Aaisha N.

Haykal

EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana-Champaign, IL...................May 2011

Master of Science in Library and Information Science, with a certificate in Community Informatics and a
Graduate Minor in African American Studies

Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY...............May 2009

Bachelor of Arts in English and Textual Studies
Summa Cum Laude
Thesis: Exposing the Fantasies of Life: How Power and Racism is Maintained in the Banning of Black
Authors in Americas Schools and Libraries

Bachelor of Arts in African-American Studies

Thesis: Redefining Activism: Toni Morrison as a Part of the Legacy of Ida B. Wells and Black Women
Writers of the Harlem Renaissance

ARCHIVAL EXPERIENCE

Avery Research Center, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC

Manager of Archival Services.October 2016-present
Supervise five employees, including faculty, staff, students, and interns as they process and
digitize collections, conduct instruction sessions, and outreach activities
Project leader on the Centers HVAC renovation
Implement and enforce policies and procedures
Provide reference assistance in person, via e-mail, and phone to researchers, who are interested in
African American history and American history
Appraise collections for inclusion in the archives, specifically those that document the lived
experiences of African Americans in South Carolina and specifically in Charleston, SC
Assist in setting strategic priorities for the National Historical Publications and Records
Commission grant project entitled Digitizing Twentieth Century Civil Rights Collections from
the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture in Charleston, South
Carolina

Chicago State University Archives and Special Collections, Chicago, IL

University ArchivistAugust 2012-September 2016
Supervise four to five employees, including civil service, part-time, volunteers, interns, and
students as they process collections
Encode archival (EAD) finding aids in the Eloquent Archives collection management system
according to DACS
Develop public programs including lectures, exhibits, orientations, and conferences in order to
increase awareness of the archival collections
Develop social media (Facebook and Twitter) posts in order to communicate to library and
archive audiences
Implemented policies and procedures for the records and information management program on
campus as well as for the Archives and Special Collections

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 Advise the Chicago State University Foundation about suitable and potential archival collections
that meet our collection development policy; and appraise collections for inclusion in the
archives, specifically those that document the lived experiences of African Americans on the
South Side of Chicago
Present workshops on records management for campus departments and administrators,
developed workflows and a Records and Information Management advisory committee in order
to increase compliance with state and federal records mandates
Provide reference assistance in person, via e-mail, and phone to researchers, who are interested in
African American history, University history, and American history
Served as the partner lead on an IMLS National Leadership grant called Preserving (Digital)
Objects with Restricted Resources (POWRR), which aimed to investigate solutions to digital
preservation for small to mid-sized institutions
Conduct basic preservation techniques for text and photographs; assess condition of documents
and recommend strategies for reformatting, including digitization. Manage internal and
outsourcing of digital projects including metadata creation
Serve as the African American Studies liaison and work with faculty to select new print and
electronic books and journals to be added to the library collection
Create and maintain LibGuides that provides information on the department, collections, external
resources, and Records Management

Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture, Charleston, SC
IMLS Processing and Outreach Archival Fellow.....Sept. 2011-June 2012
Arranged, described, and created EAD finding aids for African American archival collections
using NoteTab software and transformed them into MARC using MarcEdit software
Developed outreach initiatives that included writing blog posts that expanded upon archival
collections, maintained social media platforms for communication purposes, and created public
programs
Co-conducted archival workshops for local community organizations, such as the Caw Caw
Nature & History Interpretive Center
Administered an oral history project called Black in the Lowcountry, which interviewed
Charleston, SC youth about their lived experiences and thoughts on growing up in the
Lowcountry

The Doris K. Wylie Hoskins Archive on Cultural Diversity, Mahomet, IL

Archival Consultant........Feb. 2011-May 2011
Worked on several projects including digitizing photographs and text documents in order to
facilitate greater public accessibility; and created a traveling instructional kit to be used in local
primary and secondary schools to familiarize them with primary sources and develop greater
information literacy skills

Volunteer...Sept. 2009-Nov. 2009

Conducted a record inventory and began a project to digitize photographs and text documents
relating to the Black community in Champaign County with the Society of American Archivists
at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Promoted the Archives holdings by uploading the items to eBlackCU (www.eBlackCU.net) to
be used by community members, students, faculty, and researchers

Central Illinois Mosque and Islamic Center (CIMIC)

