r e a d i n g r o o m

about me v.2

I didn't always want to be a librarian. I wanted to be a writer (influence: Stephen King), a lawyer (influence: LA Law), a sex therapist (influence: Dr. Ruth), a journalist (influence: high school newspaper sportswriting experience), an art historian, an artist, a park service ranger, a teacher, a political scientist, and then finally a librarian. After years of my family members telling me, "You should be a librarian, as much as you love books," I finally listened and figured that it would be as suitable a career as any. Once I learned more about the profession and its philosophy of service coupled with free access to information for all, I realized that it fit well with my personal beliefs and quickly converted. My father-in-law is a librarian also; on holiday occasions everyone else is annoyed when we talk library.

My degrees are in studio art and library and information studies; with another in history nearing its conclusion. At midpoint in my art coursework at ETSU I transferred to Sheldon Jackson College in Alaska. Thought I wanted to be a forestry worker. Though I rank the year spent in Alaska as a favorite, I returned to Tennessee with a new goal: becoming a librarian.

Hopefully, I'll finish the American history degree in May 2004. As far as history goes, my interests are: work, labor, class, and Appalachia. My thesis, when I start writing it, is a history of prostitution in Johnson City, Tn. from about 1890-1930. Though I enjoy studying the eighteenth century, the twentieth century is my favorite period and I find that the first thirty to forty years are the most exciting. Also enjoy Gilded Age/Progressive Era; emphasis on progressive era.

I've been at Sherrod Library permanently since 2000, but worked here about seven months prior to that as a temporary reference librarian. Later hired as a reference librarian, I soon moved upstairs to Technical Services, where I catalog music CDs, import records for Recorded Books, and catalog digital resources; primarily online journals. Best of all, I love the few hours I spend working the reference desk each week. I also write book reviews and encyclopedia articles. Not just for my pleasure, they're published, too. I love research and writing, so the publishing component of my position suits me well. For the service component I serve at various levels in state and national library associations.

B.S.L.(before sherrod library) I worked in several other libraries including ETSU's medical library (reference), Unicoi County Public Library (director & everything else), Ciba-Geigy Crop Protection Library (serials), and Johnson City Public Library (shelving). I began at the bottom and worked up, down, and sideways in the profession. I volunteered at the public library when I was 14. That was when I learned the importance of washing the grime off of children's books. The volunteering was my attempt to avoid walking home from school. Instead, I boarded the JCT and spent countless hours at the library after school until my mom could pick me up after she got off work. But even before that, my parents and grandparents cultivated my love of reading and libraries. Libraries have been the one constant in my life: always there when I need information. Besides library work, I've been a bookseller, museum intern, art teacher, retail sales clerk, seafood worker, historical interpreter, central station operator, waitress, and child sitter.

Earning my MLIS from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro was funner than it should have been. My professors were fabulous and the coursework was interesting and challenging, though not as computer-focused as I desired. My classmates are some of the most wonderful people I know and I'm still friends with several. After earning my degree in 1996, I found it difficult to find a job, only because my search was restricted to the Tri-Cities area. I signed up to temp at Kelly and Olsten, but broke my left elbow in an unfortunate stairway incident involving a dog and poor lighting, and had to turn the agencies down when the calls poured in.

Ian and I met in 1982. We were in the same sixth grade class at South Side Elementary School. His playing Cupid between me and his friend was the extent of our interaction, but the tide turned when my creative abilities shone. I won the "Name Our School's Cookbook" contest that year: South Side's Savory Specialties. Yummy ice cream treats were had by all because of my stunning abilities, and no doubt my frozen-dairy-generating skills hooked him, unbeknownst to either of us. It's easy to see why my class voted me "Most Likely to Succeed," though that reputation didn't follow into junior and high school. Our eleventh grade year, Ian's green Pinto made me swoon. I'm serious. Pintos are one of my favorite cars, ever. My mom owned one and they were introduced the year I was born.. And my uncle owned a tricked out Gremlin, so my taste in cars leans towards the bizarre. I chatted him up about the boy I had a crush on, and he warned me away from guys with agendas. After a misguided marriage to his high school sweetheart, they divorced and I snapped him up like a hot fritter. In 1995 he got his dream job: Locomotive engineer. He works on the railroad all the livelong day. My holiday present in 1996 was our dog Sioux, and six months later we welcomed her brother Jakob to our home. We married in 1998. Bought a home soon after. We work crossword puzzles together like the old married couple that we are. At lunch today Ian declared that we were made for each other. And I agree.

Ian says that my interests change daily and that keeping up with them is impossible. At best, I'm a generalist, or a dilettante, which works really well with librarianship. But with life? For example, I can knit, crochet, cross stitch, embroider, quilt, and sew. But, I don't excel at any, because I can't choose one to concentrate upon. My piano playing is rusty, I can probably still pick out bits of Mahogany and the Entertainer. And my guitar skills are limited to House of the Rising Sun and Free fallin', though I was working on STP's Plush and Heart's Crazy on you before other interests occupied my free time. Still, I am eager to learn the fiddle, upright bass, and accordion. When there's something that I'm curious about, I research, process, and absorb. Then I'm done with the idea or topic and usually lose interest quickly which is probably more of a curse than a gift.

However, the things that regularly engage me are: Reading, writing, traveling, and photography. And music, too. Can't forget that. I dabble in genealogy when I have time. Pitchers and bowls are my favorite pieces of pottery. Beets, I'm passionate about beets. Cilantro is my favorite herb. I love bridges and tunnels and almost everything about driving except for other cars & drivers. The best frozen custard (chocolate, please) I've ever eaten, and eat regularly is at Clarence's Drive-In (est. in 1968, I believe). I don't think that clowns or exotic pets are appropriate and believe that people who dabble in either are somehow off, but that's not necessarily bad, either. I'm an INTP (somedays I test as ENTP though I haven't outgrown my shyness which has plagued me since childhood) and a Leo (Scorpio rising).

If I wasn't a librarian, I'd want to try my hand at: hairdressing, stunt work, ranching, sailing, film making, professional portrait photography, dressmaking, pastry baking, and the LPGA.

about me: v.1