAC) to the entire community of Miami. The events consist of a lecturer that shares their expertise in various topics or subjects such as el danzon, la cancion Cubana, El feeling, etc. These presentations are illustrated with audiovisual materials that are part of the DAC. We contact copyright holders in the event that the materials are protected, so we can host public performances for a large audience. Furthermore, another professional service I am very excited about is the webinar training that I will provide for SEFLIN members. This training is part of a Digitization Series and is based on the DPLA's Public Library Partnerships Project Curriculum.

Digitization Series: Digital Reformatting and File Management Webinar Link:
https://netforum.avectra.com/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?Site=SEFLIN&WebCode=EventDetail&evt_key=dbb88327-bb84-4bac-9e33-44d2c51de09f

Three words that describe you:
Proactive, Determined, Dedicated

How long have you been a member of DCLA?
0 to 5 years

What do you most like about working in libraries?
Working in Libraries is my passion. When I arrived to the United States in 2002, I had to reinvent myself, and it was no doubt that I had to do it in the same field I had chosen in my native country, Librarianship.
My profession is one of the most versatile fields. Library Science offers a large umbrella of possibilities such as collaborating with individuals and institutions, assisting patrons with research, sharing knowledge and skills with colleagues, incorporating new technologies to benefit a large community, and working with donors as well as learning from them, among others. These factors influence the passion I have for my career; they present challenges that I am always willing to overcome in order to grow in this discipline.