Librarian Trading Cards

#71 - Role Playing Librarian!

2011-02-22T13:01:00.000-08:00

Who you are: Erin Daly, Young Adult Librarian
What you do: Hang out with teens at the library and try to engage them in conversation and activities surrounding books and media
Where you do it: Chicopee Public Library, Chicopee, MA

LTC: Best part of your job?

Erin: Consuming media and talking about it -- with other librarians, folks on the Internet, teens or adult patrons in the building.

LTC: Something about you that people would be surprised to learn?

Erin: I'm not terribly surprising. I'm a huge nerd and it is fairly obvious to all who meet me that this is case. My nerdiness extends to the obvious: consumption of large quantities of media, obsession with the science fiction and fantasy genres; and the less obvious: playing of table top role playing games.

LTC: What resource do you most like to tell people about?

Erin: For cranky teenagers who come to the library bored, I always prescribe comic books. Manga, like Naruto usually works, though my personal preferences run toward Western comics, like Marvel's Runaways or Tom Siddell's Gunnerkrigg Court. (Which is also a webcomic: http://gunnerkrigg.com/index2.php )

For reference, I'm really fond of Encyclopedia Britannica Online. It's my go to encyclopedia for general information. I like that it includes images and video and that it links to journal articles and websites. It's great for teens.

LTC: What will the libraries of the future look like?

Erin: Sort of like they do now, but with more and better computers and more different types of media. I don't think books are going away, but they will probably be available in more formats- for ereaders, and for things we haven't thought of yet. I also think apps, downloadable content and streaming video and audio content from the Internet will only get more interesting and more prevalent. Libraries of the future will also have to have strong virtual presences maybe in an environment like Second Life or whatever it will evolve into. They will also have to be accessible via mobile devices. It's an exciting time to dream about libraries of the future, and to watch them begin to happen.

LTC: Got any funny reference questions or weird library incidents to share?

Erin: People like to ask me all kinds of things at the reference desk. I think they are trying to make me laugh, but it usually just confuses me. A man came up to me while I was at the reference desk the other day and asked: "Do you have any sneet?" "What's sneet?" I said. "It's Teens spelled backwards!" I pointed to some of the teens who were nearby using the computers and the patron went on to tell me all about how much he likes to read backwards.

LTC: What are your reading right now?

Erin: I just finished two different types of fantasy books: Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride an everything is real, werewolves, necromancers, faeries, etc paranormal book where the main character discovers he is a Necromancer and gets in trouble with a rival in the same profession. And Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta, a straight high fantasy that is a deeper, more complex, and at turns violent and sweet version of the standard young man with a destiny story. Next up, taking a break from fantasy to read about a road trip in Amy & Roger's Epic Detour. I read a lot of YA as you can tell. I'm also reading a comic, adult with YA crossover potential, called Unwritten by Mike Carey. It's metafictional- what stories are made of kind of speculation, very interesting.

Amy: I agree wholeheartedly, Erin - right now is an exciting time to dream about libraries of the future. I do it all the time. Now if I could work on my patience... ;)

#70 - Ask Andrea!

2010-12-27T15:12:00.001-08:00

Who you are: Andrea Tillander
What you do: Customer Service, Public Records Research, Corporate Research, Training / Instruction, Electronic Resource Evaluation & Selection, Intranet Content, Intranet Administration, Project Management, Marketing, and oh so much more!
Where you do it: Research Services Department, Clausen Miller P.C., Chicago, Illinois

LTC: What's the most interesting or unusual service your institution provides?

Andrea: We have attorneys helping architects and engineers navigate how standards for professionals involved in Green Construction can influence future legal litigation. Very interesting stuff.

LTC: What do you wish more people knew about librarians and what they do?

Andrea: We need to do a better job of promoting the fact we are professionals with Master's Degrees and are best qualified to analyze and extract the important ("authoritative") information from the ever-expanding amount of information out there.

LTC: What they didn't tell you when you were getting your Master's Degree...

Andrea: The importance of taking every opportunity to market your services and value. Your patron's awareness of services and effective use of services is a direct measurement of your success.

LTC: Best part of your job?

Andrea: I really enjoy empowering users through training and improved access. Sometimes it can be as simple as a quick "how-to" screencast ...or it can involve digitizing entire collections. Exploring new technologies and online resources plays a vital role in this.

LTC: Do you have any hobbies besides reading?

Andrea: Hanging out with my daughter and husband, yoga, meditation, cooking, and geocaching.

LTC: What are you reading right now?

Andrea: I just finished William Gibson's Zero History, and it was one of his best yet. Am now alternating between Spock's World (2001) on my iPhone and Mark Z. Danielewski's House of Leaves (Full Color Edition).

Amy: Thanks Andrea! I've always wanted to try geocaching. So many wonderful hobbies, but oh so many more books to be read. What's a librarian to do!

#69 - Ace Librarian!

2010-12-13T13:04:00.000-08:00

Who you are: Bill Kolb
What you do: Teen Services Librarian
Where you do it: Walnut Creek Library, part of the Contra Costa County Library

LTC: What's your favorite book from growing up?

Bill: The Hobbit. Hands down. No question. I read it for the first time when I was 9, then again when I was 14, and again at about 22, and once more just a year before the LOTR movie series hit theaters. Yeesh. I'm getting old. JRR Tolkien is, I think, a gateway drug to reading fantasy. He and his merry band of furry-footed and -faced fellows sucked me into a whole world of sword-and-sorcery fantasy that I don't think I have ever (or will, nor do I want to) really escape. Sure, sure, I eventually moved on to the 'hard stuff' of The Lord of the Rings (and even made an ill-advised, abortive run at The Silmarillion, which is a little too much like the begatting part of the Bible for my tastes), but that first brush with Bilbo, Gandalf and the Dwarfs will always stand out in my mind as a magical, mind-altering occasion. If I had to pick a backup it would be James and the Giant Peach, which my sixth-grade teacher read aloud to the class and I loved (it might bear mentioning here that I had a crush on my sixth-grade teacher).

LTC: Does your library offer any particularly creative or interesting programs or services?

Bill: I have the great good fortune to work in a shiny new library (opened July, 2010) into which a great deal of hard work and dedication was poured in an effort to make it as friendly and functional as possible. As a result, we have some pretty cool bells and whistles here. We're fully RFID and have a big fancy automated materials handling system for self-service returns. We are also now offering one-on-one computer docent sessions for computer beginners and Wii gaming in our Teen Zone, both of which have been very well received. County-wide, we have a pretty great downloadable collection (e-books, e-audio) and the awesome Library A-Go-Go book vending machines.

LTC: What do you wish more people knew about librarians and what they do?

Bill: Sometimes I really wish that people thought about libraries and librarians first when they had a pressing information need, instead of as a method of last resort. There is a tendency to believe (thanks to The Google and The InterWebs) that anyone can dig up good information in a snap. I am with the illustrious Joe Janes on this one, however. Modern librarians are not the gatekeepers of information anymore (obviously). We aren't the only ones with resources or answers. But what we do, better than anyone or anything, is improve the quality of the question. We're really good at digging into whatever it is that you're interested in and finding quality information sources for you, and we actually enjoy doing it. You should totally come and ask us questions.

LTC: What they didn't tell you when you were getting your Master's Degree...

Bill: It's important, as a librarian, to also be a confident, competent tool-user. Ohhh, the things I've fixed in the library. Chairs. Desks. Garbage cans. Three-hole punches. A passing familiarity with plumbing and the basic parts and functions of a flush toilet wouldn't hurt. Also, being a librarian is a little bit like being a bartender. You know, minus the booze, cigarette smoke and cocktail nuts. In order to do your job well, sometimes the most important thing is that you are there and willing to listen. There are interactions at the information desk that never even begin to sneak up on the outskirts of an actual question or information need. Sometimes you're a sounding board. Sometimes all people need from you is a little human interaction.

LTC: Do you have any hobbies besides reading?

Bill: Reading? Are we supposed to do that? I'll just make a note...
Yes, I do have other hobbies. I was a newspaper sports writer for six years before the library revelation (I still freelance high school football games and the odd basketball/wrestling/volleyball event), so obviously I'm a big sports fan. I tend to pay a lot of attention to sport (especially during baseball season). I do some fantasy sports (again, mostly baseball) and enjoy attending live sporting events. I listen to music almost constantly (but not in the library, of course) and enjoy attending live music events. I also play softball, mountain bike (when it isn't raining), hike (see biking), exercise, and play games, Barbies and Legos with my kids. Every once in a while I also find time to hang out with my wife.

LTC: What's in your DVD player?

Bill: I just finished watching Un Prophete, an intriguing and enjoyable (albeit a bit longish at 2h40m, especially for a subtitler) film about life in a French prison. So. Now, all that's left is the Rankin-Bass stop-motion Christmas collection (Santa Claus is Coming to Town, The Year Without Santa Claus, Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer -- it's taken a bit of encouragement, but my kids have finally fallen in love with Burgermeister Meisterburger, Heatmiser and the gang...). Also, the Warner Bros. Looney Toons collection.

LTC: What are you reading right now?

Bill: There is an almost-overwhelming urge to put something impressive and literary here, you know, for the sake of somethingorother. But I'm gonna go with the honest answer. Right now I'm plowing through The Sportswriter by Richard Ford, which is a little on-the-nose for me as a former sports writer. I'm also trifling with the sequel to James Dashner's The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials, because, well, I'm the YA librarian. But Mikhail Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita is next up on my pile 'o books. You know. For the sake of somethingorother.

Bill: And, even though you didn't ask, I'd go with 90s punk and ska over grunge or bubblegum (but will admit to listening to and enjoying both of those options as well). Also, there is a chance Genesis Hansen and I attended the same Pearl Jam/Nirvana/Red Hot Chili Peppers show on NYE in 1991. At the very least we saw shows on the same tour. Ah, my first mosh pit. I remember enjoying what I remember of it....

Amy: They could certainly spice up our job descriptions couldn't they? Maybe throw in a little, 'expert knowledge of clearing copy machine jams, shaking printer toner, unclogging toilets, and calming down cranky and/or hostile people a plus...' Thanks for playing Bill! Now put down that X-Men and pick up some classic literature! ;)

#68 - Li-Berry Lady!!

2010-11-29T19:05:00.000-08:00

Who you are: Sarah H. Vantrease
What you do: Children's Librarian
Where you do it: a small neighborhood branch of Los Angeles Public Library

LTC: What they didn't tell you when you were getting your Master's Degree...

Sarah: ...tween boys adore flannel board stories!

LTC: Most rewarding thing that's happened recently?

Sarah: In the last month, I've visited over 80 classrooms and talked to around 1800 students about the library, reading, and information literacy. I love connecting with the kids by reading them stories, hearing their questions, seeing what they're learning, and sharing new library materials. I try to make the classroom visit a super fun experience, so they'll associate the library with good times (even if they can't come visit right away). An added reward: since I visit most classrooms twice a year I'm kind of a rock star on campus. I walk across the playground and the kids start mobbing me and screaming, "Li-berry lady! Li-berry lady!"

LTC: Do you have any hobbies besides reading?

Sarah: I usually just read on my lunch break, so I'll have time for all my other hobbies after work! I think a lot of public librarians have particularly diverse interests because we come across so many interesting things on the job. As for me, every day I try to make time to play music (mostly piano), cook something new, knit or crochet, listen to the Bible (I have an amazing audio version), and ride my bike. My family also loves playing all kinds of games. And don't even get me started talking about our garden, my stamp collection, swimming, art projects, and going to rock concerts!

LTC: What inspired you to become a librarian?

Sarah: Volunteering at the Cambridge (Massachusetts) Public Library helped me realize what an amazing job librarians have -- not just because they get to hang out with books all day, but because they get to connect people with all kinds of resources, information, and entertainment! They also showed me that librarians have a lot of fun, and a lot of heart.

LTC: Ideal vacation destination?

Sarah: Ideally, my husband and I spend time in the Sierras, on the California coast, and in Middle Tennessee every year. We like to go places where we can play outdoors, hike, and enjoy really long bike rides. We'd love to do more of that in the British Isles and Scandinavia.

LTC: What's your favorite picture book?

Sarah: The Squeaky Door, retold by Margaret Read MacDonald, illustrated by Mary Newell DePalma.

LTC: What are you reading now?

Sarah: The Other Half of My Heart, by Sundee Frazier - a recent kids' book that offers a thoughtful look at race in the United States through the eyes of 11-year-old twin sisters who share a multiracial background but have very different skin tones.

Amy: Sarah is yet another rockstar librarian that I met while in library school at UCLA. We're both journeying from 'baby librarians' to well-rounded professionals loving what we do!

#67 - Genesis Leads the Way

2010-11-17T11:44:00.000-08:00

Who you are: Genesis Hansen
What you do: Reference and Web Services Coordinator
Where you do it: Newport Beach Public Library

LTC: What resource do you most like to tell people about?

Genesis: I don't have a single favorite resource. I love it when someone's in a last-minute panic trying to write a report or get some information, and I show them how they can access the databases from home or work - you can see the relief on their faces. I also love doing YA readers' advisory. For me, that's pure fun!

LTC: What do you wish more people knew about librarians and what they do?

Genesis: I wish they knew that librarians come from very diverse backgrounds and disciplines - we weren't all English majors (although I was). The range of knowledge and experience in your typical library staff is pretty astounding. I think what we have in common isn't so much a love for literature as an innate curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. Also, librarians are really fun!

LTC: Something about you that people would be surprised to learn?

Genesis: When I was a little girl I wanted to be a Supreme Court Justice.

LTC: Most rewarding thing that's happened recently?

Genesis: I have to give you two:
First, I had the opportunity to return to the Eureka! Leadership Institute as a mentor this year. I attended the Institute myself in 2008 and to say it was the best professional development experience I've ever had is an understatement. I learned so much and it opened a lot of doors for me. To be able to return and give something back to the program and "pay it forward" to this year's group of participants was an amazing gift. I'm so grateful!

Second, I got an email a week or so ago from a friend who just started back to school to study for a second career. He had a term paper due and went to the library. He said "OMG you librarians got it going on now. I was so shocked how robust the systems are, how much is available...i was very impressed." I always love it when we get someone who hasn't been to the library in a long time, because you get to see their eyes light up when they realize how much we have to offer. It's a great feeling!

LTC: 80s bubblegum or 90s grunge?

Genesis: Bubblegum wasn't my genre, but I was in high school in the 80s and 80s music will also have a special place in my heart and my iPod. But I like 90s grunge, too. I got to see Pearl Jam and Nirvana as opening bands for the Red Hot Chili Peppers (I guess that was late 1991, maybe?), and it was an amazing show.

LTC: Do you have a favorite library building that is not your own?

Genesis: Well, the Library of Congress is a great place to visit if you want to be awed by an amazing collection of knowledge in a really impressive setting. To get a card there you have to go through this rabbit warren in the basement - it's a bit of an ordeal, but totally worth it! I also have a special fondness for the Mission Viejo Library. It was the first library I worked in, and it's a lovely building. They have a great reading room with a fireplace and beautiful stonework and Mission-style furniture.

LTC: What are you reading right now?

Genesis: I have a couple of books going right now: The Mesh, by Lisa Gansky, which I heard about on Daniel Pink's blog; I also just started The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, by David Mitchell; and I'm listening to Terry Pratchett's Thud! in my car. Pratchett is one of my favorite authors, and the audiobooks are great. The ones read by Stephen Briggs are fantastic.

Amy: Genesis was a trusted mentor, guide and support as I made my way through the terrific Eureka! Leadership Institute earlier this year. It's an experience that I won't soon forget, and I'm really thankful for it!

#66 - Invested Librarian!

2010-10-18T17:33:00.000-07:00

Who you are: Shawn Thrasher
What you do: Senior Librarian – Youth Services
Where you do it: Monrovia Public Library, Monrovia, CA

LTC: What inspired you to become a librarian?

