Interview with a Librarian

1. What is your name and job?

My name is Jessica Langlois, and I am a reference and young adult librarian in a public library.


2. What kind of training did you need to qualify for that position?

In most places, you need to have a Master of Library/Information Science (MLIS) in order to be a librarian.


3. Describe a typical day at work.

Ha! In a public library, that can vary widely from day to day. Most days, I spend a lot of time helping people use the the public-access computers, and I help patrons locate the books they need. I help middle and high school students find resources for papers, I help people find new fiction to read, I make displays, teach computer classes, buy the young adult books, do programming, post to the blogs, and I answer strange questions. And there are some days where all I do is refill the paper in the printer, explain that no, I will not unblock that porn site, and hand over the latest Consumer Reports.


4. What's the best part of your job?

Nothing makes me happier than seeing a patron leave HAPPY because I was able to find exactly what they needed. And I love teaching the computer sessions and the tech parts of my job.


5. What's the toughest?

Public libraries often have a number of "tough" patrons to deal with. Dealing with the severely mentally ill, people with behavior issues, and unattended children can sometimes take a toll - especially on those days where it seems that everyone has a major issue.


6. What are the biggest misconceptions about librarians?

That we're stodgy, boring, formal. New librarians are just as likely to have tattoos than wear buns in their hair (and some have both!). Many people don't know that being a librarian requires a graduate degree, and most people don't know that today's librarians are very tech-savvy.


7. What would you be doing if you weren't doing this?

I'd own a bakery and/or cafe; I love to bake, and almost went to culinary school.


8. How many jobs have you had in your life, and what were they?

I've been working since I was 13, so I've had a ton of jobs! Among other things (that I have blocked from my memory) I've been a babysitter, dishwasher, grill cook, dessert caterer, library page, ice-cream scooper, switchboard operator, customer service rep, waitress, retail store clerk, grant writer, horse care-taker, pet/house sitter, optician's apprentice, Americorps Volunteer, and the director of a non-profit adult literacy program (which prompted me to become a librarian).

Thanks, Jessica! If you want to know more about Jessica, visit her blog, The Cool Librarian.