“When doing reference, it’s all the fun of research without having to actually write the paper; when doing cataloging, it’s like being paid to do puzzles all day. The more I study,the more I learn about LIS, the more interesting I find it. There is no limit to the things I can learn.”
"as a librarian I can make a difference.”
“I wanted to work with people; my librarian growing up was one of my greatest mentors, and I wanted to be that for someone else.”
Jeff Scott, Library Director for the City of Casa Grande Public Library in Casa Grande, Arizona and president of the Pinal County Library Federation had this to say as to why he became a librarian:
"I remember the first time I stepped in there. I remember the whoosh of the automatic sliding doors. I remember the smell of the books. I felt like I wanted to live there."
This librarian's words I'm sure take us all back, back to the time of our very first days exploring what we were sure was a place that seemed to be holding all the books in the whole wide world. God, I still love the smell of books. I hated the dust mites but I will never regret one moment spent in a library as a child.
Scott's remembrances reminded me of an old quote about books, something about a good book being one you pick up with great expectation and lay down with great regret. Bronte? I don't remember. I could Google it of course, or simply telephone my library's reference center as librarians have never minded folks calling for help with "stupid" questions, information requests or detailed research.
At least I've learned to never tell a librarian I have a stupid question for them. The first and last time I did that I was nine years old, calling for the first time an actual reference librarian on my very own and with my very important question written out neatly on school paper so I wouldn't forget. I am sure to this day she was one of those older matronly women well past retirement age, somebody's grandmother, but her stern sounding voice answering the phone conjured up in my nine year old mind the personification of every librarian stereotype available, one who most likely was fired from the nunnery, combat boots and all, at age 75 for being too strict and now was resigned to deal with stupid questions asked by even more stupid children. The very thought of talking with an actual reference librarian scared the hell out of me before I had even dialed the phone so I apologized immediately for needing to ask her a "stupid question."
This unknown librarian let me know right off the bat that "there is no such thing as stupid question, child, stupidity comes only from not asking the question in the first place. That is what is called willful ignorance."
Mr. Scott provides additional clues as to what makes librarians tick:
"The experience of these books and the Ironwood library made me realize how one could learn, become educated, or keep sharp by using the public library. ANY public library, no matter how small, can educate in so many ways."
Another clue:
"The role of a librarian is to make sense of the world of information. If that's not a qualification for superhero-dom, what is? [Nancy Pearl] (smart lady, she must be a librarian)
Librarian Marilyn R. Pukkila gives us even more insight into why the mysterious founder of LAP is so upset over the very thought of Sarah Palin, or anyone for that matter, banning books:
"Almost 30 years ago, when I first became a librarian, I bought a poster of a person leaning on a rock outcropping looking out on a beautiful, rugged landscape. The caption on the poster is “Knowledge is free.” While it’s true that, over the years, I’ve been tempted to add a sticky note saying, “But information will cost you a bundle!”, this captures an essence (there are several!) of why I am a librarian."
"I want everyone to be able to find the knowledge/information they need, when they need it. I think this is the basis of a healthy democracy (and we can discuss just how healthy our democracy currently is in another post!). I think it’s a fundamental right, along with life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Golly, should we cue the trumpets now, or what?"
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
