Meet the New IACRL Vice President/President Elect: Nestor Osorio
September 24, 2025
-
Interviewed by Kaitlyn Weger, Olney Central College
Nestor Osorio is the newly-elected Vice President/President Elect of the IACRL. Nestor also serves as professor and information specialist at Northern Illinois University. With a strong commitment to academic librarianship and professional service, Osorio brings a wealth of experience and leadership to this new role. We congratulate Nestor and wish him the best in his service to the organization!
Q. Congratulations on your election! What would you like other IACRL members to know about you?
A. I was born in Barranquilla, Colombia, and attended the regional university, where I majored in Mathematics and Physics. I hold an MA in Physics and an MLIS. I began my career teaching algebra at a high school and later taught physics to undergraduate engineering students. After holding several positions in academic libraries, my late wife Mary and I decided that DeKalb, Illinois, was a good place to settle. In addition to my involvement in professional organizations, I have always participated in community projects and activities. This has also led me to become an avid soccer player, and among my favorite pastimes is painting expressions of cosmological and quantum phenomena.
Q. What do you think is the most important thing for you to accomplish in your new position?
A. Under the leadership of current president Joshua Newport, I will continue working with the members of IACRL on the issues outlined in our bylaws. To do so effectively, maintaining consistent and open communication with the Board is essential. I also enjoy serving as a mentor to the highly capable and skilled members of the Forum. As Vice President, my top priority will be chairing the Conference and Continuing Education Committee, while also contributing positively and meaningfully to Board meetings. Additionally, we must identify the interests and challenges of our membership and create opportunities for broader engagement and involvement. Nevertheless, having an effective working relationship with the ILA central office and leadership is also essential.
Q. What do you think is the biggest challenge facing libraries today?
A. Academic libraries face a range of evolving challenges. For example, providing access to online resources requires significant investment as well as a skilled technical staff. These digital offerings have also contributed to changing user expectations. To remain relevant, libraries must continue encouraging physical presence by transforming their spaces into more welcoming environments and hosting programs that engage the academic community.
Strengthening collaboration with curriculum planning bodies is essential to highlight the value of library resources and services to an increasingly diverse population. Libraries must also address diverse learning needs and support research within a complex digital landscape.
The integration of artificial intelligence offers potential benefits, but it must be carefully examined. Concerns about ethics, privacy, cost, and staff readiness must be addressed. Ultimately, libraries must strike a balance between tradition and innovation, while ensuring access, transparency, and accountability.
Q. What do you think is the biggest barrier to pushing for more equity and diversity in libraries today?
A. There are obvious challenges to advancing equity and diversity in academic libraries, including systemic biases, lack of leadership commitment, limited funding for related initiatives, and resistance to change. It is important to develop proper policies and procedures to make hiring practices more ethically acceptable. Furthermore, marginalized staff often lack advancement opportunities, making it seem as though it is better to remain invisible. Additionally, working to resolve these issues should have a well-recognized and valued place within the organization.
Q. What does your typical day look like in your current position?
A. Currently, I serve as a subject specialist for Computer Science, Engineering and Engineering Technology, Mathematical Sciences, and Statistical and Actuarial Sciences, holding the rank of professor. My typical day reflects the responsibilities outlined in my job description: librarianship, research, and service.
Working with eight academic departments—each offering programs up to the Ph.D. level—is both interesting and challenging, though it can be time-consuming. Among my various responsibilities, I most enjoy assisting students and supporting faculty, which I do in multiple formats and locations.
Additionally, I find my active research program to be particularly inspiring. Participation in library, university, state, and national committees also contributes to a dynamic and engaging workday.
Q. Which three titles that have earned a space on your personal or professional bookshelf?
A. One particularly special reading was Sendas de Libertad, written in the 1940s by an attorney in Bogotá—my uncle, Virgilio Osorio González. Although not widely known, it is a beautiful work that highlights the importance of strong personal values in achieving freedom and success.
Research Methods in Information by Alison J. Pickard is a valuable guide for those working on research projects in LIS and related fields. The author considers research to be a “fundamental part of the information professional’s” role.
More recently, Stephen Witt’s book The Thinking Machine: Jensen Huang, Nvidia, and the World's Most Coveted Microchip arrived at just the right time. It tells a compelling story about the challenges of technological developments, as well as the creativity and collaboration of those involved. The book also delivers a powerful message about the awe-inspiring—and at times terrifying—future of AI, which Huang has called the “next industrial revolution.”
iREAD Summer Reading Programs
Latest Library JobLine Listings