On-call Archival Consultant.Sept. 2009-May 2010
Collaborated with organizations leaders and group members to survey organizational records
Advised community members about archival procedures
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 Created an archival strategy outlining possible donation possibilities and next steps, which was
submitted to the executive board
Contributed to the Champaign County Historical Archive initiative of documenting the people
and communities of Champaign County

National Archives and Records Administration-Great Lakes Region, Chicago, IL

Summer Intern...June 2009-Aug. 2009
Identified possible preservation issues with the Bureau of Indian Affairs records through a
preservation survey
Completed holdings maintenance, arrangement, and description of Hayward Indian School
records that were previously unknown

LIBRARY EXPERIENCE

University of California, San Diego University Libraries, La Jolla, CA

Association of Research Libraries-Career Enhancement Program Fellow.. June 2010-Aug. 2010
Created a detailed inventory of ~2.3TB digital files (text, image, video, and audio) donated by the
inSite project, which explored art in relation to the San Diego-Tijuana border region
Acquired knowledge from experienced information professionals in regards to the process of
preserving digital resources and in organizing, planning, and implementing a digital project
Participated in a library initiative of expanding their digital access management system

Mosaic Literary Magazine, Bronx, NY

Intern......Nov. 2009-March 2010
Developed an inventory of academic libraries (1,412 institutions) and public libraries (1,249
institutions) to help the magazine increase its library subscription base

Syracuse University Library-Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, Syracuse, NY

Library Assistant .Sept. 2007- May 2009
Managed the circulation desk and assisted patrons with technology issues in the computer lab
Completed stack maintenance on a routine basis and collection development duties as needed
Assessed student and faculty research needs and provided instruction in how to use the library
catalog and databases to find relevant resources
Provided reference service to library patrons on a week day and weekend basis
Worked closely with the librarian in order to expand the Gender and Environmental Justice
Special Collection

Syracuse University Library-Bird Library, Syracuse, NY

Shelver...Sept. 2005-May 2009
Maintained organization of books in library by re-shelving books in LOC call number order
Advanced the relevancy of the library by delivering research materials to faculty on campus and
satellite locations

Congressional Research Service at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC

Summer Intern...June 2008-Aug. 2008
Updated vendor addresses in the acquisitions module of Voyager and assisted with the annual
serial (print and electronic) subscription renewal process
Helped to check-in serial publications, process Government Printing Office titles for labeling on a
daily basis for research analysts to use as they wrote their reports for Congress
Summer Intern...June 2007-Aug. 2007
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 Worked in acquisitions module of Voyager acquisitions system to update the serial renewal dates
and vendor information daily
Cross-referenced financial records and organized Congressional Hearings for binding in order to
provide access to the material for research analysts

African and Middle Eastern Division of the Library of Congress (AMED), Washington, DC
Summer Intern.......June 2008-Aug. 2008
Designed invitations and flyers using Microsoft Publisher in preparation for a symposium to
honor the 50th anniversary of Chinua Achebes novel Things Fall Apart
Created address and e-mail mailing lists of Africana, African-American, and literature scholars in
order to publicize and promote the symposium
Summer Intern...June 2007-Aug. 2007
Compiled research on African National and Regional Governmental Organizations as well as
United Nations organizations that have relations with Africa to develop an online research guide
Planned, prepared, and publicized an exhibit that used books and ephemeral from the librarys
collection for a symposium on Liberian-United States Relations: Past, Present, and Future

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

African-American Studies Department, Urbana-Champaign, IL

Teaching Assistant (TA) for AFRO 102: Researching the African-American Experience,
Professor: Thomas Weissinger, Associate Professor of Library Administration & African-American
Studies...Spring 2010 and 2011
Graded and commented on students papers, quizzes, and worksheets
Assisted students both in and outside of class with their research and assignment questions and
concerns
Provided bibliographic instruction materials to increase awareness and use of library resources
relating to African American Studies and history
Developed study guides for class quizzes and led review sessions
Created an Excel spreadsheet that verified bibliographic citations for books, periodicals,
government documents and other materials.
Projects
Spring 2011: Added content to and edited the titles, descriptors, notes, and other fields
of the African-American Studies Centers Bibliographic Guide to Black Caribbean
Literature n RefWorks
Spring 2010: Updated library finding aid related to 20th century Black Radical
Pamphlets by adding 150-200 new titles

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Rebuild Foundation, Chicago, IL

