Cristina Caminita, Assistant Librarian in the LSU Libraries' Reference Department, has been named an Emerging Leader by the American Library Association (ALA). The 2013 class of Emerging Leaders will be the seventh in the program, which was instituted under ALA Past President Leslie Burger.
Designed to enable library staff and information workers from across the country to participate in project planning workgroups, The Emerging Leaders program allows participants to: network with peers; gain an inside look into ALA structure; and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity early in their careers.

Cristina writes, "Participation in the Emerging Leaders program will broaden my knowledge of the issues facing academic libraries and introduce me to the established leaders in the profession. In my experience at the state and local levels, I’ve found that having access to the best information and the leaders tasked with collecting, studying, and reporting that information has made my job as a librarian far easier. I also feel that participating in the program will continue to develop my understanding of library and information services from local to international levels. Understanding how these services operate and being acquainted with their leaders and staff will enhance my ability to provide research assistance and instruction to my students and colleagues."

Emerging Leaders must be new library professionals of any age with fewer than five years of experience working at a professional or paraprofessional level in a library. The ALA selects no more than fifty leaders each year. Participants must attend both ALA conferences, work virtually in between the two conferences, and be prepared to commit to serve on professional committees.

Caminita received her MLIS from LSU’s School of Library and Information Science in 2006 and earned an MA in English in 2002. She has worked as a records management consultant for Access Sciences Corporation and as a General Services Librarian and Instructor at Baton Rouge Community College. She has many years of experience teaching English Composition and Library User Instruction and has received local and national awards for teaching, including the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence in Teaching Award.