Lately as I am working at the library I think about a quote I heard last week on NPR, about public libraries having to do more with less resources. How true; where else can a person go to get information as wide ranging as a DVD to learn Belly Dancing and a children’s picture book about recycling? Yet there I am, in a small Midwestern town late at night, finding material needed by my patrons on just those topics. It takes only moments to find what they need, they get to use it and then return it so others can use it too. Libraries are just amazing places. And as the economy continues its downturn more and more people are figuring that out.
Over the past week or so I’ve been helping young people look for information on different inherited diseases. Apparently there’s an assignment out there in the local school system which requires at least two print references in addition to whatever information they find on the web. I appreciate the teacher requiring them to look at print materials, and I am steering most of the students to the medical encyclopedias we have in our reference area, though sometimes we find good stuff in the stacks as well. Tonight I worked with a young man looking for information on cystic fibrosis. We found some generic material, but we stumbled upon some other stuff that would put a different slant on his paper, and he got all excited. That is so fun to watch!
Last night I had a group of first graders in for a tour of the library. I think I converted about 5 of the 7 into maybe growing up to be readers. OK. I know that one visit and tour of the library won’t a reader make, but 5 of them got library cards and checked books out. I conveniently forgot to give them a tour of the DVD’s; we practiced finding stuff in the nonfiction and biography sections, and they had fun, so maybe they’ll be back! That was fun to watch too.
So all in all, I’m enjoying my new career, seeing its impact on a community, feeling part of some sort of solution to growing problems. Can’t think of a place I’d rather work. And that’s the best part of all.
Change Is Hard 
January 28, 2009 at 6:53 am
Two of the library branches in the city where my school district is located are being closed due to financial problems. The main branch is staying open, but it breaks my heart to see those resources go. Especially, when so many of these families don’t have access to transportation.
I’m hoping it is just a temporary closure. Libraries are so important – especially if they have friendly librarians like you!
Isn’t it great to have a job you love? Even when you have a bad day at work, you can think of those good moments and remember why you are there.
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January 28, 2009 at 8:54 am
Even a bad day at the library is a much better day than the average day in my previous life. Truly.
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January 28, 2009 at 12:02 pm
*turns a little bit green* hehe! I was one of those ‘sad’ kids that loved hanging out in a library, marvelling in the books. When I went to uni and saw all the grand old books I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. lol. Must be a great feeling being able to help people discover that too.
~Dee
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January 28, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Dee, yes there’s a certain smell about old books that only librarian type people appreciate! And helping people figure out the potential in their local library is one of the best parts of the job.
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January 29, 2009 at 8:31 am
I remember going to the library and checking out the maximum number every time–usually Agatha Christie mysteries or similar stories. When I read your comment about “smell?” I immediately pictured a red book with a picture on the front–can’t quite see it–think it’s a girl and an adventure in a strange country. I would love to run into that book again!
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February 15, 2009 at 12:06 pm
I am so glad you are happy working at the Library. Such a great place to be. I have to admit though I don’t go as often as I used to…instead downloading a few books to my iPod, but I am still “reading” right! Are there still such things as “Bookmobiles”? I remember going weekly as a kit to the one parked outside my neighborhood school.
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