Sam Helmick
Iowa City Public Library
Iowa City, IA USA
"Our stories are worth sharing."
Career Roadmap
Sam's work combines: Education, Writing, and Communicating / Sharing Stories
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Associate's Degree
Associates Degree
Southeastern Community College
Bachelor's Degree
Human Services
Iowa Wesleyan University
Graduate Degree
Library and Information Science
University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
Growing up in a small rural town, I loved reading but never felt like I belonged at my local library, so I didn't see its impact at first.
2.
While volunteering at my hometown library during a summer reading program, one unexpected interaction showed me how libraries bring people together and change lives.
3.
Inspired by that experience, I began my library career with a commitment to creating welcoming spaces where everyone feels they belong.
4.
As I grew into leadership roles, I discovered my passion for advocating, resourcing, and supporting library staff so they could better serve their communities.
5.
My work in library marketing helped me share the value of libraries and connect more people with the opportunities they provide.
6.
When book challenges and attacks on libraries increased, I stepped into intellectual freedom work to help protect every person's right to read and access information.
7.
Through leadership with the Iowa Library Association and the American Library Association, I helped strengthen advocacy for libraries, privacy, and equitable access to information.
8.
As community and access services coordinator at the Iowa City Public Library, I now help expand outreach, strengthen community connections, and ensure libraries remain welcoming spaces for everyone.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
Librarians are just gatekeepers of information.
How I responded:
There's a public misconception that librarians are gatekeepers of information because, historically, stacks had been closed and that's how it was. But libraries haven't been that way for many years now. In reality, we're thought partners, we're friends, and we're in this together. Librarians are here to help the public wayfind, not to hold information back. That's the message we're still working to establish culturally.