Kay Slater
()Creative Technology Specialist
Oak Park Public Library
Chicago, IL
Public
Previous Positions
| Title | Organization | Dates Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Creative Technology Specialist | Oak Park Public Library | 2023 - Present |
| Junior Fellow | Library of Congress | 2025 |
| Library Clerk | Chicago Public Library | 2021 - 2023 |
Degrees and Certifications
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, MSLIS, 2024; University of Illinois Communication, MA Communication 2021; School of the Art Institute of Chicago, BFA New Media/Visual Critical Studies 2018
ALA and/or ALA APA Activities
ALA Emerging Leader 2025
Offices held
Society of American Archivists, Chair, Students and New Professionals Section, 2025-2026
Society of American Archivists, Communications Liaison, Electronic Records Section, 2024-2027
Honors and Awards
2025 Winner of the Annual Library Juice Paper Contest
Publications
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Slater, Kailyn. "Against AI: Critical Refusal in the Library." Library Trends 73, no. 4 (2025): 588-608. https://doi.org/10.1353/lib.2025.a968497. |
| 2025 | Slater, Kailyn. Review of Journalism History and Digital Archives, by Henrik Bødker. The American Archivist 87, no. 2 (2025): 480-483. https://doi.org/10.17723/2327-9702-87.2.480. |
Statement
As Vice President, my goal is to engage directly with new members, students, and early-career workers within the ALA, supporting programming that creates connections, alleviates the pressure of the job search, and provides spaces for belonging. In 2025, I was an Emerging Leader; our project focused on understanding what the costs are for Core members to start or continue volunteering. Members repeatedly told us that they wanted to get more value from their membership with Core, and with ALA at large, especially for folks whose professional development funding has gotten smaller and smaller each fiscal year.
How can we make sure that new members feel welcomed and see longevity in their involvement with the largest association for library workers? How can we build together, sustainably, and on our terms? In an adjacent role to the Vice President, I've played a key role in revitalizing the Students and New Professionals Section of the Society of American Archivists as the 2025-26 Chair. We've promoted member engagement with publishing opportunities, and produced programs on job market materials, certificate programs within SAA, and drop-in "SNAP-py hours" to meet fellow LIS/archives workers. We've built relationships with other Sections and Subcommittees to connect with student chapters, organizers of standards of graduate programs, and member-leaders focused on issues within and affecting the profession.
I intend to bring the same mission of leadership and advocacy that is centered on workers to NMRT, especially in a time of fear, lack of funding, and disinformation, and in response to ALA's new strategic plan. The foundation of ALA is here, with the New Members Round Table, and I am ready and willing to serve as your Vice President.
Links
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kay-slater/