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Libraries have an established track record of preserving the scholarly record, but this stewardship role has generally been exercised over materials the library has purchased or otherwise acquired. With open access publishing, the library's role in preservation is less certain, as libraries may facilitate access to a wide array of freely accessible materials without ever obtaining any copies. Additionally, the open access landscape includes many small noncommercial publishers with limited resources that may not be able to invest in long term preservation and access. In this column, Courtney McAllister, Electronic Resources Librarian at Lillian Goldman Law Library, Yale University, discusses preservation concerns and strategies for open access publications and how libraries may be affected by unstable or unpredictable long-term access.

At NASIG's 2019 conference, Kirstin Steele and Courtney McAllister spoke about the importance of mentorship in making acquisitions, electronic resources, and collections librarians successful and dynamic. The role of mentorship in the profession encourages continual personal and professional growth, and helps practitioners maintain relevant skills. The presenters framed mentorship as an implied or unspoken competency. While not explicitly mentioned in NASIG's core competency documentation, it is a practice that serves a foundational role in making those competencies and qualities achievable. The presenters shared their personal experiences as mentors, mentees, and peer-to-peer mentors, while offering some advice on the strengths and weaknesses of various mentorship scenarios. Achieving and maintaining a healthy mentorship dynamic can be a complex process. McAllister and Steele emphasized the importance of clear and straightforward communication, managing expectations, documenting takeaways, and identifying realistic time commitments.

In a Vision Session at the 34th annual NASIG conference, NASIG's Equity & Inclusion Committee coordinated an interactive town hall meeting to discuss as a group what diversity and inclusion means for the organization and its members. Representatives from the Committee introduced questions and facilitated small group discussions among participants. Insights and suggestions were shared during the session, via email to the Committee, and on notecards that were collected at the end of the meeting. The Equity & Inclusion Committee designed these exercises and feedback channels to shape their future activities and service to the community.