This year, Chaminade has several new additions to the faculty of the school, including our new librarian Mrs. Blank. She has worked as a librarian for 17 years, and has a lot of knowledge and experience to pass down to students at Chaminade. I interviewed Mrs. Blank and asked her questions that will hopefully allow students not only to get to know her, but also learn things about the library that they didn’t know before.
Q: What are some things that you enjoy doing outside of your job?
A: Besides reading, I also enjoy gardening. I have flowers planted in my yard, and I also enjoy hiking. My family is a big fan of playing board games, and we like to have game nights with friends. I also enjoy photography and taking pictures.
Q: How did you decide that you wanted to pursue being a librarian?
A: I have always loved reading and liked talking to people about what I was reading. I knew I wanted to work with books, along with schools in some way. I decided to go for an undergraduate degree with education and English and a master’s degree in library and information science. Those degrees gave me flexibility where I could work as a teacher, as a librarian, in a public or school library. I wanted to have options where I could work, but always knew I enjoyed working with books.
Q: What is your favorite thing about being a librarian?
A: I enjoy sharing good stories with other people. And sometimes that is with paper books, sometimes that is with e-books or audio books, and sometimes that is about tv shows and movies. I enjoy talking with people about what stories they’re interested in. In a way, it becomes like a treasure hunt, when someone is looking for a certain type of book, and I get to help someone find that type of book that they’re looking for.
Q: What are some of the tasks that you as a librarian complete on a daily basis?
A: One of the main things as a librarian is that I support both teachers and students in research needs. Sometimes I go into a classroom and work with a teacher to explain how to use our databases or teach how to use citations. I am also available for students to receive one on one help when students have a project where they need to find information. I can be the person to help direct students and find the help they need. Online searching has almost too much information, so a librarian can be the easiest path to find the information they might need. I also make sure that I manage the book collection, so that students can find books to read outside of just homework. It is not only the books on the shelf, but also the digital books and audio books that we have online.
Q: Where have you worked prior to coming to Chaminade?
A: Before Chaminade, I was the librarian at Notre Dame Highschool for 17 years. And before that, I taught middle school for a year, for 5th, 6th, and 7th grade.
Q: What is your favorite thing about working in the library at Chaminade?
A: I would say that my favorite thing is the people. Everyone has been so patient and kind. I really appreciate how students and faculty have gone out of their way to make me feel included. I know that it can be different for everyone when there is some transition. The people have been so open and friendly, which has made the transition go so much smoother.
As you heard from Mrs. Blank, there are a lot of things that can be utilized from the library. From paper books to digital databases, there are tons of ways that the library can be used to further student studies and research. And with the help of our new librarian, I highly suggest that any Chaminade student comes down to the library for help when it comes to anything research or literature related. Mrs. Blank is willing to talk to and help any student with their research needs. If you ever do come to see Mrs. Blank, her office is located in the center library.
