May 11, 2020
K-State Libraries hires new scholarly communication and copyright librarian
Emily Finch has joined K-State Libraries as a scholarly communication and copyright librarian. As a part of the Center for the Advancement of Digital Scholarship, Finch will assist the university community with open access initiatives and copyright support.
Finch said she was drawn to her new role because it aligned well with her skills and interests.
"I wanted to work somewhere that fit my interests in publishing and copyright, and also wanted to work somewhere where I felt I could grow and contribute to programs as they grow over time," Finch said. "K-State hit all of my check boxes, and I can't wait to dig in."
In her position, Finch will advocate for copyright education and point students and faculty to the right resources when they have questions about copyright laws or publishing. She also will help create new programming for the Libraries and share the importance of open access programs with instructors. Finch said she is excited to help grow the Open/Alternative Textbook Initiative, or Textbooks 2.0, a K-State initiative that provides financial support for instructors who wish to write their own textbooks or provide free learning materials to students in lieu of traditional, costly textbooks.
Finch said her passion for open educational resources stems from her own time in school, where she witnessed several peers and friends struggle to manage the costs of textbooks and other learning materials. She believes that open educational resources can help instructors be more innovative with their instruction; for example, a traditional biology textbook might instead become a series of videos and online tutorials built to help guide students through exercises. Making changes to academia isn't easy, Finch said, but it's important to explore options that make higher education more accessible to everyone.
"Open educational resources have the potential to positively impact everyone, no matter where they are in the world," Finch said. "It's a solution that can help break down barriers for those who want to learn."
Finch holds a bachelor's degree in English and history from Kalamazoo College, and a Master of Science in information from the University of Michigan's School of Information. She is currently pursuing a certificate in museum studies from the University of Michigan's Rackham Graduate School.