In the midst of a week that recognizes libraries on a national level, library workers get one day set aside to celebrate all the goodness they bring to the communities they serve. As the director of a tiny, but mighty staff, National Library Workers Day is by far my favorite “holiday”.
For those in our community who use the library, your reasons for loving my awesome staff may be slightly different than mine. Thankfully, the American Library Association provides a place for you to:
Nominate a stellar library worker!
Nominations may come from library users, students, children, colleagues, faculty, or management. Your nominee will show up on the Galaxy of Stars for the whole world to see!
https://ala-apa.org/nlwd/
So, why do I love my staff? (In alphabetical order as librarians are wont to do.)
Emily has so much energy and her bubbly personality spills over to anyone in her sphere, making her the perfect children’s librarian. She’s an incredible singer, which you may not think has anything to do with library work, but you would be surprised at the sheer number of opportunities she has to break into song throughout any given day. Em also has innate book sense and is invaluable in curating our collection so it is accessible to all our patrons. And her wit. You may not see it often, but when you do, your sides will hurt and tears will literally stream down your face.
Kim is a whirlwind of efficiency. She’s like the black lab of the library, always on the hunt for a new project to complete. Everything she touches is done consistently, accurately, and in record time. Her organizational skills are out of this world, and we are kindred spirits where aesthetics are concerned. The shelves always look their tidy best when Kim is on duty! Further, she could teach customer service classes. Her ability to connect with any patron and make them feel as if they are the most important thing on her to do list is a gift. And she knows everyone.
Sally is the/a library. Her institutional knowledge (and crazy awesome memory) make her the most accurate database I’ve ever used. I would never succeed in my job without being able to tap into her superpower. Fellow introverts, Sally and I can work together for hours in complete silence. Yet the second a patron walks in, she is super attentive and nearly omniscient in her ability to help them find exactly what they need without even having to ask. (See above: crazy awesome memory plus over 25 years of dedication to the Public Library in a town she grew up in.) Devoted, compassionate and helpful are but a few of the words that describe Sally’s value to me and everyone who has the pleasure of working with her.
Together, this fantastic team puts in endless hours of work each week to provide quality services to anyone who uses our library. Without them, Meinders Community Library would not be nearly as sweet as it is!
best team ever~ jody
