Sol Antonio Gómez
Tucson,USA
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Department Head Librarian
Pima Community College
Tucson, USA
07.2018 - Current
- Fostered collaborative environment by partnering with Desert Vista Campus faculty and staff to enhance student learning, engagement, and success.
- Increased library instruction in Desert Vista Campus classrooms by 92% during AY 2018–2019, followed by an additional 23% increase during AY 2019–2020.
- Embedded library instruction and support in 40+ courses each semester, including dual enrollment courses, to integrate information literacy into the curriculum.
- Led campus library in achieving College Library goals by modeling engagement, building high-performing teams, articulating vision, and implementing creative problem-solving strategies.
- Directed instructional programming of campus library, planning, promoting, and delivering information literacy instruction across in-person, online, and hybrid modalities.
- Analyze and apply library and institutional data to inform decisions related to library services, staffing, facilities, and resource allocation.
- Represent the campus library on the Library Leadership Team, collaborating with the College Director of Libraries to develop and implement College Library initiatives that promote student learning and success.
- Serve as the Dual Enrollment and Adult Basic Education Librarian Liaison, developing and supporting library services and instructional partnerships for these programs.
- Directly supervise one faculty librarian and a total library staff of three, providing leadership, mentoring, scheduling, and operational oversight.
- Develop and deliver tailored library instruction aligned with course objectives, faculty needs, and student learning outcomes, integrating discipline-specific research strategies and information literacy skills into classroom instruction.
Director, Law Library
Arizona Superior Court in Pima County
Tucson, USA
01.2013 - 07.2018
- Appointed Director of the Law Library without prior law library or legal-sector experience; rapidly developed expertise in legal research, law library operations, and specialized user needs while effectively leading the library from the outset.
- Within five years, transformed and strengthened law library services by identifying underserved populations and implementing more inclusive, responsive services to better meet the needs of all library users, including Spanish-speaking patrons who had previously been underserved.
- Assisted Arizona Supreme Court in developing a plan for electronic legal forms in Spanish statewide.
- Facilitated committee meetings to redesign law library services based on user feedback and service gaps.
- Secured 26% savings across three budgets for collections and legal forms, optimizing resource allocation.
- Accomplished three projects aligned with superior court's strategic plan as access and services committee leader.
- Updated thirty-five legal form packets, simplifying language to improve accessibility for users.
Librarian I - Librarian III
Pima County Public Library
Tucson, USA
02.2006 - 12.2012
- Instructed over 100 monolingual Spanish speakers enrolled in the Tecnolόgico de Monterrey online computer course; maintained a retention rate of 75% with a graduation rate of 50%.
- Facilitated four community forums, including one in Spanish, to gather input for Pima County Public Library's 2009-2013 strategic plan.
- As a member of the Pima County Community Health Task Force, helped provide health literacy outreach to surrounding communities.
- Collaborated with University of Arizona's College of Nursing to support a student community project focused on documenting strategies to enhance health literacy.
- Collaborated with the University of Arizona Honors College to provide bilingual computer instruction focusing on job search skills.
- Engaged with community organizations to identify relevant services for residents. and neighborhood groups to elicit input on desired services.
- Managed and coordinated workload priorities, monitored resource levels, and established timelines.
- Directly supervised up to four librarians and a total staff of fifteen.
Interim Knowledge River Co-Coordinator of Student Support
University of Arizona School of Information & Resource Science
Tucson, USA
01.2007 - 01.2008
- Coordinated recruitment and admission processes for 2008 Knowledge River cohort, enhancing applicant selection.
- Evaluated student needs and connected them with academic advisors to ensure proper support and guidance.
Children's Librarian
City of Tucson Pima Public Library
Tucson, USA
06.2005 - 01.2006
- Led interactive storytimes at local schools to foster a love for reading and improve literacy among students.
- Collaborated with teachers, parents, and community groups to develop and organize engaging programming for children and families.
- Delivered reference services, facilitated story times, and provided computer instruction to enhance literacy and digital skills.
