The 2025 Resident Librarian Retreat brought together early-career librarians, residency coordinators, and library leaders from across the East Coast and Mid-Atlantic for two days of professional growth, collaboration, and community building. The annual retreat was hosted by the University Libraries at Virginia Tech and organized by Eric Glenn, director of organizational development, and Roberto Silva, head of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute Health Sciences and Technology Library. It served as a gathering space for residents to share experiences, strengthen skills, and envision future career pathways.
Participating academic libraries hire early-career librarians into full-time positions in intensive residency programs, where residents explore various disciplines within the library profession that align with their interests and professional goals. The residency program is designed to bridge the gap between graduate education and career success.
“With few structured venues for resident librarians to interact across institutions,” said Glenn, “this retreat filled a critical gap, offering an environment that blended professional development with candid dialogue and peer support.”
As Dean Tyler Walters of University Libraries at Virginia Tech emphasized in his opening remarks, the shared goal was to “foster meaningful connections, support professional development, and build a stronger, more collaborative network” of residents and coordinators.
This year’s retreat drew 19 participants representing institutions including Virginia Tech, Duke University, North Carolina State University, American University, Drexel University, and Washington & Lee University. Residents came from a variety of library contexts, including data curation, business librarianship, information literacy, and resource description, bringing diverse perspectives and ambitions.
“Overall, participants found the entire retreat to be both practical and motivational, equipping them with concrete skills while fostering community and inspiration,” said Glenn.
According to participant feedback surveys, several retreat sessions stood out as particularly influential. Catalina Piatt-Esguerra’s workshop, “From Paper to People: Elevate Your CV and Expand Your Network,” provided participants with practical advice for strengthening their resumes while also emphasizing the importance of building professional relationships. The session resonated with attendees, many of whom said they feel better prepared to communicate their skills and connect strategically across the profession.
Also popular was the concurrent “Resident Roundtable” and “Coordinator Strategy Session.” According to Glenn, these parallel discussions allowed residents to speak openly about their experiences and challenges while coordinators explored ways to refine residency structures.
The “Career Arc Panel,” featuring library leaders Nancy Kirkpatrick, Tina Rollins, Emily Hurst, and Mark Puente, was another high point. Panelists shared candid stories about career growth, leadership development, and navigating change within the library sector. According to resident feedback, hearing such transparency from established leaders sparked reflection among attendees on their own aspirations and pathways forward.
Another practical session, “Impact to the Profession: Receiving and Managing Grants,” with Aisha Johnson, Nicole Cooke, and Cyndee Landrum demystified the grant writing process and underscored the importance of pursuing funding opportunities early in a librarian’s career. Resident feedback also noted that this session helped them be more confident in applying for grants.
Beyond the formal sessions, participants also had the opportunity for lighthearted connections, such as the team-building “Fail Ball” activity and the evening reception, which featured food, music, and networking.
This is the second year that Glenn and Silva have organized a retreat for resident librarians to connect and learn from one another and library leaders. The University of Virginia Library hosted the 2024 retreat.
Looking ahead, retreat organizers have connected with the Association of College and Research Libraries to build on the retreat experiences that have already been meaningful and impactful for early-career library professionals.