Open Positions & Hiring

Currently we are seeking to fill three librarian positions! The ideal person for one of the positions would be someone with experience in both youth services and adult reference, or at least a strong interest and talent for both. I was on the team interviewing those candidates and the process led me to reminisce about my own earlier experiences in libraries.

I recall that I purposefully chose early in my library career not to get locked into any role, and rather to work in both adult and children's services. I wanted to experience the library and its value to the community from as broad a perspective as possible. While getting my degree I worked as a reference intern in an academic undergraduate library on a university campus. This prepared me well for my first professional job working in adult reference in a metropolitan library serving a population of over 200,000. After 2 years in that position, I decided to work as a children's librarian in one of the regional branch libraries. And what a refreshing change it was! After assisting adults and students in research-focused activities at a very busy and often stressful reference desk, I felt renewed to indulge in the world of stories! It was a joy to revel in the reason we love libraries -- books! Beautiful picture books, books of sounds, colors, alphabets, folklore, legends, tall-tales, songs, and poetry. Presenting storytimes to youngsters was a stimulating change for my neglected right-brain which had fallen somewhat dormant during all the left-brain studiousness and seriousness of college followed by more of the same at the public reference desk. To read for the joy of reading, to sing and to move and dance, and explore activities -- I felt like I had gone on retreat, so rejuvenating it was. I also worked the circulation desk several hours per week, which kept me in touch with the nitty-gritty of book lending and customer service.

Those early experiences stood me well several years later when I accepted a one-year assignment as a K-6 school librarian, filling in for the librarian who was taking a year's sabbatical. During that school year I presented six class lessons a day, five days a week, the sessions ranging from grade K-2 storytimes to grades 3-6 introductory library research activities. This was a well-balanced day filled with both reading for fun and reading for study or assignments. Usually storytimes were in the mornings, and mid-grade research assignments in the afternoon. I brought in my favorite hand-puppet, a beautiful white owl, which the K-2 students loved as much as I did! (I still often think of those youngsters, now adults, and wonder where their paths have taken them.)

After that delightful year I then accepted a variety of assignments, including driving a bookmobile, and managing small branch libraries where I continued to present storytimes, including sharing songs and playing my guitar. One of the highlights of those times was reading to an audience at an opening of a new, small shopping center while Minnie Mouse pantomimed the story I read to the crowd. Mickey made a separate appearance to greet the youngsters thereafter. But Minnie and I were on the same stage. I didn't know until that day that the Disneyland celebrities, Minnie and Mickey do not speak. Everything they do is in pantomime.

Returning full circle, the positions I took in the ensuing years were again in adult reference which I still do today. And as we began interviewing for the current opening in reference/children's services I was impressed with the applicants' wide range of talent and experience, their professionalism and enthusiasm. In reviewing my own career, I contemplate and appreciate the spectrum of services libraries provide people of all ages. Moreover, I am reminded how fortunate librarians are to work in this profession and to have multiple opportunities to serve their communities in varied ways. The profession may sometimes seem rather transparent, perhaps not only to the public, but sometimes to us who work within it; but when interviewing prospective colleagues it is easy to become re-inspired!

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