It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these posts but I guarantee you this one was worth the wait! Ever since I was a little girl I’ve been going to my library and checking out books. I still have the same library card I got when I was about seven. Even with the plastic peeling off I can’t bear to part with it and get a new one. Over the years I’ve seen librarians come and go but one has always been there (for 20 years!). Recently I asked him if he would be a part of this series and he graciously obliged. I’m thankful he was willing to record these thoughts for us! I hope you enjoy his answers as much as I did and learn something new today.
What drew you to being a librarian?
I had a job as a student worker at the library where I went to college and I enjoyed the work though I didn’t think about it as a career at the time. After college I worked in several fields but couldn’t find one where I felt fulfilled. I met with a career counselor and after a series of assessments and several meetings he concluded that I should consider working as either a chef (I love to cook!) or a librarian. I remembered my college work and also how much I liked the college setting and thought that working in a college or university library would be a great job. When I finally got a library job, though, it wasn’t at a university, but at a public library. It turns out that what I really enjoy about my work is not so much doing research, but helping all kinds of people, so the variety of folks that come to our library is much more interesting to me than just students doing research.
What is one thing you wish people understood more clearly about what you do?
There’s more to our work than many people realize. (I kind of assume that’s true of most jobs.) Not too many people know that those of us working at the reference desk or in the children’s department have gotten Master’s degrees in order to do the work we do. But even more than that, we bring a deeper understanding of the organization of information and interpersonal communication to our work than is likely to be obvious.
What has been the most influential book you’ve ever read?
That’s a tough one! So many books, like so many teachers and mentors, have made an impact on my life over the years. Surprisingly, the one that I would have to say has been the most influential is a slim cookbook (Fine Fresh Food, Fast by Michele Urvater) that my grandmother gave me as a birthday present during my college years when she heard I like to cook. It has some great recipes that really opened my mind to new ingredients, flavor combinations and cooking techniques and got me hooked on having fun in the kitchen, which is now a real passion of mine. I still make many of the dishes in that book regularly.
What one person has touched your life the most and why?
I didn’t meet my wife until I was 28, but we’ve been together for 25 years now and she still frees me to be the kind of person I want to be, while at the same time challenging me to know more and do more than I might otherwise on my own.
What was one of the happiest days/moments of your life?
The first one that comes to mind is the day we opened our new library. We didn’t announce the day or time we would re-open after our move since we weren’t sure how long it would take to get ready. But on a Monday afternoon, once we had everything in place, we opened our doors, and within an hour the library had a couple dozen or more people exploring and admiring our new space. It was an amazing feeling to be a part of that effort and to be able to offer that to our community.
What is your greatest struggle right now?
I am feeling quite challenged by the variety of duties for which I am now responsible at this library. Some of that is my own fault as I would like to accomplish more in order to help the library improve, but I am already doing more than ever before. I need to remind myself of that and take things more gradually so that I can get a good handle on each added task before trying to take on more.
When were you most scared?
This question is a real challenge for me. Nothing big comes to mind, though I did freak out after my first exam in graduate school. I was completely stumped by most of the questions and thought “I’ve packed up and moved to Tucson for this and now I’m going to fail and have nothing to show for it.” (I got really drunk that night!) Turns out everyone did just as poorly and he just gives tough exams. He was my favorite professor through my program there.
If you could give one piece of advice to those reading this what would it be?
Be careful about judging people. Allow them to surprise you with the depth of their minds and hearts, especially when you least expect it. I have had fascinating exchanges with people who I would not have guessed to be as bright or thoughtful as our conversations showed them to be. It always makes me feel lucky to have met someone like that.
(If you want to know how this series started you can read why here.)
Very cool post. I just revisited the library I grew up going to – sadly both of the librarians that I remember have not been there for many years, but when I went there when I was little they would tell me how, after I was born, my mom brought me in and laid me on the big desk to show me to them…now just the other day I took my almost 11-year-old niece in and showed her where all my favorite books used to be! Libraries are such special places…
What a sweet story! And yes, the library is one of my happy places! 🙂