Librarian and generally helpful person. Currently opening access, building community, & curating exhibits.
About
Rashad Bell is a person who also identifies as a librarian. Most people don’t know what that means and most days he is unsure himself. Having worked in academic, public, and special libraries he is sure of one thing; librarians are thought to be helpful and he likes being helpful. He also has a fine collection of cardigans. Rashad holds BAs in English and Film from Cleveland State University and an MLIS from Kent State University.
Rashad has spoken at the New York Botanical Garden, UC Botanical Garden at Berkley, Scarsdale Public Library, and Valley Cottage Library.
(2021 - present)
New York University Bobst Library
Shelving & Retrieval Supervisor
(2018 - 2021)
LuEsther T. Mertz Library at the New York Botanical Garden
As a Resource Sharing Librarian, Rashad provided access service functions including circulation, course reserves, interlibrary loan services, stacks management, and collections access. He carried out detailed inventory of collections and surveyed collections and equipment for physical condition. He collaborated with colleagues to provide research assistance and create innovative ways to broaden awareness of the collections including programming, exhibit curation, and community outreach.
Rashad supported, through actions and conduct. NYBG’s inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility initiatives and helps to build and maintain an inclusive organization culture throughout the institution.
As a Collection Maintenance Associate, Rashad generally maintained the 9,600+ sq. ft. of library stacks, rare book and circulating collections. He retrieved materials for patrons and staff, was responsible for Interlibrary Loans, ensured that all monographs and periodicals and special collection were properly shelved, and labeled books and journals to make materials shelf-ready. He also assisted in the acquisitions cycle, including sorting incoming purchases and gifts for processing and redistribution outside of the library, and searched the library catalog to identify materials appropriate for deaccession or relocation. Rashad performed regular shelf-reading, collection condition surveys and shifting, trains and instructed new staff and volunteers in Library of Congress system and internal library systems. Rashad also represented the Garden and Library at outreach events.
(2018 - 2020)
The Gottesman Libraries at Teachers College Columbia University
As a Services Associate, Rashad provided library desk services including, answering reference questions, research assistance, and circulation. He supported and promoted activities within the library such as lectures, performances, and other events. He also provided digital document delivery and interlibrary loan services.
(2015 - 2018)
Cleveland Public Library
As a Library Assistant, Rashad developed and lead library programming and computer training sessions for patrons of all ages in small group and one-on-one settings, utilizing computer class instructional materials. He assisted and instructed patrons with computer needs, troubleshooting computer issues and malfunctions. He also performed library services including reference, reader's advisory, helping patrons navigate the collection, and contributed to collection development by purchasing materials for the branch collection.
Speaking Event
Inside Black Botany: A Conversation with the Curators
“Hosted by the NYBG, co-curators Rashad Bell and Nuala Caomhánach discuss their online exhibit that seeks to acknowledge the complex relationship between enslaved Black people, nature, and the colonial environment—and reconsider the conscious omission of Black knowledge of the natural world.”
Curated Exhibit
BLACK BOTANY: The nature of Black experience
This exhibit was co-curated with Nuala Caomhánach, a past Humanities Institute Andrew W. Mellon Fellow and PhD candidate at New York University.
Essay & Workshop Transcript
NYU Science Museum Fridays: Decolonizing Living Collections
“On September 9th 2020, five experts discussed botanical museums in the virtual workshop Decolonizing Living Collections sponsored by Science Museum Fridays at New York University (NYU). The interdisciplinary conversation included DePrator, educator, biophiliac, New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) volunteer; Wambui Ippolito, founder of the BIPOC Horticultural Working Group; Rashad Bell, Special Collections Librarian at the LuEsther T. Mertz Library (NYBG); Laura Briscoe, Collections Manager at the William and Lynda Steere Herbarium (NYBG), and Nuala Caomhánach, Ph.D. candidate in the History Department at NYU and visiting scientist at the American Museum of Natural History.”
Community Building
GeekCLE
Years ago, on a porch in Cleveland, GeekCLE was born and was built into an organization that promoted geek culture in Cleveland. It existed in many facets; as a resource for finding local community, artists, and businesses; a resource for upcoming events, and a partner for creating welcoming spaces. In 2015 we took a hiatus, as our founders focused on other pursuits. In 2020, we came back, in a scaled down format, to rally our community to raise funds for the The Okra Project and the ACLU.
GeekCLE collaborated on a wide variety of events with many Northeast Ohio organizations and businesses such as the Cleveland Public Library, various local comic and game shops, art galleries, and Playhouse Square.
GeekCLE was featured on Cleveland.com and in Cleveland Magazine’s Best of Cleveland Issue.
Publication
Meetup.com & Libraries: Programming Partnerships to Teach Adults
Co-Author: Bell, R., Jackson, E. (2019)
Meetup.com & Libraries: Programming Partnerships to Teach Adults. In E. Kroski (Ed)
60 Ready-to-Use Coding Projects. Chicago, IL: ALA Editions
Press
Get in touch.
Contact Rashad to discuss consulting, speaking engagements, or collaborating.
Currently based in New York City.