Archival Consultant....April 2016
Host workshop for community member on archiving and digitizing photographs
Assisted in choosing an online platform to provide access to community donated photos

Urban Juncture, Chicago, IL

The Forum History Team.March 2014-present
Researching the history of The Forum, a historic building located in the Bronzeville community
in Chicago, IL at 43rd and Calumet
Managing the process for placing The Forum on the National Register for Historic Places

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TAG Foundation, Chicago, IL
Archival Consultant....Nov. 2015-present
Advise on archival practices in relation to the Chicago Defender photographic archives

The Urbana Free Library, Urbana, IL

Technology Volunteer...Sept. 2009-May 2011
Instructed patrons, in person, on use of the operating software and hardware, how to perform
internet searches, etc. to improve their information and electronic literacy

The Black Voice, Syracuse, NY

News Editor.............Jan. 2007-May 2009
Wrote articles for the only Black student-oriented paper and created article topics
Edited reporters articles and had one-on-one sessions to assist and instruct them in how to create
credible, accurate, and well-written news articles
Collaborated with newspaper editorial board to decide upon theme(s) and events

SELECTED HONORS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Recipient, Institute of Museum and Library Services-Rare Book School Fellowship, 2015
Association of Research Libraries-Career Enhancement Program (CEP) Fellow, 2009-2010
Recipient, Institute of Museum and Library Services Grant-Community Informatics Corps: The
Next Generation, Community Informatics Fellowship, 2009
Recipient, American Library Association Spectrum Scholarship, 2009
Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, 2007-2009

PRESENTATIONS

I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means: Differing Conceptions of the Archive at
the 2017 Society of American Archivists Annual Conference in Portland, OR, July 2017
Challenges in Accessing African American Studies Resources at the 2016 Association for the
Study of African American Life and History Annual Meeting in Richmond, VA, October 2016
Preserving the Beats: Collecting Hip-Hop at the 2015 Association for the Study of African
American Life and History Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA, September 2015
The Limits and Potential of Our Work in Times and Spaces of Scarcity: Archives and Black
Feminists at 2015 Feminist Theory and Music (FTM) Conference in Madison, WI, August 2015
Continuing the lifecycle of digital scholarship: Digital Preservation and African American
Studies at 2014 American Library Association Conference in Las Vegas, June 2014
Adapting the ARL Leadership Symposium Experience: Enhancing Diversity Through
Discussion at 2013 Society of American Archivists Annual Conference in New Orleans, August
2013
Preserving (Digital) Objects with Restricted Resources (POWRR) at 2013 American Library
Association Annual Conference in Chicago, IL, June-July 2013
Who to Trust? Community Archives and African American Archivists at 2012 Association for
the Study of African American Life and History Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh, PA, September
2012
Doris K. Wylie Hoskins Archive and its Status as a Community Archive at the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Community Archives Brown Bag, 2011
Reflections on Community Informatics Curriculum Development, 2010 iSchools Conference at
the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2010

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 Central Illinois Mosque and Islamic Center and its Status as a Community Archive at the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Community Archives Brown Bag, 2009
Survival Tasks and Group Productivity: Second Life and Face-to-Face, 2009 McNair Research
Symposium at Syracuse University, 2009
Survival Tasks and Group Productivity: Second Life and Face-to-Face, 2009 Virtual World
Best Practices in Education on ISTE Island in SecondLife, 2009
Low Enrollment of Women and Minorities in the Information Technology (IT) Major, 2008
McNair Research Symposium at Syracuse University, 2008

CONFERENCES

Presenter, 2017 Society of American Archivists Annual Conference in Portland, OR, July 2017
Local Arrangements Committee, C
Program Committee, 2017 Midwest Archives Conference in Omaha, NE, April 2017
Attendee, 2016 Charleston Conference in Charleston, SC, November 2016
Attendee, 2016 Society of American Archivists Annual Conference in Atlanta, GA, August 2016
Attendee, 2015 Society of American Archivists Annual Conference in Cleveland, OH, August
2015
Attendee, 2014 Society of American Archivists Annual Conference in Washington, DC, August
2014
Attendee, 2015 Rare Books and Manuscripts Section (RBMS) Conference, Oakland, CA, June
2015
Presenter, 2014 Association for Study of African American Life and History in Memphis, TN,
September 2014
Presenter, 2012 Society of American Archivists Annual Conference in San Diego, August 2012
Attendee, 2011 Society of American Archivists Annual Conference in Chicago, IL, August 2011
Attendee, 2010 American Library Association Annual Conference in Washington, DC, June 2010
Moderator, Organizer, and Author, 2010 iSchools Conference at the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign, February 2010
Attendee, 2009 American Library Association Annual Conference in Chicago, IL, July 2009
Attendee, 2008 American Library Association Annual Conference in Anaheim, CA, June-July
2008

