Although most of you know me as the Assistant Editor here at the Sun Day, I will confess: I may be an editor by day, but I am a public library employee by night. And if you are picturing a quiet, dusty, book-filled building complete with librarians and card catalogs, think again.
Looking back, I think I was always destined (doomed?) to work in a library. When I was ten years old, visiting the same library in which I work today, I achieved what I never knew was possible ā the 100 item limit. In fact, the librarian made me decide between two books I was checking out (Siamese Cats or American Shorthair Cats, an agonizing decision), in order to meet the maximum checkout rule. Perhaps it was also because my mom worked at the library that I felt an irrevocable pull to the library life.
Either way, Iāve been working at a suburban public library for six years, and let me tell you, itās probably not what you think.
One word I might use to describe working at the library is āexciting,ā and Iām not only referring to the cool materials we check out. What I mean is, itās a rare day when nothing unusual happens. A ānormalā day at work might include one (or all) of the following: police activity, an arrest, or the discovery of a hedgehog that someone āaccidentallyā dropped into the book return (yes, this really happened). One time, a teen hid himself in one of the craft cabinets in an attempt to stay the night (his mission failed). The library can truly bring out the best in people. Maybe Iām exaggerating a little bit (we only have to fight crime every other day), but there is rarely a dull moment.
Donāt get me wrong, though; the library is also exciting for legitimate reasons, all of which are positive. One of those reasons is the alternative collections that many modern libraries are beginning to circulate (read: the new library is about more than just books!). At my library, we checkout laptops, e-readers, thermal detection kits, knitting needles, and even cookware such as ice cream makers, to name a few. We even started loaning umbrellas you can grab on your way out into the rain.
Another secret of working at a public library: you get to do really cool things, and I donāt just mean being exempt from overdue fines (shh!). For example, you get first dibs on new books and movies. Last year, my library hosted a Comic Con, added a creative studio, business center, and fireplace, and produced a music video. We even have a cafĆ©. Not bad for librarians.
And, believe it or not, weāre not all librarians.
For example, I work at the checkout desk, and full disclaimer; I am not a librarian. At the checkout desk, we see it all: the good, the bad, and the library fines totaling more than one thousand dollars.
But itās mostly the good.
Taking a job at the library is one of the best decisions Iāve ever made. As evidenced by our superhero duties (and super high IQs, of course), working at a public library is truly about community, both in front of and behind the desk.