Intermittent Librarian
City of Tucson Pima Public Library
Tucson, USA
02.2005 - 05.2005
- Facilitated access to information for patrons in predominantly Spanish-speaking community. in a predominantly Spanish-speaking community.
Knowledge River Assistantship
University of Arizona Health Sciences Library
Tucson, USA
01.2004 - 12.2004
- Conducted inventory of special collections to enhance resource accessibility.
- Assisted in research using PubMed, WebMD, and MedlinePlus for data analysis.
Education
Master of Arts - Information Resources and Library Science
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ12-2004
Bachelor of Arts - Spanish Literature, minor in Latin American Studies
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ12-2001
Skills
- Information literacy instruction
- Library management
- Research assistance
- Faculty collaboration
- Community outreach
- Team leadership
- Strategic planning
Selected Media
- Vanderpool, Tim. “The Equality of Knowledge: An innovative UA library program aims to make libraries inviting to all.” Tucson Weekly, 29 July 2011,
- Duarte, Carmen. “4 Pima County Librarians Get Service Awards.” Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, AZ), 26 Dec. 2009
- Fimbres, Gabrielle. "LIGHTEN UP." Tucson Citizen, Apr 17 2009.
- "Letters to the Editor." Tucson Citizen, Apr 28 2009.
- Avila, Salvador. Crash Course in Serving Spanish-Speakers. Libraries Unlimited, 2008. ABC-CLIO, publisher.abc-clio.com/9781598847963. Ch. 9, p. 60.
- "Paying it Forward." Library Journal 133.5 (2008): 8. ProQuest. Web. 8 Sep. 2022.
- LoMonaco, Claudine. "UA Pushes for More Minority Librarians: Federal Aid Drying Up; Private Funding Sought." Tucson Citizen, Jan 04 2007.
Professional Memberships Service
- Association of College & Research Libraries, 2020 - 2021, 2022, Poster Workshops Committee, 2020
- American Library Association, 2004 - 2021, 2022, Committee on Diversity (appointed), 2012 - 2014, Councilor-at-Large (elected by members), 2011 - 2013, Planning and Budget Assembly (elected by council), 2011 - 2013, Committee on Committees (elected by council), 2012-2013, National Library Week Subcommittee, 2011-2012
- Arizona Library Association, 2017 - 2018
- REFORMA, 2004 - 2012, Chair, Legislative Committee (appointed), 2009 - 2010, Member, Pat Mora Award Committee (appointed), 2007 - 2009
- American Association of Law Libraries, 2013 - 2018
- National Association of Court Management, 2013 - 2014
Awards
- Arizona Supreme Court Promoting Access to Justice Award, As part of the Simpla Phi Lex team, 2014
- New York Times I Love My Librarian Award, 2009
- American Library Association Emerging Leader, 2008
- Library Journal Mover & Shaker, 2008
- Knowledge River Scholar, School of Information Resources and Library Science, University of Arizona, 2003-2004
Publications
Gómez, Sol. “New Year, New Goals for Pima County Law Library and Self-Service Center.” The Writ, vol. 37, no. 3, March 2018, p. 8.
Gómez, Sol. “Summer Weather, Cool Reading.” The Writ, vol. 32, no. 7, July 2013, p. 8.
Selected Library And Court Service
Pima Community College
- Faculty Senate, Member, 2023-Present
- College Curriculum Council, Member, 2023-Present
- Men of Color Achievement Program, Member, 2023-2025
- Student Success Team (SST), Member, 2022-Present
- Library Tutorial Subcommittee Chair, 2021 - 2024
- Digital Literacy Task Force, Co-Chair with Dean of College Readiness and Student Success. March 2021 - October 2021.
- Discipline Faculty Committee (DFC), Chair, 2019 - 2022
- Library Online Services Team (LOST), Member, 2019 - Present.
- Adult Basic Education and Dual Enrollment Librarian Liaison, 2019 - Present.
- Desert Vista Campus Vice President Cabinet, Member, 2018 - Present.