PUBLICATIONS

Articles
Haykal, Aaisha. Using Social Media and Web 2.0 Tools in an African-American Repository.
The Primary Source (February 2012).
Haykal, Aaisha. Aaisha Haykal: Avery Research Center Fellow. Archivists and Archives of
Color Roundtable Newsletter 2012, 12-13.

Book Chapter
Haykal, Aaisha. Librarian-Activist and Preserving Black Community History. In Mentors You
Should Know: Selected Essays and Biographies about Recession 21, Careers, Challenges,
Family, Life, the Future and More, edited by Linda Saylor-Marchant, 18-25. Savannah: 44
Enterprise Publishers, 2011.

FEATURED INTERVIEWS

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 Interviewed by Kate Sager for the Olean Times Herald piece entitled, Preserving African
American History February 19, 2012.
Interviewed by John Thomas for The Villager (Ellicottville, NY) piece entitled, Up Close and
Personal: Aaisha Haykal February 16, 2012.
Interviewed by Diane Knich for The Charleston Post and Courier piece entitled, Living the
history-Archivist makes NAACP papers accessible January 24, 2012.
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2012/jan/24/living-the-history/

PROFESSIONAL AND BOARD MEMBERSHIPS (alphabetical order)

American Library Association, 2008-present

Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), 2011-present
Position held: Secretary, Chicago Branch of the Association for the Study of African
American Life and History, 2013-present; Co-Chair and Webmaster of the Information
Professionals of ASALH, 2016-present
Association of College and Research Libraries, 2008-2016
Association of Research Libraries/Society of American Archivists Mosaic Scholarship Selection
Committee, 2016-present
Beta Phi Mu, Alpha Chapter, 2012-present
Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA), 2009-2013
Black Chicago History Forum, 2012-present
Black Metropolis Research Consortium (BMRC), 2015-2016
Position held: Board Member and Secretary, 2015-2016
Chicago Area Archivists, 2012-present
Position held: Co-Chair of Professional Development Subcommittee, 2013-2016
Digital Preserving (Digital) Objects with Restricted Resources (POWRR) Institute Curriculum
Advisory Board, 2017-present
Illinois State Historical Records Advisory Board, 2015-2016
Midwest Archivists Conference (MAC), 2016-present
Position held: Member of 2017 MAC Program Committee (Omaha, NE), 2016-2017
Society of American Archivists, 2010-present
Positions held: Junior Co-Chair (2014-2015) and Senior Co-Chair of the Archivists and
Archives Roundtable (AACR) (2015-2016); Nominating Committee, 2017-present
Society of American Archivists Student Chapter at UIUC, 2009-2011
Special Library Association Student Chapter at UIUC, 2009-2011

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Rare Book School (RBS) Course: C-30 Developing Collections: Donors, Libraries & Booksellers
at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, June 2015
Protecting Collections: Writing a Disaster Response Plan Online course through Heritage
Preservations Connecting to Collections, March 2013

COMPUTER SKILLS

Software: Eloquent, Omeka, DataAccessioner, Weebly, WordPress, Adobe Photoshop, Paint.Net,

NoteTab, Blogger, FileMaker, and Oxygen
Created a QR code flyer that advertised the Avery Research Centers blog, Facebook page, and
web site

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 Used Weebly to create an online exhibit for the National Council of Negro Women
(http://nationalcouncilofnegrowomen.weebly.com/) in Champaign County, the site makes use of
archival documents; makes connections between the women of the organization; and also
connects the work done by women in the past to the struggles of the modern Black woman
Created a Wikispaces wiki for the Salem Baptist Church in Champaign, IL resulting in a
collaborative space for the congregation where their history, photos, and events can be shared
Created blog sites using Wordpress and DreamHost for Prairienet, an online, interactive part of
the Community Informatics Initiative, in order to increase awareness of community informatics
projects among the public and to facilitate communication between students and community
members

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