“You can’t hate someone whose story you know.” – Margaret Wheatley

I was inspired by the animation created by StoryCorps about Storm Reyes journey and how a library bookmobile changed her life (Popova, 2016). The librarian encouraged her to explore reading, which led to her ability to venture beyond the environment she had been conditioned to. Libraries do indeed change lives.

 

From a staff perspective, people inspire librarians.

Here are a couple of my library patron encounters:

A man walked in searching for a specific patent from the early 1900s. I helped him locate the patent and showed him how to use the copy machine. I mentioned the option to take photos of pages on his phone if the copier became too cumbersome. He thanked me and told me why he was looking for the patent. His  daughter was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy and he needed the patent to send to one of his daughter’s doctors for a potential treatment option. He and his wife had created a foundation dedicated to advancing research and raising awareness about Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

When I was working as a Library Assistant on the weekends, I would encounter a woman who brought in her shopping cart into the library.  She was experiencing homelessness. She would use the computer to read the news and sleep in the stacks. Once I brought in an orphaned kitten into the library with permission because I was working and they needed to eat every 2-4 hours. The woman heard the kitten crying and she screamed out, “Where’s the crying baby?” I showed the kitten to her and apologized for the noise. She held the kitten in her arms and her face lit up with joy. She said she did not mind the noise. Through this encounter, I was able to establish some rapport and realized how libraries are not just about resources, they are about connecting with people.

These two encounters reinforced the mission and value of library work, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that “the underserved and invisible … feel welcomed and encouraged in our spaces, both physical, virtual, and across the community itself” (Paxaman, 2019).  Tasks that may appear minor like locating a book or showing someone how to use the printer can make all the difference.

Sharing my personal library story: https://287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu/catladylilia/2024/08/31/my-library-story/

Please feel free to share any stories! 🙂

References:

Paxman, M. (2019). Challenged but not dying, the public libraries are more relevant than ever. Jutland Station. https://web.archive.org/web/20201125214023/http://www.jutlandstation.dk/challenged-but-not-dying-the-public-libraries-are-more-relevant-than-ever/

Popova, M. (2016, October 6). How Libraries Save Lives . The Marginalian. https://www.themarginalian.org/2016/10/06/libraries-storycorps-bookmobile/

 

 

@catladylilia