Shawn: I took Mrs. Malir’s library class in high school, where I worked as an aide, and got in trouble a lot. I worked in my community college library as a clerk, where, I don’t remember doing much of anything but wandering around talking to people and doing my homework. I also worked in a bookstore while I was getting my undergrad, a job I loved (although I hated my boss). However, once I earned my English degree, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I was working as a receptionist for minimum wage, too poor to buy books to read, I was a regular user of an unnamed library in a middle-sized city. I don’t recall ever asking a question of a librarian, and I wasn’t even sure why they were there. Finally, one day, I needed some help. I hesitantly and (what I thought) was politely approached one of those traditional library ladies with a bun and horned rimmed glasses and a long ugly dress (at least that’s how she looks in my mind). She was at a desk, her head down, doing something, totally oblivious to anything going on around her – a sin in the book retail world – and I asked her a question – I think it was “where is the copy machine.” She looked up at me, gave me the sourest look, and without saying a word, nodded her head in a vague direction, then went back to work. And I thought to myself “How rude! I can do better than that.” Shortly thereafter, I was in graduate school, trying to get a dual master’s in English and library. I ended up hating my English classes and dropped out – but I remembered my library experience and thoroughly loved my library classes. That was 13 years ago.

LTC: Something about you that people would be surprised to learn?

Shawn: I used to be painfully shy and completely afraid of large, loud groups of people. I still am sometimes.

LTC: Do you have a favorite library building that is not your own?

Shawn: I remember my home town library very fondly. I went there twice a week, and probably read the entire children’s collection. Happy Hollisters anyone? My home town was about 1,000 people, a little farm community in the middle of Kansas, and the next library was 20 miles or so away. I’m sure Mrs. Stadelman hated me – I was probably an obnoxiously know it all kid. But she never let on if she did. The whole of Lang Memorial Library could fit into a corner of my current library.

LTC: Favorite concert or theater performance you have ever attended?

Shawn: Stephen Sondheim’s Birthday Party at the Hollywood Bowl about five years ago. Barbara Streisand made a surprise appearance, and the audience just about fell to its knees in shock. She sang Happy Birthday.

LTC: What do you wish more people knew about librarians and what they do?

Shawn: I wish people knew they could come to the library and get almost any question answered – we should be their first stop. But too many have had too many bad experiences like mine, and unlike me, they give up.

LTC: What's your favorite picture book?

Shawn: Picking favorite books is like asking me to pick my favorite star. Mmm… Humbug Rabbit by Lorna Balian. Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel. The Poky Little Puppy by Janette Lowry.

LTC: What's on your ipod/cd player right now?
Shawn: Poor Unfortunate Souls from the Little Mermaid

Amy: I always love to hear the story of how people came to choose the profession. Kudos to you for thinking that you can do it better, because now, you are! Shawn and I met at the intense, but rewarding and fun Eureka! Leadership Institute. Our group was named, "The Investors."

#65 - Deadly Ninja Librarian!!

2010-10-05T22:25:00.000-07:00

Who you are: I'm Jennifer LaGarde aka "library girl."
What you do: I'm a middle school librarian by day, a public library reference librarian by night and a deadly ninja in between.
Where you do it: Coastal North Carolina

LTC: You must use your powers of creativity most when...

Jennifer: When someone tells me that they hate to read. I see this as a personal challenge. Helping someone (especially a child) find "the book" that changes them from a non-reader, to a reader, is the best part of my job.

LTC: What do you wish more people knew about librarians and what they do?

Jennifer: I think one thing people don't understand about school librarians is that next to reading, the thing we love most is learning. Librarians are *always* on the cutting edge of instructional pedagogy, technology and content methods. In education, people are always looking for that one person, who is uniquely qualified to teach students how to think creatively, solve problems and master emerging technologies - what they don't realize is that THAT person is usually just around the corner, already whipping kids into a learning frenzy in the library.

LTC: Most rewarding thing that's happened recently?

Jennifer: Right now I'm having so much fun working on this project: Gators Read... EVERYWHERE! A google map where students, teachers and others are posting pictures of themselves reading. In addition to it being a reading promotion, students at our school are using it to learn about things like proportion and scale factor in math as well as the themes of geography in social studies. On a personal note, it's been a thrill to have some of my heroes like Neil Gaiman, Laurie Halse Anderson and Allan Wolf participate.

LTC: If you were stranded on a desert island what would you *need* with you?

Jennifer: My husband, my dogs, my iPad and coffee. Lots of coffee.

LTC: Guess what? You get to have books on that island too! Which ones?

Jennifer: Hmmmm. Anything by Phillip Pullman (or Neil Gaiman or Cornelia Funke).

LTC: What they didn't tell you when you were getting your Master's Degree...

Jennifer: That I'd have more fun as a librarian than one person should really be allowed to have.

Amy: Wow. Just wow. Can I just say that your enthusiasm is infectious, your skills are tremendous and you embody the quintessential rock star librarian? And I've never even met you... Keep those LTC requests coming folks. I'm inspired by you every day.

#64 - All Around Librarian!

2010-09-13T13:02:00.001-07:00

Who you are: Jessica Walker Sanchez, Digital Technology/Reference Librarian
What you do: Reference, social media, collection development, library tours, bibliographic instruction, website development, eReserves, etc etc etc.
Where you do it: Kettering University Library, Flint, MI

LTC: What do you consider one of the most valuable things that libraries offer?

Jessica: The personal service - where else can people sit down with someone who is genuinely interested in getting down to the nitty-gritty of exactly what it is that they're looking for?

LTC: What inspired you to become a librarian?

Jessica: After getting a bachelors degree in something I no longer enjoyed, I did some soul-searching... and realized that my favorite job was when I worked in a library (shelving books). Libraries just seem to make me happy. :)

LTC: 80s bubblegum or 90s grunge?

Jessica: Oh geez... neither! I much prefer 00s emo. ;)

LTC: What they didn't tell you when you were getting your Master's Degree...

Jessica: I believe they forgot to mention that a lot of learning happens once you're on the job - the feelings of inadequacy are normal and will eventually go away after about 30 years.

LTC: Do you think we'll all be reading ebooks someday?

Jessica: I'm not sure. You know, they're all talking about the "death of the book" and I'm just not seeing it. In working with young adults every day, they're usually the ones on the cutting edge of technology, and it's just not catching on with them.

LTC: Do you have a favorite library building that is not your own?

Jessica: Tied in first place are... the Ann Arbor District Library main branch and the Delta Township District Library. Both are beautiful and very functional.

LTC: What you're reading right now:

Jessica: Are you there vodka, it's me Chelsea by Chelsea Handler. :) She's so hilarious.

Amy: Good point about young people and ebooks, if text messaging tells us anything, it's that they pave the way for something that we'll all be doing eventually!

#63 - Adept Advisor!

2010-09-02T10:40:00.000-07:00

Who you are: Cheryl Bryan
What you do: Advisor
Where you do it: Massachusetts Library System

LTC: What new trend in library services is most exciting to you?

Cheryl: The increased attention to the users experience in our libraries using ideas from the UX, Project of Public Spaces, and commercial retail fields.

LTC: What inspired you to become a librarian?

Cheryl: I grew up in a small town in upstate NY where the library really was my window to the larger world. I like the idea of serving the community in that role and being part of building community wherever the library is.

LTC: Something about you that people would be surprised to learn?

Cheryl: I’ve been a Buddhist for forty years.

LTC: Best part of your job?

Cheryl: Seeing people get excited about how they can apply a new idea from my training in their library.

LTC: Favorite depiction of a librarian in fiction/TV/movies?

Cheryl: Katharine Hepburn, Deskset

LTC: What are you reading now?

Cheryl: The Elegance of the Hedgehog

Amy: One of the things that I love about our profession is how it is ever-evolving and changing. We're always striving to make libraries better, more-effective and enjoyable experiences for our communities. Even through consolidation and other challenges. ;)

#62 - Transcendent Tri-brarian!

2010-08-25T18:06:00.000-07:00

Who you are: Marie Slim: Teacher Librarian/Geek/Mother/Wife/Change Agent/Dreamer
What you do: High School Teacher Librarian (Tri-brarian)
Where you do it: Fullerton Joint Union High School District, Fullerton, CA: Fullerton Union High School, Sunny Hills High School and Troy High School (this is a new gig this year - last year I had just one high school)

LTC: Does your library offer any particularly creative services?

Marie: I do a lot of screenshots for students when they have taken an online test, need to show their results and for some reason regular printing doesn't work. I've also captured video via screencasting for students to use in their PowerPoints. They are amazed. So far.

LTC: What do you wish more people knew about librarians and what they do?

Marie: We make learning fun!

LTC: What's on your ipod/cd player right now?

Marie: For me: 500 Days of Summer soundtrack and the Fame Monster by Lady Gaga. For my sons: Big Time Rush, Justin Bieber, Miranda Cosgrove, Black Eyed Peas. For my husband: Rush (ugh)

LTC: Most rewarding thing that's happened recently?

Marie: I found a good swim school so my sons (ages 4 and 6) learned to swim this summer. So now there's a lot less worry around the water.

LTC: If you were stranded on a desert island what book(s) would you really want with you?

Marie: All of my dystopian fiction favorites: Brave New World, 1984, Fahrenheit 451, Uglies series, Hunger Games series (especially Mockingjay). Then being stranded wouldn't seem so bad.

LTC: Any hobbies aside from reading?

Marie: binge computing, ukulele playing, eating, watching Judge Judy, playing with my sons, taking tons of pictures.

Amy: Thanks Marie! And thanks to Sarah for the nice nomination. We've had a lovely surge in LTC Nominations lately. Keep 'em coming!

#61 - Terrific Teacher Librarian!

2010-08-12T10:08:00.000-07:00

Who you are: Sarah Bosler
What you do: Public Services Librarian
Where you do it: Citrus College Library, Glendora, CA

LTC: What do you wish more people knew about librarians and what they do?

Sarah: I wish more people knew that we fight for your freedom to read and access to information and most of us are not as quiet as you might think.

LTC: What resource do you most like to tell people about?

Sarah: Delicious.com-social bookmarking

LTC: You must use your powers of creativity most when...

Sarah: developing search strategies for hard-to-find information

LTC: You must be most patient when...

Sarah: students get frustrated with the writing and research process.

LTC: What's your favorite book from growing up?

Sarah: Walden by Henry David Thoreau

LTC: What you're reading now:

Sarah: Teaching today's college students: widening the circle of success by Angela Provitera McGlynn

Amy: Thanks Sarah! And thank you friend Julie for nominating your colleague for a Trading Card. LTC really gives me a chance to experience first-hand the respect and gratitude we have for our peers in this profession!

#60 - Condé FaNtASTic Librarian!

2010-05-28T12:45:00.000-07:00

Who you are: Stan Friedman
What you do: Senior Research Librarian
Where you do it: Conde Nast

LTC: I always get a little awestruck when I see Conde Nast because they publish The New Yorker, a magazine I've worshiped for many years now. Can you tell us a little about what it's like working for a magazine publisher? What your basic duties are? And of course any fun or juicy trivia!

Stan: I provide online research to both the editorial and business side of our 27 brands. It’s telling that our company recently struck the word “Publications” from its official name. These days we are not only magazine publishers, but also digital content providers, TV show producers and a self-contained ad agency. A typical morning could find me helping a New Yorker photo editor locate pictures of Somerset Maugham, tracking down court records for the latest Vanity Fair investigative piece, and researching Beyonce’s eating habits. Speaking of eating habits, before Gourmet magazine folded, our Library was adjacent to their test kitchen, which was the world’s best perk.

LTC:What inspired you to become a librarian?

Stan: Back in the mid 90’s I visited a friend who had just become a university librarian and was instantly impressed by the technology and access to knowledge that she had at her fingertips.

LTC: Do you have any hobbies besides reading?

Stan: I have a garden plot in a community garden just a few blocks from Times Square. I’m also an avid writer and theater-goer.

LTC: Favorite concert or theater performance you have ever attended?

Stan: Having lived here for over 25 years, I’ve been lucky enough to see hundreds of plays, so it’s hard to pick a single favorite. Performances that still give me chills include Michael Cerveris in Sweeney Todd, Natasha Richardson in A Streetcar Named Desire, Kathleen Chalfant in Wit.

LTC: What's your favorite book from growing up?

Stan: I was a hardcore Encyclopedia Brown fan. That should have been a career hint, I guess.

LTC: What do you wish more people knew about librarians and what they do?

Stan: I wish people would stop making up new names for the profession (Information Architect, Knowledge Integrator, ad infinitum) and simply appreciate that “librarian” describes a multitude of careers.

Amy: Wow. With the nature and scope of those reference questions, there can be no denying how integral your library is to ALL of Conde Nast various brands! Sounds really fun and challenging. Tough break about the Gourmet tasting, uh.. I mean testing kitchen. :)

#59 - Extrovert Instructor Extraordinaire!

2010-03-11T10:40:00.001-08:00

Who you are: Nick Tomaiuolo
What you do: Instruction Librarian
Where you do it: Central Connecticut State University, Elihu Burritt Library, New Britain, Connecticut

LTC: What do you wish more people knew about librarians and what they do?

Nick: That there are (sometimes) more appropriate ways of locating information than searching Google, and even if one searches Google, a librarian might know a better way to perform the Google search.

LTC: What inspired you to become a librarian?

Nick: Working as a graduate student in the Trinity College (Hartford, CT) Library.

LTC: What they didn't tell you when you were getting your Master's Degree...

Nick: That even when you work in academia, there are a lot of politics to contend with.

LTC: Something about you that people would be surprised to learn?

Nick: I'm really an extrovert -- not an introvert!

LTC: What's in your DVD player right now?

Nick: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

LTC: What are your reading right now?

Nick: Mayor of Casterbridge, by Thomas Hardy.

LTC: Most rewarding thing that's happened recently?

Nick: Dr. Ran Hock, author of several books on searching, agreed to be interviewed for my next book.

Amy: Thanks Nick! Working in the library is often the way people get inspired to become librarians, isn't it? I guess because nobody really knows what it's like to do so until you get in there and see. People might be surprised that it can be a lively, creative, energy-filled, environment!

#58 - Realize your Research with Roberto!

2009-12-28T09:23:00.001-08:00

Who you are: Roberto C. Delgadillo
What you do: Humanities, Social Sciences and Government Information Services Librarian
Where you do it: Peter J. Shields Library, University of California, Davis

LTC: What they didn't tell you when you were getting your Master's Degree...

Roberto: The importance of networking within the profession and at times within one's own library...the experience of earning a graduate degree in library science/studies conveys the importance of libraries but not always librarians...that comes from meeting in person, if and when possible, via regional, national and international conferences.

LTC: You must use your powers of creativity most when...

Roberto: Having to imagine the various ways the research needs of my users may be met with not only the library's existing print collections but with the increasing number of open access projects on the web they may not be aware of...with my areas of subject responsibilities I'm kept rather busy as are my co-workers...but I enjoy it!

LTC: Best part of your job?

Roberto: Enabling my users to get a close look at the “behind the scenes” work that often goes on, undetected, right at the reference desk. In between questions, reference librarians of all stripes have a knack for appearing both welcoming and approachable to users. The casual observer strolling by the desk may wonder why the reference librarian appears to be “doing nothing.” Those who can see beyond our artfully arranged demeanor will learn that reference librarians are masters of multi-tasking and are taking advantage of every spare moment to fulfill an increasing number of responsibilities. The challenge is always to balance productivity with accessibility for our users.

LTC: Something about you that people would be surprised to learn?

Roberto: My self-created undergraduate degree from UCSC in German-Soviet Military History

LTC: What are your reading right now?

Roberto: I tend to read as many as 10 books at a time usually a chapter from a different one at least twice a day...at this moment, however, I'm only reading the following titles (1) Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö's The Man Who Went Up in Smoke (2)Apostolos Doxiadis and Christos H. Papadimitrou's Logiccomix: An Epic Search for Truth (3) Travis L. Ayres' The Bomber Boys: True Stories of B-17 Airmen in World War II (4) Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake and (5) Bryan Burrough's Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-34.

LTC: 80s new wave or 90s grunge?

Roberto: Without a doubt 80s new wave...and in particular 3 groups...The Smiths, The Style Council and Aztec Camera.

Amy: Thanks Roberto! I just read Logicomix. It's one of those great books that opens me up to other subjects and reading possibilities I would not have come upon otherwise.

#57 - Keeping up the Cool Stuff

2009-11-16T10:19:00.001-08:00

Who you are: Justin Hoenke
What you do: Teen Services Librarian
Where you do it: Cape May County Library, New Jersey

LTC: What new trend in library services is most exciting to you?

Justin: Social Networking/Facebook/Twitter. I'm really excited about promoting my library and our teen services through these tools.

LTC: Ideal vacation destination?
Justin: Sweden

LTC: You must use your powers of creativity most when...

Justin: Drumming up new ideas for teen programming at my library. I want to keep things fresh and have teens keep coming back to the library and exploring more of the cool stuff we offer.

