Perspectives from MLIS Students on the 2026 Northeast Science Camp for Librarians

Posted by kimberlycarlo on September 7th, 2026 Posted in: Blog

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Northeast Science Camp for Librarians (formerly known as “New England Science Boot Camp for Librarians”) is an annual multi-day in-person experience that centers around the life sciences, physical sciences, and health sciences. This experience allows opportunities for networking amongst science librarians in the Northeast (however, anyone can attend). The lectures are usually presented by faculty at the hosting institution. On June 8-10, 2026, the conference was held at the University of New Hampshire and the topics included “Indigenous Knowledge in Life Science”, “Particle and Theoretical Physics”, and “Social Work for Wellness”. The capstone presentation was on “Librarian Publishing: Publishing in the Discipline, Research Impact, and Writing”. No matter where you are in your librarianship journey, you will learn something new at this conference!

I have had the privilege to interview two people who attended the 2026 Northeast Science Camp for Librarians. These perspectives are from current students working towards their MLIS.

 

Could you tell me about yourself and what you are doing in your current position at work/major at your university? (Feel free to include your scholarly interests)

Tetrah Clark, Access Services Coordinator at the College of the Holy Cross Dinand Library. I am taking my last two classes for my MLIS. My focuses are information policy, access and storage as well as critical librarianship.

Shelby Whittet, Graduate Student at Valdosta State University MLIS (anticipated May 2027). I am interested in a science-based liaison position and hope to be able to support students, faculty, and staff in using science for positive change.

 

How did you hear about the Northeast Science Camp for Librarians 2026 conference? Why did you choose to attend this event?

Tetrah: A colleague referred me to the scholarship program. I wanted an opportunity to talk with and understand reference librarianship better because my work experiences are with access services.

Shelby: I heard about Science Library Camp through my internship placement. I had expressed interest in science librarianship – specifically supporting veterinary students- and one of the Research & Instruction librarians thought I might enjoy this opportunity. The more I read about it, the more excited I was to be able to participate and network with people doing what I would love to do.

 

How have you applied what you learned at the event to your work/studies? (If not applied yet, feel free to discuss your future with what you have learned)

Tetrah: In the future, I hope that these experiences will help support movement into reference and teaching roles in the library.

Shelby: My biggest takeaway from this experience has been forming new relationships with people who have quickly become mentors. I regularly communicate with them through email and have also done some follow-up in person visits. As I have started applying for jobs, they have been incredibly patient and supportive with providing guidance on the process. These mentors have sent job postings, helped review my CV, and have helped me strategize for answering interview questions. These relationships and what I have learned from them have allowed me to confidently step into the application process.

 

Did you find the event to be useful for networking with others?

Tetrah: I absolutely found this event to be great for networking but also skill sharing. Understanding the events and programs that other libraries offer helped me advocate for ideas my library was proposing. Knowing about trends in services and attitudes before reading a published study was also valuable.

Shelby: Absolutely! My favorite part of the experience was the ability to connect with people that have now become mentors. I am incredibly grateful for this experience as it has brought some wonderful people and new opportunities into my life. The opportunity to attend a conference all day, eat every meal together and then bunk in the same dorm seems to lead to fast friendships.

 

What were some noteworthy moments during the event for you?

Tetrah: During the final dinner, a group of librarians and I discussed reader advisory services and what we were currently reading. We spent a lot of time talking about romance and paranormal romance books!

Shelby: Outside of the connections made, I really enjoyed the presentation after dinner. The amount of passion the professor had was amazing; she was a very engaging speaker and I think did a great job captivating everyone with material that was accessible. I also enjoyed the tour of the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping. As a UNH alum, I did not even know that building was there, or the magnitude of the work they are doing. Seeing the space, and all the technology they have available was really wonderful!

 

Do you have any advice for those who are considering attending the next Northeast Science Camp for Librarians conference?

Tetrah: My advice to future attendees is to build in time to enjoy the host campus! There was so much to explore and enjoy around the University of New Hampshire. Talk to the librarians who are working at the libraries but not running the event and email presenters with kudos or questions. From my experience, if someone didn’t have an answer to an email question, they were able to refer you to someone who did.

Shelby: My advice is to attend! As a graduate student, it’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with people in the field. It is an opportunity to connect with people who may be open to acting as a mentor, or to find people who may know of upcoming job openings. If you’re already in the field, I believe it would be a wonderful experience to re-connect with colleagues in a fun and accessible way.