Amigos Adjunct Trainer Spotlight: Elizabeth J. Szkirpan
Elizabeth J. Szkirpan (she/her) didn't just find her way into librarianship—she grew up in it. When we caught up with Elizabeth, she shared how her local public library was a second home, a place where she checked out stacks of books and CDs and even submitted her college applications from a public library computer. That early connection sparked a lifelong passion for libraries and ultimately led her to her current role at Harvard Business School's Baker Library, where she works at the intersection of collections management, electronic resources, data analytics, policy, and artificial intelligence.
Elizabeth's career path has been anything but linear, and that's part of what makes her approach so dynamic. She's worked in reference and instruction, technical services, corporate bookkeeping, congressional archives, and contract instruction. "Each experience has shaped how I teach and how I think about library services," she told us. "I'm always looking for ways to make learning practical and centered on the librarian's real-world needs."
We asked Elizabeth what inspires her most about teaching, and her answer was simple: collaboration. "No single librarian has all the answers," she said. "Teaching gives me the chance to share what I’ve learned and learn from others at the same time."
Elizabeth is proud to teach with Amigos Library Services, an organization that helped shape her early career through accessible, affordable training. Now, she's part of that same mission—empowering library professionals with meaningful, community-centered learning opportunities.
Her contributions to the field haven't gone unnoticed. Elizabeth has received the Oklahoma NextGen Under 30 Award, the Mountain Plains Library Association Beginning Professional Award, and was named a Library Journal Mover & Shaker in the Advocates category. These honors reflect her commitment to innovation, advocacy, and the evolving role of libraries in higher education.
When we asked how she stays current, Elizabeth emphasized the importance of continual growth. She's actively involved in professional associations and committees, keeps up with literature and listservs, and attends conferences and webinars. With her current work deeply focused on artificial intelligence, she's exploring how traditional library practices—especially in collections and licensing—can be reimagined through an AI lens.
Check out Elizabeth's upcoming course, Introduction to Library Acquisitions on December 4 from 1:00-3:00 pm CT.
If you are interested in serving as an adjunct instructor for Amigos, contact learning@amigos.org to learn more.