LTC: You must be most patient when...

Justin: Patience is a good thing to practice every day.

LTC: Which resource or book surprises your teens the most?

Justin: I think the teens are still surprised that our library is here to help them! Teen programming is sort of a new thing at our library so I still get the comment that "You actually do things for teens?" quite a bit.

LTC: 80s New Wave or 90s Grunge?

Justin: 80's New Wave. I secretly wish I could dress up like a member of Duran Duran every day.

LTC: What are you reading right now?

Justin: The Beatles Recording Sessions by Mark Lewisohn. I've read this book over 20 times and I can't get enough of it.

Amy: Hee. The Duran Duran look is almost back in style! Of course, your teens might still be confused by your appearance. ;)

#56 - Serving the Student Community!

2009-10-29T19:07:00.001-07:00

Who you are: Bethy Park
What you do: Reference Librarian
Where you do it: Tunxis Community College, Farmington, CT

LTC: What might surprise people about the work you do at a community college library?

Bethy: The incredible variety of students and the fascinating questions they ask.

LTC: What inspired you to become a librarian?

Bethy: I love connecting people with information.

LTC: What do you wish more people knew about librarians and what they do?

Bethy: I wish more people knew that librarians are here to help you, to enrich your life, and deepen your education.

LTC: What are your reading right now?

Bethy: That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo, Things that Count by Gilbert Meilaender, and About Alice by Calvin Trillin.

LTC: Do you have any hobbies besides reading?

Bethy: Soccer, hiking, and all things foodie.

LTC: Favorite concert or theater performance you have ever attended?

Bethy: That's a three way tie: Devotchka, Ollabelle, and Hem.

Amy: Cool. What wonderfully diverse and interesting music concerts! Bethy, full disclosure: I've been watching that new television show "Community," and I get a little thrill with every scene that takes place in the library. Do you get that too? Sigh...

#55 - Cool and Clever!

2009-10-15T18:10:00.000-07:00

Who you are: Susan Kunkle
What you do: Youth Services Manager
Where you do it: Forest Park Public Library

LTC: What will libraries of the future look like?

Susan: Like anything and everything—which will be the beauty of them. They will be perfectly adaptable and flexible with the needs of their communities.

LTC: Resource you most like to tell students about about

Susan:http://scratch.mit.edu/ where kids can have free access to a super user-friendly programming tool they can use to create their own animations and games.

LTC: Favorite Picture Book

Susan: Cinderella Skeleton by Roberd D. San Souci and illustrated by David Catrow

LTC: Favorite Library Building?

Susan: Harold Washington Library

LTC: Any hobbies besides reading?

Susan: Writing, dancing, art

LTC: Best part of your job?

Susan: The kids, and all the opportunities to be creative!

Amy: Thanks Susan. I love the fact that creativity is a big part of the job. Creative problem solving, creative program creation, creative services...the list goes on. Librarianship invigorates the brain in unexpected ways!

LTC Needs YOU!

2009-09-29T15:13:00.000-07:00

[this is me...needing your help]

Hello Loyal LTC Followers!

I need your help. I've been conducting Librarian Trading Card "mini-interviews" for (gah!) almost 4 years now. As you know, The main idea of the blog is to highlight all the varied and interesting people that make up the profession. Up until now, I've been drawing the interview questions from my own curiosity and interests. BUT NOW I want to know what YOU want to know. Please send me your ideas for LTC interview questions, either in the Comments, or via email. They can be fun personal-type questions, or related to the profession.

I greatly appreciate your help!!

And while I'm here... Check out The Young Librarian Series, which is affiliated with Tame the Web. Librarian Trading Cards is featured this week! :)

Thank you in advance,
--Amy

#54 - The Good Ivy!

2009-09-26T11:23:00.000-07:00

Who you are: Ivy Miller
What you do: Upper School Librarian
Where you do it: Wyoming Seminary Upper School

LTC: What inspired you to become a librarian?

Ivy: Fell into it by walking through the library and seeing a young adult librarian position advertisement.

LTC: Most rewarding thing that's happened recently?

Ivy: Worked to donate 13,000 books to developing countries.

LTC: Do you think we'll all be reading ebooks someday?

Ivy: No - I think e-books are going to be a part of what we read.

LTC: Ideal vacation destination?

Ivy: Cape May, NJ

LTC: What's your favorite book from growing up?

Ivy: Hittie, her first 100 years

LTC: Do you have any hobbies besides reading?

Ivy: Community Service, walking,

LTC: What are your reading right now?

Ivy: The legend of the Monk and Merchant.

Amy: Thanks Ivy. 13,000 books?!? Wow, what a tremendous feat!

#53 - Extra Extra! Read All About Him!

2009-09-13T14:35:00.001-07:00

Who you are:Lassana (suit and tie wearing, motorcycle riding always cheerful) Magassa
What you do: What do I do, hmmm? My title is "Web Content Specialist." My job boils down to ensuring that our web site users have the best online experience possible. To accomplish this I perform an array tasks including tracking visitors to our web site and all of their activity during these visits (what they look at, what they search for, etc.), conducting interactive interviews via gotomeeting, where I have members walk me through how they use the site. I also explore and experiment with cutting-edge technologies that can be used to help enhance the functionality of our web site.
Where you do it: Association of National Advertisers

LTC: What resource do you most like to tell people about?

Lassana: I like to tell people about the proprietary marketing insights we house in our online collection of resources. It's something that they won't find anywhere else. It comes straight out the mouth of their peers—marketing professionals.

LTC:What's your favorite picture book?

Lassana: I don’t have just one specific favorite, but here’s one I’d like to give a shout-out to: Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold. Looking at it now, I am amazed at how much the book conveys. Wonderfully illustrated and set in my hometown, Harlem, Tar Beach’s message that “[A]nyone can fly. All you need is somewhere to go that you can’t get to any other way. The next thing you know, you're flying among the stars” is one I think is important to encourage in all children and adults.

LTC: What they didn't tell you when you were getting your Master's Degree?

Lassana: They didn't tell me how handy my BS in computer science would be—but then again, I was matriculated in the school library media specialist program.

LTC: What's the most exciting thing that libraries and librarians are doing today?

Lassana: Reinventing themselves, the profession, and the role of libraries in the organizations in which they exist. This shift is a bit unsettling for some, but I'm all for change and look forward to seeing where the profession goes. I hope to be one of the trailblazers to lead this transformation.

LTC: Do you have any weird library incidents to report?

Lassana: This is a story shared with me by a colleague. It’s about your proverbial "problem patron," and truly weird part occurred outside the library, actually.

Let's call this guy Dick—because he was one. When he'd enter the corporate library where my colleague used to work, he expected the librarians to immediately drop everything and assist him. He'd badger the staff until he got the information he needed, then belittle their efforts as inadequate, no matter what they did. “Thank you” was not part of his vocabulary. And because he was fairly high up on the corporate food chain, this behavior was tolerated for years.

One Monday morning some employees contacted my colleague and told her a rumor was going round that "Dick" had been killed the previous Friday evening. Could she find out if it was true? My colleague confirmed this by contacting the local police precinct—a step into the bizarre for someone who spent her days trolling through Nexis and Dialog.

But there's more: "Dick," she learned, had been at a brothel near the company's New York City Garment District office. He'd gone there right after work. (And while he was off in the whorehouse that Friday evening, she was still hard at it, trying to complete an information request.) But here's the thing: It turned out that there had been a holdup at the whorehouse, and "Dick" had been killed trying to protect the prostitutes from the robber.

To this day my colleague is ambivalent about her feelings. How many times had she thought "Drop dead, asshole"? Now he was. Sure, his end was shocking. Sure, it’s tragic when someone dies in the prime of life. Sure, his final act was selfless and courageous. She'd like to feel that he redeemed himself and that his death was a true loss. But she can't—not completely. And so whenever she thinks about him, all she feels is strange.

LTC: Best part of your job?

Lassana: The best part of my job is being the only man in my department....LOL. j/k. The best part of my job is actually the people I work with. I LOVE coming to work every day because of them! My job is pretty intense. I have my hands in multiple projects, am collaborating with several departments, juggle the occasional or not-so-occasional last-minute assignment, and put out brushfires. If it were not for being blessed (thank GOD) with my SPECTACULAR colleagues and a SUPERSTAR supervisor who supports me 100% and is always encouraging me to take things to the next level and think long term, I would've left a long time ago...serious!

Exploring and recommending new technologies that will enhance the way we service our web-site users comes in at a close second.

Taken together, these two things have made my advertising trade association job…priceless!

Amy: Thanks Lassana! Wow, that *is* a weird library incident... BTW: I know you love your job and all, but we sure could use all your expertise and enthusiasm over here in Public Libraryland. So, you know, if you're ever in need of a change, or something... ;)

#52 - Another Peep From Glendale!

2009-08-31T14:11:00.000-07:00

Who you are: Lyda (pronounced “Lie-Dah”) Truick
What you do: Children’s Librarian
Where you do it: Glendale Public Library - Central

LTC:Were libraries part of your childhood?

Lyda: Oh, yes! Some of my earliest memories are of being surrounded by books in the library.

LTC: What resource do you most like to tell people about?

Lyda: For those not familiar with libraries and their purpose, I recommend they take a “peep” at this website: https://www.millikin.edu/staley/about/peeps/Pages/default.aspx

LTC: What's in your DVD player right now?

Lyda: Well, the last movie I watched on DVD was “Taken” and then the DVD player broke

LTC: Do you have any weird or funny library incidents to report?

Lyda: We have these big windows in our children’s room that pigeons and seagulls fly into every once in a while, which is not very funny. However, it IS funny that they leave these big prints of themselves on the windows that show the wingspan and the beaks of the birds right at the moment of impact.

LTC: Best or Favorite place you've ever visited?

Lyda: Wow, that’s a tough one. I would have to say the most interesting place I’ve visited was Southeast Asia because it was so different to what I see on a regular basis.

LTC: Do you have any hobbies besides reading?

Lyda: Reading takes up most of my spare time, but one of the things the “ladies of the library” enjoy doing is organizing food tours of local restaurants, and we spend our city holidays traversing the city, sampling from various culinary venues. We call them our Food Foraging Frolicks.

Amy: The Peep study is a truly great illustration of library usage. Fair warning though, it is not for the faint of heart. Some of the peeps meet with gruesome and untimely ends. Fact: In the Library Creativity Abounds!!

#51 - Lively Librarian!

2009-08-24T09:58:00.001-07:00

Who you are: Shannon Distel Scanlan aka Lively Librarian
What you do: Technology Resources Librarian and Volunteer Coordinator
Where you do it: Prospect Heights Public Library in Prospect Heights, Illinois

LTC: Most rewarding thing that's happened recently?

Shannon: I attended the UNC-Oxford Summer Seminar, “Libraries and Librarianship: Past, Present and Future” at Oxford University in England for 2 weeks in May. As a participant and continuing education student I had access to the Bodleian Library and toured some of the oldest libraries and rare books collections at Oxford’s Colleges and the British Library.

LTC: Do you have any weird library incidents to report?

Shannon: We’ve had patrons arrive with dead insects they want to identify, worms escaping from their habitat before a composting class, cars driven into the library and a resident duck near our staff entrance.

LTC: What do you wish more people knew about librarians and what they do?

Shannon: Librarians are an interesting, diverse and eclectic group of professionals who love the written word and love problem solving. I’ve often described being a librarian to being a bartender, you learn what your patrons like and need to be a good listener.

LTC: Something about you that people would be surprised to learn?

Shannon: I’ve been a muse for plays and music.

LTC: Most challenging aspect of your work?

Shannon: Creating interesting and innovative ways to teach computer skills to seniors.

LTC: Favorite concert or theater performance you have ever attended?

Shannon: A Pirate’s Lullaby at the Goodman Theater in Chicago and the first tour of Riverdance.

LTC: What are you reading these days?

Shannon: Travel books, gardening books and fiction by Katie Fforde.

Amy: And now(drumroll...) for the Lively Librarian's Blog!
http://livelylibrarian.blogspot.com/

# 50 - Display Your Flower Power!

2009-08-13T13:36:00.001-07:00

Who you are: Jenny LaPerriere, Senior Librarian
What you do: Everything that could possibly go on at a branch library + merchandising my heart out
Where you do it: Schlessman Family Branch, Denver Public Library

LTC: Tell us a little about your "Merchandising" expertise, and what it means in terms of libraries:

Jenny: Co-authored a book on the subject Merchandising Made Simple: Using Standards and Dynamite Displays to Boost Circulation. Merchandising should just be part of what libraries do like the DDC or customer service. Merchandising makes your collection sing, pop out, and entertains, enlivens, and educates the customer. It is easy and you get an amazing return on your effort. I truly have a passion for library merchandising and hope that libraries in the future will go from "what?" to "duh!" when doing merchandising.

LTC: What do you consider one of the most valuable things that libraries offer?

Jenny: Free golf pencils

LTC: What's your favorite book from growing up?

Jenny: Katie John by Mary Calhoun

LTC: Something about you that people would be surprised to learn?

Jenny: I'm pretty much an open book and not very good at secrets.

LTC: Most rewarding thing that's happened recently?

Jenny: Every day I'm enchanted with my 4 year old son, Auden. He's so perfect and a miracle.

LTC: Best show on television (now or ever)?

Jenny: Pushing Daises was so quirky and witty not to mention that Chuck and Olive's wardrobe made me swoon.

Amy: Ah yes, the universal LYPs (little yellow pencils) - libraries and golf would never be the same without them! Thank you Jenny for sharing your merchandising expertise!

#49 - She (ena) is a punk rocker [researcher]!

2009-08-03T10:03:00.000-07:00

Who you are: Michelle Primeaux, Pratt Institute 2005.

What you do: I am a Marketing Information Specialist. This means that mostly, I do research on marketing topics for the members of our association. The service our team provides is one of the benefits of their membership.

Where you do it: The Association of National Advertisers (ANA), New York City. URL: http://www.ana.net/

LTC: What do you wish more people knew about librarians and what they do?

Michelle: Most of the time, when I tell people that I’m a librarian, they assume that I work behind a reference desk or work in a public library. When people think of the word “librarian,” they tend to think “book,” but I wish people knew that the library field is one of the most versatile and elastic professions that exists. For the most part, I do research on the Internet and in electronic databases (and I rarely come in contact with books anymore). But I also spend time creating content for our online database, tagging content and making sure it’s tagged correctly, dealing with periodical subscription issues, clipping articles for our files, and fielding surveys and benchmarks. Other people I know in the field program film series, work on intranet usability, upload and archive digital content, promote content or collections on Twitter, and more. The librarian profession is a very big tent.

LTC: What are you reading right now?

Michelle: Women as Lovers, by Elfriede Jelinek

It’s my first time reading anything by her. She writes as if she’s in the throws of a fever dream, which is not necessarily a bad thing!

LTC: Most rewarding thing that's happened recently?

Michelle: I got a raise! I wasn’t expecting to get one this year because of the economy, but the CEO of this organization is very prudent and frugal and put a plan into place that protected us from the worst. I’m very grateful for that.

LTC: What will the libraries of the future look like?

Michelle: I expect libraries to move away from print, and begin to vigorously use social media, especially in their online catalogs. People have been talking for some time about “social libraries,” and because everyone trusts peers more than anyone else for recommendations and advice, it’s only natural for libraries to move in this direction. There will always be people who prefer analog to digital, and real human interaction to social networks, and that’s great! But libraries of the future, I believe, will be much more virtual.

LTC: Something about you that people would be surprised to learn?

Michelle: I play loud electric guitar in a garage punk band, and I love to ROCK OUT.

LTC: Best book you've read in the recent past?

Michelle: Eat Pray Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it, and I recommended it to several people.

LTC: What's your favorite type of music?

Michelle: Punk rock, baby, yeah!

Amy: Powerful, enduring, often misunderstood... Yep, librarianship IS very punk rock!

#48 - Sharpe Librarian!

2009-07-25T15:20:00.001-07:00

Who you are: Chuck Wike
What you do: Community Relations Manager
Where you do it: Glendale Public Library, CA

LTC: If you were stranded on a desert island what would you *need* with you?

Chuck: The complete book of outdoor survival: everything you need if your outdoor adventure takes an unexpected turn; my bass with extra strings and cords; a solar generator and my bass amp.

LTC: Guess what? You get to have books on that island too! Which ones?

Chuck: Everything by Bernard Cornwell, author of the Sharpe’s series and the condensed scores to Mozart’s piano concertos--that should keep me occupied.

