The "How Does a Librarian Work?" Edition

This season on Working, we’re speaking to individuals employed in fields potentially imperiled by the Trump presidency. These are the stories of people doing difficult but important jobs—jobs that may get much more difficult and much more important in the years ahead.

University of Pennsylvania Librarian Laurie Allen is working with a collective of scientists, students, professors, programmers, and librarians on the Data Refuge project, archiving environmental data before it has the opportunity to disappear in government transition. She spoke with Jacob Brogan about her work with the Data Refuge Project, and about her career as a librarian. Allen detailed how her work has evolved as digital technology has progressed and about how she tries to keep her work connected to scholarship and helping students, even as the times change.

Then, in a Slate Plus extra, Allen tells us about a special project she worked on with the Penn Environmental Humanities Lab featuring stories and information from Philadelphia's Schuykill River. If you’re a member, enjoy bonus segments and interview transcripts from Working, plus other great podcast exclusives. Start your two-week free trial at slate.com/workingplus.

Email: working@slate.com
Twitter: @Jacob_Brogan
Learn more about Data Refuge: