So, this just went out today in March's MO INFO:
Hey, everybody! I’m Dan and I am the Assistant Branch Manager for the Red Bridge Branch of Mid-Continent Public Library, located in Kansas City, MO. I’ve been with MCPL since 2008, and my job has varied greatly since I started. I started out as a technology trainer for both the public and staff. I’ve been involved with multiple outreach projects. I have also participated in MALA workshops and webcasts. Now, I make sure that things run smoothly at the branch and stand in when the Branch Manager isn’t there. I also make all of the schedules for the branch, and I hire, train, and supervise our pages. I help with the branch’s collection development and budgets while still monitoring daily proce-dures. I’ve also been known to rummage through and play with the puppets. When I’m not at my desk or at the circulation desk, I’m usually out and about in the community raising people’s awareness of the library and everything we have to offer. I strive to change people’s opinion of the library from an after-thought to their first thought.
I am currently working toward my Master’s Degree in Library Science at Emporia State University.
When/Why did you decide that you wanted to be a librarian?
I received my Bachelor’s degree in History from Missouri State University. After that, I decided that I wanted to get into Archives. I love history, and having the opportunity to actually touch it was an excit-ing prospect for me. After looking around at different schools, though, it became apparent that in order to get into Archives, I would almost certainly need a Master’s degree in Library Science, too. As I applied to library schools, I decided to look for jobs in libraries so that I would have experience as well as the education. I never thought of myself as a librarian, but by the end of my second week, I had an epiphany; I just knew that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I haven’t looked back or thought twice since.
What do you like most about being a librarian and what are the biggest challenges in your job?
My favorite thing about being a librarian is working with the public. I always tell people that we are like superheroes, changing lives, and I really do believe that. Working with the public means that I get to go on information adventures, and I get to see, firsthand, the impact of libraries. I love it when children will come into the library and shout (in a library shout, of course), "You were at my school!" Early on in my library career, I helped a customer pick out some Disney children’s books. At first, I thought that she wanted them for her children. As it turned out, she wanted the books so that
she could learn how to read. It’s great to know that you can make that difference in someone’s life.
I have found that the biggest challenge in my position is managing. It’s weird since that’s what I do, but it requires a lot of juggling. It can be difficult to be the person in between the staff and the branch manager, but having a good team definitely helps.
Tell us about the Center School Summer Outreach Program: How did it start, why do you do it, and what kind of response are you getting?
My branch is located in south Kansas City and serves the Center School District. We visited the elementary schools last May to talk about our Summer Reading Program (SRP) and many of the students were excited. One student raised their hand and asked how they could participate if they couldn’t get to the library. I was fairly new to this environment, so I quickly said that they could ride with a friend. Well, that wasn’t an option either. So, I told them that they can log their minutes online. This, also, wasn’t an option. As it turns out, many families only had one vehicle and most families didn’t have internet access. When those students went home for the summer, they had no way to take part in our SRP. The school librarian brought her concerns to me, and I coordinated the ef-fort to bring our library to them during their 4-week summer school. We brought 600 books to the school, along with laptops for circulation, library card sign-ups, SRP logs, and SRP prizes. We also had a themed display each week to entice students to check out books set on a theme. After the dust had settled and we returned to the branch, 508 books had circulated, 104 students signed up for library cards, and 116 students participated in the Summer Reading Program! This is the kind of thing that I love doing. I saw an opportunity for service, worked with my team, and provided something to those students that they may not have had otherwise. There has been a great response from the kids, parents, and the schools. There’s even another area school that wants us to do the same kind of project with them this year because they are in a similar situation!
If you were to hire a public librarian, what skills and/or qualities would you look for in a candidate?
I think that technology skills are invaluable now. Knowing how to use a computer and get on the internet is one thing, but as librari-ans and information professionals, we need to know how to navigate the sea of endless (and sometimes) useless information. That being said, I find myself on multiple social media sites often. Ideally, I’d be looking for someone who is not afraid to experiment. Trying new and innovative things is a plus, and I think being able to think outside the box is a great quality to possess. I would also look for someone who has a proven track record of working with others. If you’re going to work for me, you’re going to have to have a team mindset.
Why are you involved in the Missouri Library Association?
I first joined MLA because of the potential connections that I could make. I went to my first conference without even being a mem-ber, and it was worth every penny! Now, I am a full-fledged member, and I go because of the ideas and conversation. Swapping battle scars and life-changing stories has really affected me in a positive way, and there’s no way I can replace the friendships I’ve gained through MLA. I’m looking forward to many more conferences (especially 2015 when I will be planning it).
That is taken verbatim from the issue: http://molib.org/moinfo/issues/032013moinfo.pdf