LTC: What's the most interesting or unusual service your institution provides?

Chuck: Our Brand Library & Art Center contains over 25K CDs, plus plenty of books on music, music scores, a computerized song index, art exhibition catalogs, a recital hall and a large art gallery—and we’re a public library! This amazing facility is a 1904 mansion located in a large park--brandlibrary.org!

LTC: What's in your DVD player

Chuck: Ouro Negro, a musical tribute to Brazilian composer Moacir Santos; The Gadd Gang Live; and, if I get one for father’s day, the comedy, Big Man Japan.

LTC: What qualities make a good librarian?

Chuck: The ability to listen; flexibility; a sense of humor in order to weather budget cuts.

LTC: Favorite concert or theater performance you have ever attended?

Chuck: (It was the question I had to think about the hardest so of course I left it for the end)...

Beauty and the Beast at the Schubert Theatre in LA. My kids had never been to a performance like that so it was memorable from that perspective. But what has stayed with me was a moment when the older actress playing the teapot busted out an honest to goodness Aretha Franklin vocal move that made my jaw drop. She blew me away with her brief homage to the Queen of Soul. Context is everything.

Amy: No kidding about the sense of humor/budget cuts thing. Even though it feels not funny, we've got to keep our chins up through the tough times. I always turn to the geniuses at Unshelved for some library-related laughs:http://www.unshelved.com/

#47 - Big Apple Librarian!

2009-07-16T18:10:00.001-07:00

Who you are: Michelle Dollinger, MS LIS (Pratt Institute, 2006)

What you do: Intranet manager responsible for the information architecture, usability and content management of the global portal. Official title: User Experience and Territory Relationship Manager.

Where you do it: PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York, NY (Big 4 accounting firm)

LTC: What are some of the benefits/perks of working for an organization like PricewaterhouseCoopers? Do you get to know who won the Oscars before everyone else?(I couldn't resist that dumb joke).

Michelle: I wish the job came along with a ticket to the Oscar's, but that's all closely held at the top, obviously. But we did feature a great timeline this year on the website and intranet which had a visual history of all the different presenters.

A job-related perk of working at PricewaterhouseCoopers is that it is a company that depends on having good information and it is working to create a rich knowledge-sharing environment where the intranet plays a vital role. A fun perk is that everyone gets a minimum of 10 hours a year to do volunteer work for the community - I participate in Big Brothers Big Sisters of NY and I love it!

LTC: Tell us a little about MLIS in terms of the user-centered design/experience industry. Where do you think it's headed?

Michelle: I consider my work as a usability professional to be a natural career path which is well-suited to an information professional’s skills. I don't see it as an alternative library career, but one of the few growth areas in special/corporate libraries.

I think usability practitioners and hiring managers are slowly starting to recognize the value that the MS LIS can bring - taxonomy and organization skills, a user-focused or customer service orientation and an intellectual curiosity. But I do think we have to stop explaining what "librarians" do and just learn to talk about our skills in a way that shows value to the company's bottom line.

LTC: What inspired you to get your degree?

Michelle: I had a journalism and an information technology background and I wanted to find a way to combine them and get paid to uncover information and patterns. I also was afraid to pursue a MS in IT because I thought I'd end up in a dark room in the basement staring at blinking lights all day and night. I really like connecting people with information.

LTC: What's in your DVD player?

Michelle: I'm a loyal Netflix subscriber since I never watch anything twice - so next in my queue is Blindness. The Jose Saramango novel freaked me out when I read it and I'm a bit afraid to watch the movie, but I feel compelled to do it. It forever changed the way I look at society.

LTC: Do you have any hobbies besides reading?

Michelle: I am a hardcore computer geek so I spend endless hours reading online and finding new sites on the web, but I also enjoy watching stand-up comedy (my husband is a professional comic). I love to laugh and Lolcats is a favorite site. When I get outside, I like to play tennis or just walk around NYC. Stuck indoors? I'll take bowling (I have my own shoes and bowling ball, but I'm still learning)

LTC: Favorite depiction of a librarian in fiction/TV/movies?

Michelle: Maybe cliche, but it would have to be Katharine Hepburn in Desk Set... I have been accused of thinking I know everything! Other than that, I guess I kind of fantasized about being like the helpful library clerk in All the President's Men.

Amy: Again we have a very tech-savvy librarian in a non-traditional role (PwC no less!). I still think they should give you tickets to the Academy Awards. What? Too much to ask? You do play a very important role for them!

#46 - Connie of CSLA!

2009-07-08T09:20:00.000-07:00

Who you are: Connie Williams
What you do: Teacher Librarian
Where you do it: Petaluma, CA

LTC: Why are school librarians essential?

Connie: Strong school libraries allow every student to become the best that they can be - which is, I believe, the point of education.

LTC: What resource do you most like to tell people about

Connie: I'm a big fan of shmoop and jing right now.

LTC: What are you reading right now?

Connie: Reality Check by Peter Abrahams - an exciting mystery. But my ALL TIME favorite is: Earth Abides by George Stewart.

LTC: Most rewarding thing that's happened recently?

Connie: I love working with the folks in CSLA- that's VERY rewarding.
co-developing the 2.0 tutorials was incredibly rewarding also.

LTC: Do you have any hobbies besides reading?

Connie: I play the cross-strung harp, I bike, crochet, hike and hang out.
Ha ha...I am trying to learn guitar, but I cannot, absolutely cannot make the "c" chord.

LTC: Favorite concert or theater performance you have ever attended?

Connie: Ever??? I used to work the stage lighting for the Mondavi concerts in Napa - I saw many great artists and had a wonderful time working there.
But I reckon the best theater performances I ever saw were the ones my children were in as they were growing up. :)

Amy: The folks at CSLA (California School Library Association) are working very hard to advocate for the vital, but always marginalized, part of the education system here in CA: School Libraries and Librarians. Check out some of their most recent efforts, and please, help us spread the word.

School Library Learning 2.0
CA School Libraries Wiki

#45 - Supervisor Extraordinaire

2009-07-01T10:08:00.000-07:00

Who you are: Pam Pleviak
What you do: Librarian
Where you do it: Grayslake Community High School

LTC: What they didn't tell you when you were getting your Master's Degree...

Pam: that a large amount of my time would deal with supervision.

LTC: Do you have any hobbies besides reading?

Pam: Yoga, wine tasting, cooking.

LTC: Most rewarding thing that's happened recently?

Pam: Our book club blossomed to 40 students

LTC: What do you wish more people knew about librarians and what they do?

Pam: We support people in learning, finding jobs and solving life problems

LTC: What will the libraries of the future look like?

Pam: Connected, collaborative, networked with a stack of great fiction for good measure.

LTC: What's on your ipod/cd player right now?

Pam: The Rat Pack, World Music, Hilary Stagg

Amy: Pam, a book club with 40 students is more like a book party! Sounds like fun though. :)

#44 - Something for the Fans

2009-06-19T11:09:00.001-07:00

Who you are: Terry Baxter
What you do: Archivist/Records Manager
Where you do it: Multnomah County (Oregon) Records Program, located in beautiful Portland Oregon.

LTC: What inspired you to go into archives?

Terry: The cash! I was a poor student working his way through college and a student worker job at the Oregon State Archives opened up. I started out working on a calendar of Territorial Government documents. Once there, I was hooked.

LTC: Best or most fascinating part of your job?

Terry: The interaction with people. The popular myth about archives and archivists is that they hide in the basement pawing though dusty boxes. The reality is that archivists are mixing it up with researchers of all sorts, other heritage professionals, their colleagues, their gangs of adoring fans . . .

LTC: What's on your ipod/cd player right now?

Terry: I use Pandora and Lala. Right now I'm listening to White Zombie.

LTC: If you had to choose: Mystery, SciFi, Romance, or Westerns?

Terry: None of the above. I mostly read poetry and non-fiction. But if I had to choose, it'd probably be westerns. I love the mythos of the west and the rugged individuals who people it. And I was a Louis L'Amour junkie as a kid.

LTC: If you could visit (or work in!) any archive in the world, which would it be?

Terry: Besides this wonderful one? The Holocaust Museum would be a rewarding place to work. It gives me chills (bad and good) every time I go. But I'd most want to set up and be the lone arranger in a Miami Dolphins Archives and Research Library, situated on South Beach, with season passes to lower level 50-yardline seats.

LTC: Any hobbies besides reading?

Terry: Hmmm. Camping and fishing. Hiking. Rockhounding. Taking pictures. Outdoorsey stuff like that.

LTC: Best concert or theater performance you've ever attended.

Terry: I have two. Holly Cole's Christmas Concert in Vancouver in December 2004 and Amelia's CD release party for After All in May 2004 at the Aladdin.

Amy: I thought you were kidding about going into archives for the cash. The information professions are almost always for love not money. At any rate, good luck with that Dolphins gig!

#43 - Cool Uncool Librarian

2009-06-16T13:13:00.000-07:00

Who you are: Erica Carlson Nicol
What you do: Humanities/Social Sciences & E-Resources Librarian
Where you do it: Washington State University

LTC: What's the most interesting or unusual service your institution provides?

Erica: Because we’re an academic library, people are often surprised at how many graphic novels and science fiction novels we have. And since Edward R. Murrow went to school here, I sometimes get to show people photos of him in our old yearbooks.

LTC: Most rewarding thing that's happened recently?

Erica: I’ve loved libraries for a long time, so realizing that libraries scare students made me start researching library anxiety and how to combat/alleviate it. So far, working on good personal interactions with students is one of the best tools I have to take away the scare factor and help them build confidence in using our collections and navigating our buildings. When students I’ve worked with stop at the reference desk to say thanks and show me the books they’ve found or tell me about how they used one of our databases, I get a big, cheesy grin on my face.

LTC: What they didn't tell you when you were getting your Master's Degree...

Erica: No one told me that I’d have to learn enough computer troubleshooting to be considered one of the first people called when there are tech problems or questions. Surprisingly, this has been an area where my non-techie background is often helpful; my own past experiences with computer confusion helps me to explain things clearly.

LTC: Something about you that people would be surprised to learn?

Erica: I learned to smoke and skinny dip while working at a summer bible camp.

LTC: If you weren't a librarian, what would you be?

Erica: Either a starving artist or a veterinarian, but I like to imagine that I would be a screen writer working with Aaron Sorkin and/or Joss Whedon.

LTC: Favorite type of music?

Erica: I lean toward folk, blues, and fiddle music, but every now and then I get an Ingrid Michaelson or Katy Perry song stuck in my head.

LTC: What you're reading right now.

Erica: The Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less, by Barry Schwartz, and a really well-written mystery, A Fountain Filled With Blood, by Julia Spencer-Fleming.

Amy: We got Erica because her friend requested a card for her! Yep, we do that around here...Thanks Shelly and Erica! BTW: Here is Erica's Blog: http://uncoollibrarian.blogspot.com/

# 42 - Great Rewards

2009-06-07T18:12:00.000-07:00

Who you are: Luiza Rousseve
What you do: School Librarian for kindergarten through 6th grade
Where you do it: Chadwick School in Palos Verdes, CA

LTC: What's your favorite book from growing up?

Luiza: Totally impossible to choose just one. I loved anything by Roald Dahl; A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson; The Little Prince; The Ramona Quimby books.

LTC: What's the best thing you've heard a child say about books/reading/libraries/you?

Luiza: Well, it's actually from a parent. A mom told me that their child used to hate coming to the library for his classroom's weekly visits and felt intimidated and uncomfortable there. But she said that since I started here, he's actually been excited and looking forward to library day. How can you beat that?

LTC: What do you wish more people knew about librarians and what they do?

Luiza: That we don't sit around and read all day at work. I only get to read a few "grown-up" books a year. The rest of my free time is devoted to reading kids books and book reviews - all of which I do outside of work, thank you very much.

LTC: What's on your ipod/cd player right now?

Luiza: Rufus Wainwright, Bjork, X, Kate Bush, Jeff Buckley, lots of '80s punk.

LTC: Something about you that people would be surprised to learn?

Luiza: That I had quite a goth phase growing up, and I like to think of myself as having an inner goth now.

LTC: What's your favorite book from adulthood?

Luiza: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.

Amy: I don't think we always get to hear about how librarians are making a positive impact. Thus, I'll never tire of hearing the anecdotes about when we do. Thanks Luiza!

#41 - The Wild Side of Libraries

2009-05-31T21:30:00.001-07:00

Who you are: Kaitlyn Rose Means
What you do: Assistant Librarian
Where you do it: San Diego Zoo Library

LTC: What's your favorite book from growing up?

Kaitlyn: My favorite book growing up was Matilda, by Roald Dahl. I read it over 20 times, which was quite an accomplishment for an 8-year-old, since it was *hundreds* of pages long.

LTC: What inspired you to become a librarian?

Kaitlyn:The revelation that I could spend time searching for things on the internet and somehow get paid for it.

LTC: What resource do you most like to tell people about?

Kaitlyn: Our website, of course! Lovingly maintained on a daily basis by yours truly. I strongly believe that you should be able to find most everything you need to know about animals and zoos on it. It also holds the key to that most-asked question, "Do you have this article?"

LTC: Best part of your job?

Kaitlyn:Getting to meet adorable animals. Being that girl who knows weird facts about animals. Reading articles about another species that's endangered and thinking, "Oh, what I'm doing today helps fix this." (Okay, that was three, but come on...)

LTC: What's in your DVD player?

Kaitlyn: Either an Arrested Development DVD, or a Star Trek: The Original Series DVD. I don't have a long enough attention span to watch movies very often, but my boyfriend thinks that sitting around watching TV episodes together is a more social
activity than sitting on the couch reading different books. He's usually right about these things.

Amy: Argh! Kaitlyn, I'm just going to say it. I want your job. Okay, not really, but working at a zoo library is amazingly cool. I would be seriously distracted by the animals, though. I don't know how you do it! I'm glad you can keep your composure... :)

P.S. we can't NOT link to the website, can we?!?! http://library.sandiegozoo.org/about.htm

P.P.S! Check out Kaitlyn's awesome new(ish) blog! I'm definitely going to add it to my RSS feeds.
http//librarianscience.wordpress.com/

#40 - It's Oh So Quiet...

2009-05-23T09:55:00.000-07:00

Who you are: Jordan Boaz
What you do: Teen Librarian
Where you do it: Sam Garcia Western Avenue Library in Avondale, Arizona

LTC: What do you consider one of the most valuable things that libraries offer?

Jordan: Knowledge. I think of libraries as a gateway to your community and beyond. It's really great to be able to go into a library and get information for free in the form of a book or other materials.

LTC: What will the libraries of the future look like?

Jordan: Libraries of the future are still going to be information hubs. As the ways we get information changes, libraries will adapt. I have confidence that they will be able to because they have withstood the changes from books to tapes to CDs to the internet through adaptation.

LTC: What book would you recommend to almost anyone?

Jordan: Only one?! Such a tough decision. Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point. Superbly written, as all of his books are, and easy for any reader to relate to.

LTC: Favorite concert or theater performance you have ever attended?

Jordan: "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" in Piccadilly Circus. The atmosphere, environment and the performance came together so well; it was an amazing show.

LTC: What's on your ipod/cd player right now?

Jordan: I've been listening to a lot of Say Anything. I've adored their music for years.

LTC: Do you have any weird library incidents to report?

Jordan: Doesn't every library professional? My most recent weird incident would have to be the man who wrote a song for me and came in to sing it a capella. The whole library was hushed, naturally, and he walked up to the desk singing about a blue eyed princess. It was amazingly awkward to say the least.

Amy: Hey Jordan, think of it this way, at least your admirer provided some great entertainment for patrons of the library! Ha ha. I love the weird library stories, every librarian has 'em! :)

#39 - Rewarding Read-Alouds!

2009-05-17T14:59:00.001-07:00

Who you are: Luanne Webb
What you do: I am a children’s librarian. I am responsible for Pajama Storytime, public storytime, a monthly science program, reader’s advisory, reference and an assortment of other duties.
Where you do it: Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library in Topeka, KS

LTC: Were libraries part of your childhood?

Luanne: Absolutely! As long as I can remember I have had a library card. I put several through the wash because they were always in my pocket.

LTC: What's your favorite book from growing up?

Luanne: Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

LTC: What they didn't tell you when you were getting your Master's Degree...

Luanne: That I would have to do so much disciplining or how busy I would be!

LTC: What's in your DVD player?

Luanne: Season 1 of The Office

LTC: Most rewarding thing that's happened recently?

Luanne: The oohs and aahs I heard while reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar Pop-Up book during Pajama Storytime. The children loved the book. One little boy asked if he could buy it. When a child loves a book, it’s awesome.

LTC: What's the most interesting or unusual service your institution provides?

Luanne: We have five Outreach Storytellers who provide storytimes to the county’s preschools and childcare centers. We also have the R.E.A.D. (Read Education Assistance Dogs) program. The certified therapy dogs listen to children read in a non-judgmental environment.

Amy: I love the 'read to a dog' programs. Such a brilliant concept. I understand other animals can be involved too: read to a bunny, read to a chinchilla, read to an iguana. The possibilities are endless! Thanks Luanne, keep up the good work!

# 38 - High Class Librarian

2009-05-02T17:38:00.000-07:00

Who you are: Stella Harpley
What you do: Librarian in an interior design firm for high end residential properties
Where you do it: Candy & Candy, Westminster, London

LTC: It looks like you have a unique librarian position, tell us how you got into it and how it differs from a more traditional librarian job.

Stella: I was brought up being taken to art galleries and museums and my father had been a sculptor in his spare time, so when I was at library school I took an option in art librarianship and I have always worked in either art or design libraries. I have worked in museums, galleries (including Victoria & Albert Museum), an art college, a government art collection and 4 architecture/interior design firms. One job I got through meeting someone at a lecture on architecture. She was moving back to New Zealand and suggested I come for an interview. Once you’re in that field future employers can’t imagine you doing anything else.

The work is still about organising things – except the things can be carpet samples, paint swatches or pieces of passementerie (trim). I have a security system and each item is barcoded like in a regular library – fabric and carpet samples have kimble tagged labels. Unusual items in my collection include precious stones used to clad walls and leather floor tiles though I also have digital cameras, laser measures and even an iron and ironing board.

I use Access-IT software and can download book covers and bibliographic data from Amazon and other Z39.50 sites for my catalogue. I have tricky users who stop me doing my work and I have to set up a lot of ground rules to encourage them to be more social minded with their borrowing. They like to hoard things in their project boxes for months on end.

Every day I meet suppliers who show me their products and offer samples for my library. I have a special display case for larger objects and this currently features a £3000 tap designed by Zaha Hadid and some leather made from salmon skin, amongst other things. My latest acquisition is a set of over 120 A5 sized wood samples from one of our veneer suppliers. These are set in custom designed drawers. There are woods I had never even heard of before in them.

The designers set out their client presentations on beautiful leather trays and occasionally clients meet in the library. I have a music system and my own kitchen and dumb waiter to bring heavy deliveries up to the 7th floor. The bosses better watch out or I’ll be changing the locks and moving into my penthouse l;ibrary with views of Houses of Parliament, London Eye and Canary Wharf.

LTC: What inspired you to become a librarian?

Stella: I am a second generation librarian! My dad and stepmum worked in education libraries. I grew up in a house full of quite a lot of de-accessioned books (my Mum is a bibliophile too).

I guess I am genetically programmed to organise!

LTC: If you were stranded on a desert island what would you *need* with you?

Stella: A digital camera to record the flora and fauna around me. I love to photograph weird and wonderful things – check out my Flick profile Chandos photography.

LTC: Guess what? You get to have books on that island too! Which ones?

Stella: Life: a user’s manual – written by George Perec a French librarian! Fanny Hill by John Cleland – escapist titillation.

LTC: What do you think might be one of the most valuable things that libraries will offer in the future?

Stella: A community space when chaos exists in the world outside.

LTC: Do you have any weird library incidents to report?

Stella: In a previous library I spent 3 days looking for an image of bookseller’s stalls by the Seine in Paris that a senior designer had “definitely” seen in a recent magazine. They turned out to be holiday photos of a property developer contact of the business owner. In the same company I spent a day and a half researching artificial grass for the thatched roof of the playhouse of the owners’ daughter. Very strange.

LTC: Favorite concert or theater performance you have ever attended?

Stella: Anthony Sher in Richard III at Barbican in 1985. He writes about his preparation for the role in a brilliant book called Year of the King. Definitely inspirational.

Amy: Woah. That was so cool. It's always awesome to get a unique and interesting librarian perspective. I think a lot of people out there might be surprised to learn how varied library jobs can be.

Thanks Stella! Just for fun and kicks, for the inspiration for your Trading Card
click here.

# 37 - Arty, Edgy and Fun

2009-04-27T20:49:00.000-07:00

Who you are: Sandy Moltz
What you do: Reference & Young Adult Librarian
Where you do it: Swampscott Public Library, MA

LTC: Does your library offer any particularly creative or unique services?

Sandy: We have an author series that gets pretty impressive authors for our small town (14,000)--Eleanor Lipman, Tom Perrotta, Roland Merullo, just to name a few.
And as a young adult librarian, I have 2 programs I love--a teen poetry contest for 7th through 12th graders, awarding 14 prizes each year for original poems.
And the local teen band concert, featuring 10 bands playing outside next to the ocean. Usually draws a big crowd, and it's 5 hours, with each band getting 30 minutes for their set. I just love it--so creative, so much fun. I always have more bands that want to play than I have available time slots. See the pix on flickr--
here.

LTC: What will the libraries of the future look like?

Sandy: I wish they all would look like the Seattle Public Library--arty, edgy, and fun. Unfortunately, unless municipal budgets improve, they will look shuttered and dark.

LTC: What they didn't tell you when you were getting your Master's Degree...

Sandy: I got my degree so long ago that I didn't realize that technology would be so preeminent in my field.

LTC: Most rewarding thing that's happened recently?

Sandy: Reading the 14 poems that were written by the finalists in our teen poetry contest. The Awards Ceremony will be at the end of the month, and I enjoy putting the face with the poem.

LTC: Favorite book from when you were a teenager?

Sandy: Autobiography of Malcolm X.

LTC: What are listening to/watching these days?

Sandy: Listening to Jay Reatard, King Khan, Frank Black, TV on the Radio, and looking forward to buying the new Thermals album.

Amy: BTW - the picture Sandy sent me is so great, I just thought I'd share it in its full glory here.

# 36 - Amazing GraceAnne!

2009-04-25T16:25:00.001-07:00

Who you are: GraceAnne Andreassi DeCandido
What you do: part-time lecturer, children's and Young Adult Literature, Rutgers University; editor, reviewer, occasional speaker, writer.
Where you do it: I teach online from my home office aerie on the second floor of my 1911 house in the green and leafy Northeast Bronx.

LTC: What resource do you most like to tell people about?

GraceAnne: At the moment, teaching people to use RSS feeds to manage their blog reading.

LTC: What if everyone read more often?

GraceAnne: People are reading more often, just more of it in pixels than on paper. But if everyone read books more often, there would be more interesting words in daily discourse.

LTC: What are you reading right now?

GraceAnne: Anne Fadiman's At Large and At Small: Familiar Essays.

LTC: Best part of your job?

GraceAnne: Watching my graduate students get excited about genres they have never read in before.

LTC: What's the most exciting thing that libraries and librarians are doing today?

GraceAnne: The same thing we have always done. Connecting people and ideas from job search to gaming, storytimes from toddlers to elders, ideas fair and foul.

LTC: Favorite depiction of a librarian in fiction/TV/movies?

GraceAnne: Rupert Giles, school librarian of Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series. I wrote the cover article about Giles for American Libraries, September 1999.

Amy: I'm right with you on RSS feeds and blog management. I'm working on making that leap from feeling comfortable with doing it myself, and imparting that knowledge to others. I truly believe that instruction (like librarianship) lives somewhere between an art and a science!

#35 - Versatile Skillz

2009-04-19T13:36:00.000-07:00

Who you are: Lisa Grimm
What you do: Assistant Archivist
Where you do it: Drexel University College of Medicine Archives & Special Collections

LTC:If you were stranded on a desert island what would you *need* with you?

Lisa: Mad MacGyver skillz and a satellite phone.

LTC: Guess what? You get to have books on that island too! Which ones?

Lisa: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and Joy in the Morning, both by Betty Smith; Howards End, E.M. Forster; any number of Bill Bryson books.

LTC: What kinds are archives do you work with?

Lisa: Our full department title is the Archives & Special Collections on Women in Medicine and Homeopathy; predecessor institutions were the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania (founded 1850) and Hahnemann Medical College (founded 1848). I usually work with the women in medicine side of things, although sometimes I tackle the homeopathy angle.

LTC: What's one of the most interesting things or items you've come across in your work?

Lisa: We have so much great stuff – a late 19th century letter from a woman offering her body to science so that her ‘cured nymphomania’ could be studied; a permission pass allowing one of our students to work as a doctor for both armies during the Civil War; tons of information on women doctors serving unofficially during and after World War I. We also have the odd skeleton in storage.

LTC: What inspired you to become an archivist?

Lisa: I started off as an archaeologist and fell into a dot-com career shortly thereafter entirely by accident; about ten years later, I realized I missed touching old things, so I duly headed to library school and got to combine the best of both professions (salary excepted, of course).

LTC: Do you think there will always be physical archives, or will they all be digital or virtual someday?

Lisa: There will always be physical ones, if only because there’s simply not enough time to scan everything we already have! It will be interesting to see how we manage born digital documents, however – that’s the next challenge.

LTC: Any hobbies?

Lisa: I write a horse racing blog at superfectablog.com and am a certified beer judge (which is a fancy way of saying I go to the track and homebrew). If I had free time and a babysitter, I’d still see a lot of theatre and music.

LTC: What are you listening to/watching these days?

Lisa: I’m waiting patiently for the new Divine Comedy album to come out; the Lucksmiths are helping with that. I’m waiting less patiently for the latest Doctor Who episodes to arrive Stateside, but in the meantime I have How I Met Your Mother. Neil Patrick Harris makes everything better.

Amy: Wow, there are SO many interesting facets of your life. The archives alone are awesome, but then the horseracing AND homebrew, I suspect you might be the life of the party! My partner Jake and I dabble in homebrew as well - a satisfying hobby on many levels. Thanks Lisa, that was fun.

# 34 - Bollywood Loving Boomer!

2009-04-15T12:11:00.000-07:00

Who you are: Colleen Mills Williams
What you do: High School Media Specialist / collaborative projects
Where you do it: Apalachee High School - Winder, GA / evenings online

LTC: What's your favorite picture book?

Colleen: Eachean Eric Edmundson's "The Owl Who Wouldn't Toot." One of my sons is the author/illustrator of this picture book and he's now considering options for publishing it.

LTC: What do you wish more people knew about librarians and what they do?

Colleen: Across traditional and emerging formats, Librarians serve to expand your options and connections for turning information into knowledge.

LTC: What's in your DVD player?

Colleen: "Stranger Than Fiction" - a 2006 movie that I haven't seen.

LTC: Do you have any hobbies besides reading?

Colleen: I try my hand at Acrylic portrait painting and various crafts. Also, I adore classic and new Bollywood movies.

LTC: Most rewarding thing that's happened recently?

Colleen: The inspiration and productivity gained by connecting with various generations, people with diverse expertise and interests, via social network tools is life-altering. As a female Boomer, I enjoy entering online spaces and conversations where least expected.

LTC: What resource do you most like to tell people about?

Colleen: Bookmark the "Learning Tools Directory" maintained by the Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies: http://www.c4lpt.co.uk/Directory/.

Amy: Thanks Colleen! Your hobbies and interests are well-rounded. As is the case with many librarians (we come across so much good media and information in our day-to-day, it's hard to avoid having eclectic taste!) I'm ashamed to admit that I have actually never watched a Bollywood film. Although, I saw the Broadway musical called, Bombay Dreams, which was really awesome!

# 33 - For the Win

2009-04-06T17:38:00.000-07:00

Who you are: Donna Cavallini
What you do: Business Development Research and Competitive Intelligence
Where you do it: Arnold & Porter LLP

LTC: For all us lay people out there, please tell us what Competitive Intelligence is:

Donna: Competitive intelligence is research and analysis which produces actionable insights that drive tactical and strategic decision-making. Basically, I give management the information they need to decide how to set priorities, respond to market conditions and trends, and outmaneuver the competition.

LTC: How does your experience as a librarian help you in your present position?

Donna: Being a librarian has taught me how to ask the right questions and how research is iterative. It’s taught me how databases are structured so that I can ferret out the hidden, how to piece together bits of information to build a case, and how to leave no stone unturned. I’m inquisitive by nature, but being a librarian honed my skills.

LTC: What's your favorite picture book?

Donna: Any cookbook, but particularly baking books. What could be more beautiful than a walnut boule or a custard tart?

LTC: What they didn't tell you when you were getting your Master's Degree...

Donna: That you will never have all of the information you need to make a fully informed decision. Ever. And that it doesn’t really matter in the end, because you can connect the dots anyway.

LTC: What's the most exciting thing that libraries and librarians are doing today?

Donna: Taking on more active roles, becoming visible on the front line, and getting recognition for their contributions. I smile every time I hear the NPR librarians credited for their help with stories!

LTC: Best part of your job?

Donna: Finding the smoking gun, the piece of information that gives my team the edge. I’m uber-competitive, and this job gives me opportunities to win every single day.

LTC: What are you reading right now?

Donna: I’m dividing my time between issues of Psychology Today and Scientific American Mind. I like understanding what makes people tick, but I like understanding myself better too.

Amy: Fascinating stuff. Makes me think about all the different skills that go into librarianship and how people choose to put them to use. From puppets and kids books, to classes and computers, to competitive market research!!

#32 - Master of The Music...Library

2009-03-30T10:07:00.000-07:00

Who you are: Ashlie Conway
What you do: Music Librarian for Audio and Digital Services
Where you do it: University of South Carolina

LTC: What's on your ipod/cd player right now?

Ashlie: I have recently discovered the group Alarm Will Sound. My favorite cd of theirs is Acoustica: Alarm Will Sound Performs Aphex Twin.

LTC: What they didn't tell you when you were getting your Master's Degree...

Ashlie: They didn’t tell me in library school that being an academic librarian means lots and lots of committees and that trying to get tenure requires a lot of paperwork.

LTC: Most rewarding thing that's happened recently?

Ashlie: I had to speak at our School of Music’s seminar, which is about 150+/- undergrads. I had 40 minutes to talk about the library. I taught them what interlibrary loan (ILL) was and how to use it. The next day a student who had attended that seminar came to me to ask for more help on getting registered for ILL. Ever since, I’ve seen him almost daily in the library!

LTC: What's your favorite picture book?

Ashlie: Picture books aren’t my specialty and I hate picking favorites. But since photography is a hobby of mine, anything involving macro photography, landscapes, architecture, or unusual portraits is worth a look.

LTC: What inspired you to become a librarian?

Ashlie: My late Grandmother instilled a strong love for books and reading in me from a very early age. She grew up during the Great Depression, graduated from school at the age of 16, but couldn’t afford college, much less $1 for her senior yearbook. As a child, I would marvel at all the books she would check out in her weekly trips to the public library. I recently looked through some family vacation photos, and in every picture she had a book in her lap.

In elementary school, I won fourth place in a reading contest. I think I read 104 books in the given time frame, and I would’ve won the contest had I not had a family emergency requiring me to miss three days of school. A few years later, my family made a video of my Dad racing motorcycles at the local track. The video pans over, and you see pre-adolescent Ashlie sitting on a tree stump, reading, totally ignoring the dirt and motorcycles flying around her. Deep down, books have always been special to me.

In 2006 I was in graduate school for my Master’s in Music Education. I was the graduate assistant for the Carolina Bands, and in that position, you must choose to work with the band’s library or the smelly band uniforms. I worked in the band library, and just before my last semester of music grad school, I heard about this class on music librarianship. I decided to take it, and fell head over heels in love with librarianship. To sweeten the deal, I had an amazing mentor who is now my boss- Jennifer Ottervik.

LTC: What do you wish more people knew about librarians and what they do?

Ashlie: Three things I hear all the time are, “You must be a MASTER of the Dewey Decimal system, huh?” Most people think we all use Dewey Decimal, but we don’t. Another thing I hear is, “You’re a music librarian? Oh. I thought you were a regular librarian.” I AM a regular librarian! I went through mostly the same training as non-specialized librarians, I just did a little extra in music. The third thing I hear is, “Gosh, don’t you get tired of putting books in the catalog?” No, I don’t get tired of it, because I’m not that type of librarian. Most people have no clue that there are different types of librarians. It is fun to explain the difference to people in what I do (web pages, digital archiving, music reference) versus what a cataloger does. The look on the face of someone who has just seen a MARC record for the first time is priceless to me!

Amy: I know! It's funny, people realize that there are all types of doctors, lawyers, teachers, etc., but there is only one type of librarian... The type that memorizes the Dewey Decimal System, catalogs books, and of course, shushes you! ;)

# 31 - KAMA Kameleon (I couldn't resist)

2009-03-26T17:59:00.000-07:00

Who you are: Kama Sue Siegel
What you do: Acquisitions/Reference Librarian & Cataloger Extraordinaire
Where you do it: Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, Portland, OR

LTC: Do you have any hobbies besides reading?

Kama: Triathlons, watching sports (live and on TV), traveling, solving crossword puzzles, playing games, coaching ultimate frisbee, entertaining my pets

LTC: What inspired you to become a librarian?

Kama: I was still planning to become an attorney, so it actually wasn't on my radar at all. But an academic librarian friend of mine remarked one day that it seemed like the perfect job for me. So I looked into it and bam, it all fell into place.

LTC: What's on your ipod/cd player right now?

Kama: Wow, all kinds of stuff. But I am most excited about the new K'Naan "Troubadour" and also I'm on a Kate Nash kick. I tend to like angry or sad music...

LTC: What they didn't tell you when you were getting your Master's Degree...

Kama: Well, I did mine online, and I never anticipated it being such a ridiculous amount of work. It's not like a brick-and-mortar school where you can take your materials home and do all of your work there, and not really have discussions with people until you get back to class. But with the online experience (particularly since I "attended" Drexel, on the east coast), you get all paranoid that you're going to miss a discussion topic. Plus, a lot of the professors made discussion part of your grade, so you always had to be checking the boards. It was the first thing I did when I got up in the morning and the last thing I did before I went to bed.

LTC: What are your reading right now?

Kama: Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky. I'm also rereading Little, Big by John Crowley (for book club). And of course, trying to keep up with my New Yorkers.

LTC: What do you think might be one of the most valuable things that libraries/librarians will offer in the future?

Kama: I feel like the more information we're bombarded with (and the amount increases daily!), the more librarians and other information professionals will be needed to corral it and ensure that it makes sense to the people who need it. I always read these articles about how people are "overwhelmed" by the amount of information they are exposed to. Librarians can step in and ensure that the information is meaningful and contextual for each person's needs. As for libraries, although they tend to be shrinking -- at least, in my line of work -- it is a haven for people who drop by and want to browse or even just get away from their desks to do some quiet research without the phone bothering them. Who knows how long that will continue to be the case, but I do know that in this economic climate, people are flocking to libraries because they are a source of news, job information, and free help.

Amy: Well, it's all a big circle isn't it? Or just a small library world. You see, I named myself a 2009 Shover and Maker. See my Award Page here.

Anyway, as it turns out, the brillo guy who came up with the whole crazy scheme is none other than one of our very own LTC's, Joshua M. Neff:

Read more about Joshua Here

# 30 - Colorful Librarians!

2009-03-23T12:11:00.000-07:00

Who you are: Phoebe Owens
What you do: Communications & Learning Associate for a private foundation called Meyer Memorial Trust
Where you do it: Portland, Oregon

LTC: What do you wish more people knew about librarians and what they do?

Phoebe: I wish people knew that librarians are everywhere, doing much of the work they have come to rely on every day. There are many kinds of librarians, and we don't all work with books!

LTC: Best part of your job?

Phoebe: The best part of my job is that it is always changing, so I am always learning. My favorite part of my job is keeping abreast of new media and technologies and reporting on my findings. I spend most of my day working with a wiki database for nonprofits & foundations called connectipedia.org . It is addicting to edit a wiki, and it is rewarding to get much-needed information to folks in the nonprofit community.

LTC: What's on your ipod/cd player right now?

Phoebe: Various podcasts like "This American Life" and Wait Wait Don't Tell Me" for the bus, and Girl Talk's "Feed the Animals" for the gym.

LTC: What inspired you to become a librarian/get your MLIS degree?

Phoebe: I wasn't sure where I wanted to go next, but I knew I like libraries and geeky things. Ultimately, a law librarian named Laurie Daley inspired me to go for it.

LTC: Favorite concert or theater performance you have ever attended?

Phoebe: Without a doubt, Itzhak Perlman with the Oregon Symphony.

LTC: What's your favorite book from adulthood?

Phoebe: This can't be an easy question for any librarian, right? I love technical books that are old and written with passion. I'm primarily a nonfiction reader, but I Love Sinclair Lewis' Main Street, Anything Isaac Asimov, C.S. Lewis' space trilogy, and Children of the Arbat by Anatoli Rybakov.

LTC: Favorite portrayal of a librarian in television or movies?

Phoebe: Bunny Watson (Katharine Hepburn) in Desk Set. No hesitation! My love of this movie was a total inspiration to look into special librarianship and reference work.

Amy: 30 Librarian Trading Cards. A perfect amount for a pack of cards with shiny cellophane wrapping and a really hard stick of gum inside. Sigh... someday. Until then, Thank you Phoebe. Love the hair.

#29 Style and Substance

2009-03-17T19:57:00.001-07:00

Who you are: Ann Wilberton
What you do: Senior Librarian/New Media and Technologies Librarian
Where you do it: Middletown Township Public Library (NJ)

LTC: What do you consider one of the most valuable things that libraries offer?

Ann: Opportunity to expand your world through learning, engaging and experiencing.

LTC: What's your favorite picture book?

Ann: As a kid I loved Harold and the Purple Crayon. As an adult, I love the silliness of Maira Kalman’s books. I especially like, Ooh-la-la, Max in Love.

LTC: What inspired you to become a librarian?

Ann: Hmmm. Obsessive need to know coupled with love of spaces filled with books.

LTC: What's on your ipod/cd player right now?

Ann: The Gossip, Jolie Holland, Chet Baker, Legendary Jim Ruiz, Bitter:Sweet, Mason Jennings, Sleator Kinney, Laura Gibson, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Desmond Dekker and tons of old, first wave Ska.

LTC: What they didn't tell you when you were getting your Master's Degree..

Ann: They really failed to prepare us for battle against our nemesis: the printer.

LTC: Something about you that people would be surprised to learn?

Ann: I’m an art school drop out.

LTC: What are your reading right now?

Ann: Little Brother by Cory Doctorow, Downtown Owl by Chuck Klosterman and Kindness Handbook by Sharon Salzberg.

Amy: That Doctorow book, Little Brother, is a trip. Marcus' interrogators could have probably used The Kindness Handbook. Ha! I crack myself up.

#28 - Spring Training

2009-03-13T18:21:00.000-07:00

Who you are: Sue Kamm
What you do: Head, Audio-Visual
Where you do it:Inglewood (CA) Public Library

LTC: What's your favorite book from growing up?

Sue: I've always been an omnivorous reader, so I don't remember any one favorite book.

LTC: What inspired you to become a librarian?

Sue:Three things. The year after I graduated from Cal, I roomed with a woman who was in library school. I looked at her professional periodicals and thought librarianship would be a neat profession.

My role model was the secretary to the executive director of the Associated Students of the University of California, who, if she didn't have the answer to a question, she knew who would.

I am like the Elephant's Child - full of "'satiable curtiosity"!

LTC: What do you wish more people knew about librarians and what they do?

Sue:We may not have all the answers, but we know where to find them!

LTC: What's on your ipod/cd player right now?

Sue:Would you believe I own neither an Ipod nor a CD player? I've uploaded a bunch of songs from CDs. My favorite album is a Dodgers' giveaway, which includes "Talkin' Baseball," "It's a Beautiful Day for a Ballgame," and some Dodgers-specific songs.

LTC: Something about you that people would be surprised to learn?

Sue:When I was at Cal, I won several awards for selling the most copies of the humor magazine. I collect baseball memorabilia, and my collection includes an autographed jersey and bat from Raul Mondesi, one of my favorite Dodgers.

LTC: What's your favorite book from adulthood?

Sue: Again, I'm an omnivorous reader, so I have favorite authors rather than individual books. Dick Francis, Maggie Sefton, Rita Mae Brown (her two mystery series, one of which she "co-authors" with her cat Sneaky Pie), Joanne Fluke. I also like history and biography.

Sue signs her emails: "Your friendly neighborhood CyberGoddess and ALA Councilor-at-Large." I can just see what her avatar would look like in Second Life! She'd definitely have some Dodgers garb on too...

#27 - Trusted Advisor

2009-03-04T21:41:00.000-08:00

Who you are: Cindy Mediavilla
What you do: Library Programs Consultant
Where you do it: California State Library

AND

What you do: Lecturer
Where you do it: UCLA Department of Information Studies

LTC: What's the best thing you've heard a child say about books/reading/libraries/you?

Cindy: One thing I hear over and over again when I visit public library homework centers is that kids like doing homework at the library because they're able to make new friends there-kids they wouldn't normally meet because they're from other schools. They also appreciate the adults (library staff and volunteers) who help them with their homework.

LTC: What do you wish more people knew about librarians and what they do?

Cindy: Non-library people are still stuck on the old image of librarians being repressed control freaks who care more about books than they do about people. Of course, this stereotype may be true for some librarians (!); but, for the most part, the librarians I know are passionate about serving people and doing whatever it takes to hook folks up with the information they need. This is especially true of UCLA's library students, who are very interested in social justice and their customers' right to intellectual freedom.

LTC: What are you listening to right now? How about watching?

Cindy: My iPod is always set on shuffle. Favorite artists: Steely Dan, Neil Young, Sting, Frank Sinatra, Brian Wilson ("That Lucky Old Sun"), and, of course, the Beatles. My fave TV shows right now are "Battlestar Galactica," "Friday Night Lights," "Fringe," "Wonderland," "Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles," "The Office," "Life," and (naturally!) "Jeopardy."

LTC: Something about you that people would be surprised to learn?

Cindy: I love to dance. It's my favorite thing in the world and is probably the one thing I do the best. I met my husband when he asked me to dance at the Belly-Up Tavern in San Diego 24 years ago.

LTC: What's your favorite book from childhood?

Cindy: "Mary Poppins," which I read in the hospital when I had my appendix removed at age 10.

LTC: What are you reading these days?

Cindy: I'm just finishing "Twilight" (finally!). Next up is Curtis Sittenfeld's "American Wife," a fictionalized account of Laura Bush's life.

LTC: Libraries and librarians have been getting a lot of press recently, do you think this will have any impact on libraries in our society? Why or why not?

Cindy: I hope so. It seems like people have a better understanding of what libraries and librarians can do for them, but I doubt this will translate into better funding. The Bush administration was generous with LSTA funds, but I think Obama has a far greater appreciation of what it takes for us to succeed in serving our various publics. Like everyone else, I've got my fingers crossed that the federal stimulus package will translate into an improved library infrastructure.

Amy: Now, I think we've had two surprising dance-lovers (go ahead and count'em)! I'll just go ahead and add myself to that list. Librarians and Dance, hand in hand. Well, just like Libraries and...Everything! Thanks Cindy. Some days I still wish I could go to your office hours. :)

#26 - 1975 Rookie of the Year!

2009-02-25T19:42:00.000-08:00

Who you are: Dennis Donley
What you do: School librarian for the past 34 years with the San Diego Unified School District.
Where you do it: For the past 21 years I've been at Hoover High School, home of Ted Williams. I also work as an adjunct librarian at Cuyamaca College two evenings a week, manning the reference desk.

LTC: What's your favorite picture book?

Dennis: We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson

LTC: What's the most rewarding thing that's happened recently?

Dennis: The teacher that I collaborated with on a unit on World War II coming back to me and letting me know that her students found the information in books I helped them find to be superior to what they located by Googling.

LTC: How should we spread the word to more people about how integral and relevant libraries are in today's world?

Dennis:We need to be more proactive in tooting our own horns; too many school librarians do wonderful jobs that go unheralded.

LTC: What's on your ipod/cd player right now?

Dennis: I've got two 60 gig iPods that are full (yep, that's around 30,000 songs, ranging from Robert Johnson to the Grateful Dead and Tom Waits) Right now, I'm listening to "Hold Time" by M. Ward.

LTC: Best book you've read in the recent past?

Dennis: The Last Place on Earth, by Roland Huntford

LTC: Name one or two of your favorite things about being a librarian:

Dennis: The satisfaction of doing an orientation at any level and then watching students put their new-found skills into practice. My continual realization of how little I know about everything, something I'm relentlessly reminded of as I field reference questions.

Woah, Dennis, that is a lot of songs! Special thanks this time around to guest LTC designer: my brother! As a big baseball card guy, he said, "Dennis has been working for SD USD for 34 years, so it was 1975 when he started, I modeled it after 1975 Topps." Niiiice....

#25 - InfoSherpa!

2009-02-19T20:41:00.000-08:00

Who you are: Richard Moore
What you do: retired after 30 years as a school librarian, I am currently a trustee at the Huntington Beach Public Library and President of the California Association of Library Trustees and Commissioners http://www.caltac.org/

I also staff an advocacy Booth for the California School Library Association, which is set up at various conferences to promote school libraries -- http://csla.net/

Where you do it: From home, on the road, throughout California.

LTC: What would people be really surprised to know about you?

Richard: I am a huge fan of tap dancing, and have met Tommy Tune.

LTC: How should we spread the word to more people about how integral and relevant libraries are in today's world?

Richard: Hire school librarians -- one for every school. Follow the Spokane Moms model:http://www.fundourfuturewashington.org/

LTC: What's on your MP3/CD player right now?

Richard: Living In Aluminum, by Antsy McClain & The Trailer Park Troubadours

LTC: What inspired you to become a librarian?

Richard: My high school librarian and, four years later, the Strong Vocational Interest Inventory. My high school library was a magical place with old oak shelves and a WPA mural and the librarian knew e xactly which book I wanted to read next. The Strong said people like me were happy being librarians.

LTC: Strangest or most memorable experience relating to libraries or your job?

Richard: One young man who never read but liked to hang out at the library coming and exclaiming about the movie he had just seen. I asked him if he knew it was a book first and gave him a copy of The Call of the Wild. He came back wide-eyed, exclaiming, "This is better than the movie!" About one hundred years before that, Ina Coolbrith in Oakland was feeding books to an eager young man named Jack London. At the time I was writing about Coolbrith.

LTC: And, of course, what are your reading right now?

Richard: Damngorgeous: a daughter's memior of Millard Owen Sheets, by Carolyn Sheets Owen Towle.

Thanks Richard, very informative! I realize now that I should have asked about your moniker 'InfoSherpa.' Very original! I wonder if there is a story behind it...

#24 - At Long Last...Long Beach Librarian

2009-02-15T13:22:00.000-08:00

Who you are: Dr. Lesley Farmer
What you do: Coordinate the Librarianship Program
Where you do it: California State University Long Beach

LTC:What book(s) are you reading at the moment?

Lesley:Stuck in the Shallow End: Education, Race, and Computing

LTC: Favorite type of reference service to provide?

Lesley: ferreting out hard-to-find information

LTC: What's one thing you wish more people knew about libraries and what they do?

Lesley: they're one of the most cost-effective, value-added public agencies that helps provide equitable access to the world's knowledge

LTC: Live music or live theater?

Lesley:Live theater often includes live music: a harmonious combo

LTC: What's your dream for libraries of the future

Lesley:That they would be the intellectual and leisure hub of all civilizations

LTC: When do you love your job the most?

Lesley:When the light comes into the user's/student's eyes

Well, it's been quite a while since The Original Librarian Trading Cards was active. I'm happy to get it back up and running. Please contact me to get yours today!!

# 23 - I Want to Play!

2008-07-16T15:26:00.001-07:00

Who you are: Amy Pelman
What you do Audiovisual and Young Adult Outreach Librarian
Where you do it: Burlingame Public Library

RTT: Describe a project or activity that you have worked on that was outside your comfort zone. Why was it uncomfortable? How did you adapt? Were you glad you took on the project or activity? Would you do it again?

Amy: The thing that comes to mind isn’t one project or a one-time activity per se. It takes form in ongoing projects and activities. And while it may not be something that people think of when they think of librarians, it is now, maybe more than ever, intrinsic to reference service. I am talking about instruction.

Teaching has traditionally fallen well outside of my comfort zone, particularly the traditional image of the teacher in front of the classroom, expanding the horizons of his or her students while drawing from a deep knowledge base. Never did I think of teaching as something as immediate and on-the-spot as what can take place in a reference transaction, or as a one-shot presentation given to a group of colleagues, students, or members of my community.

Here I am though, a librarian, and I am faced with instruction on a daily basis, and in many different manifestations. I have patrons that do not know about the address bar in a web browser, or what a “Hold” is in the library catalog. Teenagers that have zero sense of what the library does, or represents besides books. I am in the midst of creating a presentation for all staff about “taking a closer look at online subscription databases;” the aim is to bring about a greater awareness and understanding of these resources to staff at every level so that they may be motivated to use and promote these valuable tools.

How do I adapt? I just do it. I do it everyday, and I study professional literature, and I observe, and I practice, practice, practice. It’s too important not to do these things. And even though I didn’t really anticipate it, I am so proud that it is a key part of my profession. So yes, I’m glad I took it on.

RTT: If you were going to design a new house, what are the key elements that you would consider? Why?

Amy: As I see it, the key elements involve form and function, design aesthetic, materials and craftsmanship. All of these things will inform the feel and functionality of the house. The elements will come together so that the house can be a personal space, a shelter, the ultimate place to let down, to gather loved-ones, and to exist in comfortably. Design aesthetic will mean rooms filled with light, rooms that are cozy but not cramped. Attention to form and function will ensure a harmonious floor plan comprised of elements that work well together. Durable materials and skilled craftsmanship will not only add beauty, but promote sustainability. When possible, salvaged materials of quality can reduce waste and conserve resources. The proper assembly of materials assures that they last as long as possible. Good craftsmanship infuses a house with a sense of strength and gracefulness.

RTT: What concerns about the future of libraries keep you up at night? Why?

Amy: I worry that not enough people value libraries. I worry that public services are purposely de-valued in favor of commercial interests. I am concerned that not enough people view public libraries as a vital institution. I fear that it’s our fault for not conveying well enough how important we are, how hard we work, how passionately we defend a person’s right to free intellectual pursuits.

All these worries stem from the first-hand knowledge of how libraries and librarians are perceived. Also, how I viewed them while growing up. People are most often in favor of the idea of a library, but are consistently surprised by the depth and dimension of the institution. I told my teenage neighbor about the “Wii Will Rock You” event at our library, and he laughed, disbelieving. I tell school teachers about “Live Homework Help,” the free online tutoring service we offer, and they are surprised. Lots of people ask me, “What does one study in library school, books?” I encounter puzzlement that one even needs a degree to be a librarian. The average lay person can’t come up with a good reason that we really need libraries. Sure, they’re nice, but we don’t need them, not with bookstores and the internet.

The perception of libraries and their value keeps me up at night, not only because I passionately believe in public service and intellectual freedom, but also because my career is young and it is extremely hard for me to picture what the profession will look like in 30 years. I want to help shape and revolutionize that perception.

RTT: What is the one 21st Century tool that you cannot live without? Why?

Amy: The Internet, hands down, no question. As one wise person said to me: "Life without the Internet would be, essentially, abysmal." In addition, no other tool is used as much or is impacting life on so many levels. I personally cannot live without it because of the powerful and instant connectivity it brings me - to information, entertainment and to people. Not to mention the fact that I love it so much that I practically got a Masters degree in Internet Searching and Savvy. :)

#21 Librarian Idol

2006-05-21T22:09:00.000-07:00

Who you are: Sheila Devaney
What you do: Journalism and Media Studies Librarian (that includes Pop Culture)
Where you do it: The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia

LTC: What book(s) are you reading at the moment?

Sheila: You Cannot Be Serious by John McEnroe and James Kaplan
Golf for Dummies by Gary McCord
Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone?: The Carter Family and Their Legacy in Music by Mark Zwonitzer with Charles Hirshberg
Symptoms of a Withdrawal: A Memoir of Snapshots and Redemption by Christopher Kennedy Lawford

LTC: Favorite type of reference service to provide?

Sheila: Being on the desk is my favorite part of the day because I never know what question I am going to be asked.

LTC: What's one thing you wish more people knew about libraries and what they do?

Sheila: That there truly is no such thing as a "dumb question." We're here to help people. Also, any book that you could buy at a bookstore, you can also get at the library for FREE!

LTC: Live music or live theater?

Sheila: Depending on the day, it could be either. However, having just seen Elvis Costello with the Atlanta Symphony a few days ago, I'm going with live music right now.

LTC: What's your dream for libraries of the future?

Sheila: That libraries are full of people and the shopping malls are deserted. ;-)

LTC: When do you love your job the most?

Sheila: I love that I never have the same day twice and I love how libraries provide their users with the tools: books, magazines, computer resources etc. that they can use to help empower themselves to lead better lives. "Knowledge is Power! after all."

__________________

I studied media when I was an undergrad -- fascinating stuff!

--Amy

#20 Introducing A Very Special Librarian... My Mom!!

2006-05-08T22:22:00.000-07:00

Who you are: Sue Pelman
What you do: Reference Services Supervisor
Where you do it: Thousand Oaks Library, California

LTC: What book(s) are you reading at the moment?

Sue/Mom: On Beauty / Zadie Smith The History of Love / Nicole Krauss

LTC: Favorite type of reference service to provide?

Sue: The kind that ends with a satisfied patron. I get a lot of satisfaction from matching the request/need with the "perfect" resource. It's particularly gratifying to introduce and demonstrate the power of our online resources; the catalog and subscription databases. But it's hard to beat the pleasure of actually finding the "perfect" book(s) and handing it(them) to the visibly grateful, and often thrilled patron.

LTC: What's one thing you wish more people knew about libraries and what they do?

Sue: I wish that more people knew that the library, including the library's website, can be the very best "first place to look" for information, enrichment, personal growth opportunity and self fulfillment. So often I hear: "I should have come here first." Many folks almost automatically turn to the Internet. That's fine, but while there, think LIBRARY.

LTC: Live music or live theater?

Mom: That's really hard!!! Love them both. But, if I must choose, will go with music.

LTC: What's your dream for libraries of the future?

Sue: I would like to see libraries continue to thrive. I want them to be valued, vibrant and relevant to the communities they serve. I want them to keep up with the social, cultural and technological trends. I want them to be staffed with creative, motivated, bright, talented, dedicated professionals.

LTC: When do you love your job the most?

Mom: There are lots of times I love my job (and not). But one of the best things about it is being part of, and making a contribution to, a time-tested, effective and efficient system whose primary goal is to serve the community. I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to work in various departments of the library so that I have gained a pretty good grasp of how all the pieces work together. I believe I'm justifiably proud of our library, its collection, services, culture and
staff. Being part of such a dedicated, hard-working staff who shares a common goal of being the best we can be ... What more could I want!!! Cheesy, but whatever!

LTC: Do you think you had anything to do with your daughter's decision to become a librarian?

Sue: I hope so.

__________________

Amy: Most definitely.

#19 There is a Librarian at the end of this Book!

2006-04-16T22:59:00.000-07:00

Who you are: Julie McKay
What you do: Children's Librarian
Where you do it: The Smithtown Library - Commack Branch. Commack, New York

LTC:Favorite book from childhood?

Julie: The Monster at the End of This Book By Jon Stone (Sesame Street Book)

LTC: What's your most memorable reference experience?

Julie: I cannot limit it to one experience. The ones that give me the most joy are the ones where a child doesn't know what he/she wants to read and is looking to me for help. I love when I am able to put a GREAT book with a child and then they come back and tell how much the liked the book.

LTC: When did you know that you wanted to become a librarian?

Julie: I didn't know I wanted to be a librarian until I was half way through college. I was going to school to be a teacher and realized that wasn't want made me happy. I realized that I love working with children and I loved to read books, so I knew being a librarian was a good match for me!

LTC: Something they didn't tell you when you were in school to get your degree in library science?

Julie: How to tame a group of 3 -5 year olds during story time.

LTC: What's one thing you wish more people knew about libraries and what they do?

Julie: I wish people knew what it takes to have a library and what we do to have all the services that are offered. Librarians don't just sit at the desk and read all day. The only thing I get to read at the desk is reviews on books. Many people say they want to work in a library because they just want to be able to read all day. Too bad they have no clue how hard everyone in the library works, so that when patrons comes in they receive all the services that they want and need.

LTC: What's in your netflix/video rental que?

Julie: Well I don't use netflix or go to the video rental store. I utilize my public library to get the movies I want to see. I currently have 5 DVDs on hold on my library card. They are: Chicken Little, Fun with Dick & Jane, Brokeback Mountain, Rent and In Her Shoes.

_______________________

I have observed some children's librarians taming a group of 3 to 5 year olds during storytime. I am now convinced that it can't be taught. It's an artform. Very similar to combining mastery of technology, books and resources with being able to provide really great customer service to the public. Librarians do this everyday!

--Amy

#18 Biography of a Librarian: Former Stage Actor!

2006-03-29T19:36:00.000-08:00

Who you are: Annick Lynn Rodriguez
What you do: Adult Services Librarian; Spanish Language Specialist
Where you do it: New Rochelle Public Library

LTC: Favorite book from when you were a teenager?

Annick: Up the Down Staircase

LTC: Live music or theater?

Annick: I retired from the stage to become a librarian, but the theater is still in my heart.

LTC: What resource do you most like to point out to people?

Annick: Encyclopedia, it's quick, easy to use, and its wireless!

LTC: Best library program?

Annick: ESL classes that are given for free, it really makes a great difference in people's lives and reflects what the library is all about, helping people enrich their lives.

LTC: What's one thing you wish more people knew about libraries and what they do?

Annick: How hard we work behind the scenes to make everything run smoothly.

LTC: Listened to any good books lately? if not, what have you read?

Annick: I am currently reading Mark Twain on Travel, just finished reading The Black Dahlia Files. Love reading Biographies and Non-Fiction, i.e., History, Civil War, True Crime, Pop Culture.

_______________________

I love when I ask a random question and someone comes back with an answer as if it was especially pertaining to them! How many librarians are retired from the stage?? Are there still some on the stage? How great, glamorous Librarian by day, glamorous stage diva by night.

--Amy

#17 Technophile

2006-03-21T23:07:00.000-08:00

Who you are: Steve Brantley

What you do: Reference Librarian, Assistant Professor, Bibliographer, Web Developer, Blogger: Lost in the StuporMarket

Where you do it: Chicago, IL

LTC: Books or technology?

Steve: Technology

LTC: What resource do you most like to provide access to?

Steve: Full-text article databases

LTC: What's the most interesting or unusual service your institution provides?

Steve: Personalized instruction for Art faculty who are learning the transition to projecting digital images in class rather than slides.

LTC: What's in your DVD player/Netflix Que right now?

Steve: South Park season 4, Arrested Development season 1, North Country, Same Sex America, a film by Henry Corra

LTC: What book(s) are you reading at the moment?

Steve: The Baby Whisperer. Mars Attacks! Graphic Album. Fire Watch, a collection of Stories by Connie Willis.

____

Well, faithful LTC fans, it's late and I am supposed to be writing a paper about my pet underserved community (kids in Juvenile Hall). Sigh... I guess I needed to take a break to post about other cool librarians out there doing their things.

--Amy

#16 Moonlighting Librarian!

2006-03-13T22:18:00.000-08:00

Who you are: Sonya Detwiler

What you do: I work full time as an International Customer Service Bibliographer for a global book vendor serving academic libraries. I also work part-time at the town library as a Reference Librarian.

Where you do it: YBP Library Services (full time)/ Hopkinton Town Library (part-time). Both are in Contoocook, NH.

LTC: What's one thing you wish more people knew about libraries and what they do?

Sonya: I wish more people knew how much librarians love their jobs. What a noble and rewarding feeling to be able to use my interview and research skills to find that piece of information that helps a customer solve a problem or become enlightened. Hearing thank you's all day is the best!

LTC: What's your favorite picture book?

Sonya: Hope for the flowers by Trina Paulus

LTC: Most rewarding thing that's happened recently?

Sonya: A painter came into the library recently searching for a colored photo of the terrain around Jerusalem to use as a guide for her abstract painting of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. After 30 minutes thumbing through pictorial world atlases, travel and bible books, a light bulb went off in my head...."hmmm, I wonder if the National Geographic has done an issue on Jerusalem-they have great photos". Bingo! I found this beautiful picture of the trees and hills lying on the outskirts of Jerusalem. The patron was so grateful-she said it was just what she needed.

LTC: What's an interesting/innovative service that your institution offers?

Sonya: YBP offers a dynamic ordering/selecting database called Gobi to its libraries which helps their acquisitions and series departments become more efficient with their workflows. Ebook ordering and Open URL are its newest features. YBP also offers live online workshops which are becoming a real hit with our customers!
HTL offers an art gallery for local artists to display their work. Recently, the library had a reception where the artist spoke about her work while attendees discussed over hors-d'oeuvres and punch--100 people attended!

LTC: If you were stranded on a desert island what book(s) would you really want with you?

Sonya: Is there a book titled, "How to survive on a desert island?" That'd be a good one to have. Otherwise, leave me with a pile of biographies. I always enjoy reading about how other people survive(d) the human experience.

LTC: When did you know that you wanted to become a librarian/information professional?

Sonya: When I was a guidance counselor, I was constantly recommending books to my students to read. I also taught a vocational class that included a computer-based skills and interest assessment tool that provided best career matches. My first match was a counselor, my second match was a librarian. I felt the second match was more fitting; not to mention, I had 4 years prior experience as a research technician in undergrad which I enjoyed very much. So back to graduate school I went.

_______________

My dad suggested that I post a map jpeg with pins for all the places LTC Librarians are from. I think the country would be nicely dotted! If we ever get some down time, my trusty imaging assistant and I will try to whip it up! :D

--Amy

#15 Seriously Funny

2006-03-02T21:14:00.000-08:00

Who you are: Joshua M. Neff
What you do: Adult Services librarian
Where you do it: The Indian Creek Branch of the Olathe Public Library

LTC: Does your library offer any particularly creative services?

Joshua: We have a program called "Read to a Dog." Don't ask me to explain it.

LTC: What resource do you most like to provide access to?

Joshua: Although I get a bit frustrated and bored helping patrons use their free web email, I do love that we can help them with that. Especially because the patron is usually trying to get a job. Or meet their future spouse.

LTC: One thing you wish more people knew about libraries and what they do?

Joshua: Our programs are free and our staff generally put a lot of time, thought and effort into putting the programs on. I mean, I don't, but my coworkers do.

LTC: What's on your MP3/CD player these days?

Joshua: I've been in a nostalgia groove lately, listening to lots of '80s synthpop and post-punk. I'm like a late night infomercial, hosted by the nerd from Head
of the Class and some perky model. "Sounds of the '80s! Order now!"

LTC: Were libraries part of your childhood?

Joshua: Absolutely. And yet, it didn't occur to me until I was an adult to become a
librarian. That's weird, because don't most kids want to be a librarian when they grow up?

LTC: Favorite depiction of a librarian in television or movies?

Joshua: Ruper Giles, on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

____________________

The librarians on television and movies are always smart, resourceful and ready and willing to help -- just like in real life! I can't wait for the The Hollywood Librarian Documentary. A movie about librarians, for real!

--Amy

#14 Helping College Students Make the Grade

2006-02-21T19:03:00.000-08:00

Who you are: Bill Drew
What you do: Systems, Reference, Instructuion - Associate Librarian
Where you do it: Morrisville State College Libraries, Morrisville, NY

LTC: What's on your MP3/CD player right now?

Bill: Rock Around the Clock

LTC: Do you have any weird library incidents to report?

Bill: No

LTC: Something noteworthy or interesting about the community you serve?

Bill: About 75% of our students are required to have laptops for their course
work.

LTC: What is one thing you wish more people knew about libraries and what they do?

Bill: More than just books

LTC: Are you a cat person or dog person?

Bill: Cat

LTC: What book(s) are you reading at the moment?

Bill: Getting Things Done by David Allen. The world is flat: a brief history of the twenty-first century by Thomas L. Friedman.

_________________________
A lot of new requests for Trading Cards have come in since the LJ publicity! More on the way in the near future... Let me know if you have any burning questions you'd like to see answered by featured librarians.

Thanks!
--Amy

#13 Animated Librarians!

2006-02-13T22:45:00.000-08:00

Who am I: Norman D. Stevens

What I do: Director of University Libraries, Emeritus, University of Connecticut at Storrs; and Director, The Molesworth Institute

Where I do it: The Institute's headquarters at 143 Hanks Hill Road, Storrs, CT 06268

LTC: Most rewarding thing that happened recently?

Norm: Having "The Fully Electronic Academic Library" published in C&RL (January 2006) as well as in Sweden with versions in Italy and France in the works.

LTC: Hobbies aside from reading?

Norm: collecting anything and everything having to do with librarian and libraries; collecting contemporary crafts; being aware of individual and institutional collections and directing stuff that comes my way to good homes.

LTC: One thing that you wish more people knew about libraries and what they do?

Norm: Their vital role as Gatekeepers to the world of information.

LTC: Books or technology?

Norm: Books for reading and technology for information; both to learn everything I want to know.

LTC: What's on your CD player now?

Norm: "Casanova's Waltz" (set in a library) from Peter Spencer' s "New Hope and Wise Virgins."

LTC: Favorite depiction of a librarian in fiction/tv/movies?

Norm: Hands down it's Goldie Hawn as Gloria Mundy in "Foul Play" (1978).

_____________________________

Love the cartoon Norm! Thanks for sharing your love of all things library with us!

--Amy

#12 Talented Teen Librarian!

2006-02-07T20:30:00.000-08:00

Who you are: Alissa Lauzon
What you do: Young Adult/Reference Librarian
Where you do it: Haverhill Public Library, Haverhill MA

LTC: What's one thing you wish more people knew about libraries and what they do?

Alissa: Technology has brought about some wonderful changes in the library world and allowed us as librarians to provide access to so much more information (both online and through the collections of libraries around the world). Also, librarians are so much more than the stereotypical woman with the long skirt and hair in a bun that just sits and checks out books all day and tells people to be quiet.

LTC: If you were stranded on a desert island what would you *need* with you?

Alissa: Aside from the basics (clothes, sunscreen, food, water) I would definitely need to have music, and either books or my knitting with me to keep me from going completely insane.

LTC: Guess what? You get to have a book on that island too! Which one is it?

Alissa: have to pick just one?!?!?! I'd probably have to go with A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks, or maybe Anne of Green Gables, or Wait Til Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn, or.... see, I can't pick just one!

LTC: What do like best about the community that you serve?

Alissa: I absolutely love working with the teens in my community- they are so much fun and they definitely keep me on my toes. The best feeling comes when you find a book that someone who doesn't like to read just loves and comes back raving to you about it.

LTC: When did you know that you wanted to become a librarian (or get into the information field)?

Alissa: I was a history major in undergrad. The day a research paper was assigned, I would immediately start researching (on three or four potential subjects) but I would never get around to writing the paper until the very last minute. I realized that I just loved doing research and so librarianship seemed like a pretty logical career choice. Of course, my mom has always told me that I should be a librarian because I have always been a big reader (I was one of those kids who got up at six am on a Saturday to read instead of watching cartoons). I got into YA librarianship after taking a Children's Literature course and realized how perfect that would be for me.

LTC: What's on your mp3/CD player right now?

Alissa: It depends on which player you look at- I have a variety of things from the Rent soundtrack, Cascada- "Every Time We Touch", and a mix of international music with songs like "Tunak Tunak Tun," which is by an Indian Rap artist named Dahler Mendi, and "Dragostea Din Tei" (aka the Numa Numa song) by Romanian group The O-Zone, to name a few.

____________________________

Holy Cow! So it's not up for a Bloggie or anything, but the savvy library community has taken some notice... And the February issue of "Library Journal" features a little news story about Librarian Trading Cards! I am so psyched. Hooray for the people willing to step up and feature their talents and tastes in order to TEACH people more about the profession! How's that for alliteration?

--Amy

#11 We Got the Goods!

2006-01-30T22:11:00.000-08:00

Who you are: Margie Walker
What you do: Young Adult Librarian
Where you do it: Amesbury Public Library, Amesbury, MA

LTC: Most rewarding thing that's happened recently?

Margie: As of January 2, 2006 the teens of Amesbury finally have their own Teen Space.

LTC: Do you have any hobbies aside from reading?

Margie: I love going places with my husband, Joey on weekends.

LTC: What is one thing you wish more people knew about libraries and what they
do?

Margie: That libraries offer so much more than just checking out books. People think that is
all we do all day. They don't realize the vast resources that we have to offer.

LTC: If you were stranded on a desert island, which book would you most
like to have with you?

Margie: Helen Keller. She was an inspiration to all.

LTC: What's on your MP3/CD player right now?

Margie: My husband's band

__________________________________

Great job getting a Teen Space, Margie. I bet someday *all* libraries will have them, well that's something to strive for anyway.

--Amy

#10 A Friend from the North!

2006-01-18T20:56:00.000-08:00

Who you are: Tanya Boudreau or Miss Tanya to the children who come to storytime :)
What you do: Youth Services Librarian and Resource Librarian
Where you do it: Cold Lake Public Library in Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada

LTC: favorite class in library school?

Tanya: the classes my favorite professor, Dr. Spiteri taught; which were cataloguing; records management, and indexing. I also enjoyed Children's Literature and Young Adult Literature. Dalhousie University had great professors.

LTC: What is one thing you wish more people knew about libraries and what they do?

Tanya: ALL the services we provide, and for people of all ages!

LTC: What's on your MP3/CD player right now?

Tanya: Oasis

LTC: What if everyone read more often?

Tanya: I'd be so happy!

LTC: Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket?

Tanya: Who can pick?? I enjoyed reading both

LTC: What's the most fascinating part of your job?

Tanya: Talking to people of all ages who read; and discovering new favorite books and authors!

________________________________

The International requests for LTC's have started to come in... Librarians are universally GREAT!

'Till number 11,
Amy

#9 Rising Star...

2006-01-06T10:58:00.000-08:00

Who you are: Erica
What you do: Teen Services Librarian
Where you do it: Benicia, CA

LTC: What's your favorite picture book?

Erica: Currently, Don't the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems. (I just read it to a bunch of pre-schoolers and didn't realize how much FUN it would be!) But I've also always had a soft spot for The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.

LTC: Most rewarding thing that's happened recently?

Erica: Working with my teen volunteers every week is a consistently rewarding experience--they are funny, smart, talkative, and distinctly different from one another. I'm pretty sure I learn more from them than they do from me.

LTC: Do you have any hobbies aside from reading?

Erica: Rollerblading, cooking, and sometimes writing.

LTC: What is one thing you wish more people knew about libraries and what they do?

Erica: If you need a book, a resource, or some kind of information, we will do everything in our power to track it down for you--and we will do it with a smile (usually). :-)

LTC: books or technology?

Erica: ? both. I am too reliant on my e-mail/Instant Messenger/blogs/electronic resources etc. to say books and only books. I believe both are part of the library now--we can't separate them, nor should we be afraid to work with both mediums together to ensure the best possible services for our patrons. But I will always love the look, feel, and smell of books and paper, no matter what I am able to download from the Internet or onto an iPod.

______________________

There are so many ways people in the library field make a difference aren't there? ...I bet Erica's teens really look up to her!
--Amy

#8 Brave Librarians on the move...

2005-12-30T20:44:00.000-08:00

Who you are: Bart Schmidt
What you do: Digtal Projects Librarian
Where you do it: Cowles Library, Drake University. Des Moines, IA

LTC: What is one thing you wish more people knew about libraries and what they do?

Bart: How fast we can obtain items (books, articles, etc.) that are not in our collection. Even small libraries have access to an amazing amount of materials either in electronic or print format. Just ask us, we can probably get it for you.

LTC: What's on your MP3/CD player right now?

Bart: Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies ; Killdozer; the Mistreaters

LTC: What book(s) are you reading at the moment?

Bart: Rads: the 1970 Bombing of the Army Math... by Tom Bates; Grains from Grass by Lisa Cliggett

LTC: 80s bubblegum or 90s grunge?

Bart: 80's bubblegrunge

LTC: Most rewarding thing that's happened recently?

Bart: I finished a digital collection recently and people I didn't expect to see it (like my bartender) have told me they've seen it and used it.

___________________________

Bart didn't get a chance to tell us anything about his piloting adventures...perhaps another time. Who knew we librarians were so versatile? 'Till next time.

--Amy

#7 Lucky Charlottesville!

2005-12-12T20:11:00.000-08:00

Who you are: Judy Carey Nevin
What you do: Reference Librarian and Media Services Coordinator
Where you do it: Piedmont Virginia Community College in Charlottesville, VA

LTC: What's the most fascinating part of your job?

Judy: I love the diversity of our students--we have young and old, multiple cultures, and they're all together, working toward advancing their education. They work so hard!

LTC: What is one thing you wish more people knew about libraries and what they do?

Judy: I wish faculty and students used the reference librarians more--they get on the computers and forget we can help them find what they need.

LTC: 80s bubblegum or 90s grunge?

Judy: 80s all the way--I was an adolescent in the 80s.

LTC: What resource do you most like to tell people about?

Judy: I really like NetLibrary's features, although we've had some accessibility issues of late.

LTC: Do you have any hobbies aside from reading?

Judy: I'm a fierce
knitter--obsessed, some might say. I also have a background in children's book publishing, and a certificate in graphic design.

__________________________

There you have it, another fascnating individual devoted to serving her community! I'm in earnest librarian mode right now - I just finished a final exam... phew!

--Amy

#6 Great News!

2005-12-06T22:11:00.000-08:00

Who you are: Amy Disch
What you do: News Librarian
Where you do it: The Columbus Dispatch, Columbus, Ohio

LTC: What's your favorite picture book?

Amy D.: Anything with lighthouses

LTC: Most rewarding thing that's happened recently?

Amy D.: Beginning my first professional position (September 2005) in an area of special librarianship
that I love

LTC: Do you have any hobbies aside from reading?

Amy D.: Presidential history, lighthouses, blogs, RSS and movies

LTC: What is one thing you wish more people knew about libraries and what they do?

Amy D.: That librarianship is a service profession and that I'm more than happy to help in any way I can with reference and research requests. Please never think you are bothering me when you ask me a question. It's why I'm here and why I pursued a career in librarianship to begin with.

LTC: books or technology?

Amy D.: Technology

LTC: What's on your MP3/CD player right now?

Amy D.: Sam Cooke The Man and his Music

_________________________________________

I'm off to Europe for a winter holiday in a few days! Maybe I can find some willing librarians over there who will become my first international trading cards!
--Amy

#5 Meet Paul!

2005-12-01T19:57:00.000-08:00

Who you are: Paul Sevilla
What you do: Grad student, Masters in Library and Information Studies
Where you do it: UCLA Dept. of Information Studies

LTC: Favorite class in library school?

Paul: IS 435 - American Archives and Manuscripts

LTC: What is the one thing you wish more people knew about libraries and what they do?

Paul: Libraries are not going away because of Google. In fact, technology has revolutionized
the way librarians organize and disseminate information.

LTC: What is on your MP3/CD player right now?

Paul: Depeche Mode- Playing the Angel

LTC: What if everyone read more often?

Paul: People would watch TV less often.

LTC: Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket?

Paul: Harry Potter

__________________________________

More Trading Cards with exciting new questions on the way! Tell a friend!

--Amy

#4 Complete with Exciting Lego Action!

2005-11-27T17:25:00.000-08:00

Who you are: Beth Gallaway, gamer librarian
What you do: Library Trainer/Consultant
Where you do it: Metrowest Massachusetts Regional Library System

LTC: What is one thing you wish more people knew about libraries and what they do?

Beth: We are not just about books, and literacy comes in many different forms.

LTC: What's on your MP3/CD player right now?

Beth: Mugglecast episode 14; Wicked soundtrack; Gavin DeGraw: Chariot

LTC: What book(s) are you reading at the moment?

Beth: Freakanomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stpehen J. Dubner; Teen Vogue; a bunch of new Orca Soundings titles to review

LTC: Do you have any weird library incidents to report?

Beth: Heh, why do you think I no longer work in public service? ;) Just kidding. I do miss the teens, and the books. Memorable Moment: the mayor pink-slipped the entire staff (except the custodian and director) in a budget crisis. Apparently, they were supposed to keep the 3 story building open 63 hours a week... patrons rallied, and the library only sustained a 30% cut. Fighting for my job was surreal, but a gerat advocacy experience.

LTC: Are you a cat person or dog person?

Beth: I am allergic to cats but have a calico, a siamese, and a Turkish van cat, which means I have cat hair to contrast with all
of my clothing, no matter what I wear.

Cats are winning aren't they? I'm sure we'll come across some librarians who love dogs. I mean, we're well on our way to breaking all sorts of old stereotypes!

--Amy

#3 and counting...

2005-11-22T20:34:00.000-08:00

Who you are: David Cappoli
What you do: Digital Resources Librarian
Where you do it: UCLA, Dept. of Information Studies (the Library School)

LTC: What didn't they tell you about in graduate school?
David: How to manage change in the workplace and profession.

LTC: What book(s) are you reading?
David: The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander

LTC: What is one thing you wish more people knew about libraries and what they do?
David: Libraries are vital places for collaboration, networking, and socializing.

LTC: Hip Hop or Heavy Metal?
David: Hip Hop

LTC: favorite depiction of a librarian in fiction/TV/movies?
David: Parker Posey as Mary, an aspiring Librarian, in "Party Girl."

Thanks, David! Maybe someday I'll consolidate all the great answers to "one thing you wish more people knew about libraries..." into a beautiful book. Wouldn't that be neat?

--Amy

#2 - Rock!

2005-11-19T20:04:00.000-08:00

Who you are: Ken Petrilli
What you do: Young Adult Librarian
Where you do it: New Rochelle Public Library

LTC: favorite class in library school?
Ken: 'Reader's Advisory Service in the Public Library.' It's an invaluable
skill, especially when you work with teens.

LTC: What is one thing you wish more people knew about
libraries and what they do?
Ken: Yes, exactly! Most people still think we're just boxes with books, and
that ought to change.

LTC: What’s on your MP3/CD player right now?
Ken: Soulfly, Fiona Apple, Portastatic, King's X, Immortal Lee County Killers

LTC: What if everyone read more often?
Ken: Maybe humanity would grow up already. Reading=knowledge. Knowledge is key.

LTC: Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket?
Ken: Harry Potter. No contest there...:-)

Thanks Ken!

Stay Tuned for more Trading Cards coming your way soon!

--Amy

Number 1!!

2005-11-16T21:19:00.000-08:00

Who you are: Jessy Griffith
What you do: YA Librarian
Where you do it: Alexandrian Public Library, Mt Vernon, IN

LTC: What didn’t they tell you about in graduate school?
Jessy: practical, day-to-day librarianing

LTC: What book(s) are you reading?
Jessy: Just finished Over and Over You, starting The Last Mall Rat and/or Fourth World: The Missing Link Trilogy

LTC: What is one thing you wish more people knew about libraries and what they do?
Jessy: the enormous range of stuff we offer and how open we are to their suggestions

LTC: Hip Hop or Heavy Metal?
Jessy: Are the Replacements an option? Belle & Sebastian?

LTC: favorite depiction of a librarian in fiction/TV/movies?
Jessy: Katherine Hepburn in Desk Set

There you have it, straight from Mt Vernon, IN's friendly neighborhood YA librarian! :)

First Post!

2005-11-10T18:22:00.000-08:00

Hi Out There,
You've seen them all: Bartendar Trading Cards, Roller Derby Trading Cards, heck they even have them for Baseball! Well, the wait is over my friends. Librarian Trading Cards are here! Learn fascinating facts about librarians all over the world! Things like: what they wish more people knew about the library, the most memorable reference question, and of course, what they're reading!

Here is an example:

Who you are: Amy
What you do: study, write papers, fret, stay up late
Where you do it: UCLA, Dept. of Information Studies

LTC:What is one thing you wish more people knew about libraries and what they do?
Amy: That librarians will help you answer ANY question floating around in your brain (okay, within reason).

LTC: What’s on your MP3/CD player right now?
Amy: Pelican, Red Sparowes, Earth, Mastadon

LTC: What book(s) are you reading at the moment?
Amy: The new compliation of stories for teens published by McSweeneys. (thanks Jennie!)

LTC: Do you have any weird or funny library incidents to report?
Amy: No, but I haven't really worked in a library yet and I'm sure I'll have them daily when I do.

LTC: Are you a cat person or dog person?
Amy: I love to look at dogs and laugh at them, I was obviously a cat in a former life...so cat person all the way.

Collect 'Em All!

--Amy

BTW: LTC stands for Librarian Trading Cards... :)