Arizona Superior Court in Pima County
- Access and Services Committee, Head of Law Library Enhancement Overhaul Related to Self-Help Services subcommittee. 2017 - 2018.
- External Relations Committee, Ad Hoc member. 2013 – 2018.
- Access and Services Committee, Team Leader. 2014 – 2016.
- Administrative Office of the Courts Vital Forms Committee, member. June 2013 – December 2013.
- Simpla Phi Lex, member. 2013 – 2016.
Pima County Public Library
- HQ Implementation Team, member. 2011-2012
- Nuestras Raíces, member. 2009-2012
- Strategic Planning Team, member. 2009-2012.
- Pima County Community Health Task Force, member. 2007-2010.
- Adult Services, member. 2006-2012.
- Health Information Literacy Team, member. 2007-2012.
Presentations
- Bryson, Hon. Kyle, Hon. Michael Butler, Sol Gómez, Hon. James Marner, Hon. D. Douglas Metcalf, Hon. Scott Rash, and Dev Sethi. Bench and Bar – Winter Program with emphasis on better serving self-represented litigants. Presented at University Marriott. December 3, 2015.
- Gómez, Sol. “Providing Legal Research.” Presentation delivered at Joel Váldez Main Branch, Pima County Public Library. May 2013.
- Gómez, Sol, Aaron Valdivia. “The Health Reference Interview.” Presentation delivered at Joel Váldez Main Branch, Pima County Public Library. Tucson, AZ. August 2010 and August 2011.
- Gómez, Sol, Adan Griego, Congressman Raúl Grijalva, Valeria E. Molteni, and Lynn Miller-Lachmann. “Immigration Issues and Library Services.” Presentation delivered at the American Library Association Annual Conference, Washington, D.C. June 26, 2010.
- Gómez, Sol, Obdulia Gonzales, Gabrielle Sykes-Casavant, and Francisco Vargas. “Successful Outreach and Marketing Practices.” Presentation delivered at the REFORMA-Tucson Library Services for Latinos and the Spanish-speaking, Tucson, AZ. June 4, 2010.
- Aguirre, Paulina, Sol Gómez. Ready to Read/Listos para leer Workshop. Curriculum developed by the Public Library Association and the Association for Library Service to Children to support Storytime programs and provide workshops for caregivers. Workshop provided in Spanish at Valencia Branch Library, Tucson, AZ. Fall 2011.
- Gómez, Sol and Cathy Jacobus. “Strategies for the Health Reference Interview for Spanish Speakers.” Presentation delivered as a webinar nationwide via WebJunction from Tucson, AZ and Seattle, WA. March 11, 2008.
- Gómez, Sol. “Empowering Library Staff to Reach Out to Spanish Speakers and Increase their Access to Technology.” Instruction funded by Melinda Gates Foundation and prepared by WebJunction. Provided instructions at three locations in Pima County and one in Cochise County. April and May 2007.
- Anaya, Toni, Sol Gómez, Annabelle Nuñez, and Oscencio Tom. "Putting Color in Libraries: Recruiting Hispanic and Native Americans to the Profession." Presentation delivered at the Arizona Library Association Annual Conference, Phoenix, Arizona. September 19, 2003.
Timeline
Department Head Librarian
Pima Community College
07.2018 - Current
Director, Law Library
Arizona Superior Court in Pima County
01.2013 - 07.2018
Interim Knowledge River Co-Coordinator of Student Support
University of Arizona School of Information & Resource Science
01.2007 - 01.2008
Librarian I - Librarian III
Pima County Public Library
02.2006 - 12.2012
Children's Librarian
City of Tucson Pima Public Library
06.2005 - 01.2006
Intermittent Librarian
City of Tucson Pima Public Library
02.2005 - 05.2005
Knowledge River Assistantship
University of Arizona Health Sciences Library
01.2004 - 12.2004
Master of Arts - Information Resources and Library Science
University of Arizona
Bachelor of Arts - Spanish Literature, minor in Latin American Studies
University of Arizona