My last post was originally a monstrously long post. I ran out of time to finish and just posted part of it and before I start my new gig at Bibliomation, I’m clicking “Publish” on the rest of it. I’ve been talking with a lot of folks in libraryland about what makes a library go. There’s a small coterie of library innovators who are invaluable to our profession. They put themselves and their ideas out there because they love libraries and want to help them all succeed. That thinking and discussion and idea generation is tremendously important. But making a library go requires shelvers and part-time librarians and someone to keep the books. So before I start writing endlessly about OSS and Evergreen, I wanted to post about those people (I’m so nervous that I’ve missed someone).

When you look at Darien’s “Our Librarians” page, you may recognize a few of the faces there. You may have heard Louise, Alan or John speak at a conference. You may have read articles they’ve written or talked with them about their vision for Darien Library at a conference. You may not know about some of their hidden talents. Louise is a talented chef who has studied with James Beard and is (I am told) a master gardener. Alan has coached his kids’ sports teams and can talk anyone through throwing a ball, catching all manner of projectiles or stopping a runaway car (ask me how I know this). John is not just the chief geek, but also the library’s in-house graphic design dynamo and font of pop culture information. You may know about their hidden talents, but if you’ve seen them speak or read anything about Darien Library, you know they’re impressive and talented. But you haven’t talked to Alex, a shelver who once called me on a Saturday morning to tell me that the latest issue of Barron’s (which I had been looking for) had arrived with that day’s mail. When I didn’t make it downstairs to retrieve it, he brought it up, saying that he knew how popular it is with our patrons.

I don’t know all of the members of the Materials Management department very well. I know Stephanie and Drew, who have cheerfully showed off the FKI conveyer belts (dubbed “the Willy Wonka part” by one visiting librarian) for my tour groups and who staff the Friday night movies, occasionally in costume. There is a phalanx of shelvers who work primarily in the children’s library. I don’t get to interact with them much, but I see them working hard and I do not envy them the Herculean task of reshelving about a zillion children’s books every day. Many of them helped set up our first book sale in the new building and the tables were filled in the blink of an eye by a group of gregarious and industrious teenagers who cheerfully gave up their Friday night to work. In adult fiction and non-fiction, Sue, Diane Claudette, Bob and Sandy know the collection and are unfailingly helpful to coworkers and patrons alike when tracking down an errant volume. They’ve happily adjusted to our new classification scheme and have been invaluable in keeping our collection accessible and findable.

The other component to Materials Management is the department formerly known as Technical Services. Judy and Becky keep the library’s records shiny and have an incredible capacity for detail. They’ve made the transition to outsourced cataloging as smooth as possible and steadily pursue questions about things like 960 tags with remarkable patience. Leading this department is Lois, who oversees both small details of MARC records and larger scale issues like air conditioning and elevators with aplomb. Rare is the person who can take both broken bathrooms and an invisible 960 tag in stride, but Lois handles it all with grace and good humor.

Darien’s Reader’s Advisors are led by Jen, who is the kind of coworker who makes you want to get out of bed and come to work just so she can make you laugh. Jen has introduced me to all kinds of great books and is the very embodiment of astounding customer service. Her group of stylish and smart RAs are avid readers who handle the daily rush of patrons at a busy library’s front desk with smiles and good cheer. They make the library fun for staff and patrons.

Pat is quietly hilarious and the sort of benevolent force that every workplace should have. Barbara B has the uncanny ability to make anyone she’s talking to feel interesting. Priscilla is a gracious truth-teller, the kind of person you always want on your team. Charming and always ready with an easy smile, Marianne has a rabid following of book groups and an unexpected interest in dark reading materials (the RAs are nothing if not interesting). Barbara M is a whirlwind of energy, with an infectious laugh and a passion for underloved books. She brought me nonfiction book requests almost daily and the collection is more interesting for it. Erica L is, to quote another of our coworkers, “all business.” She can work on any desk and handle anything libraryland throws at her. She’s almost done with library school and the profession is lucky to have her. Mike’s affable demeanor and low-key sense of humor make him a welcoming presence on the welcome desk. Citizen Asha is cheerful and able to find the humor in anything – when Asha returns from school, everyone rejoices. Abby is warm and inclusive (despite her proclivity for Scandinavian mysteries) and makes me smile every time I see her. RA has a few other part time folks who I don’t know as well – our weekends never lined up (including Blaine, who graciously wore all purple and black on my last day even though he barely knows me) and a few newer folks who are clearly just as wonderful as their coworkers.

The Children’s Library is led by the amazing Gretchen Caserotti. If you are interested in working with children, have children or were once a child, Gretchen is someone you want to know. Passionate, enthusiastic and generally just brilliant, Gretchen’s approach to her job is like a light in the fog. I learn something new every time I talk to her. The Children’s staff are beloved by their community. Anna has a loyal following of three-year-old boys and her happy demeanor and dry humor can brighten the most overcast day. Also bursting with sunshine is Kiera, who approaches her job with the most wonderful mix of practicality, idealism and enthusiasm. Claire is a newly minted librarian who, despite a proclivity for running from place to place, exudes a steady calm that children and adults alike are drawn to. Veronica is a whirling dervish of activity and abilities. She runs a business, works at the library and probably does a million other things I don’t know about. She walks through a room and things get done. Samarpana is one of the sweetest, nicest people out there. She’s generous and affectionate and I suspect she should be genetically profiled because her grandaughter is just as easy with the hugs and warmth. Elizabeth is whip smart, organized and incredibly put together. Every time I see her, she’s moving quickly and smiling hugely. Mindy and Eileen both have full time jobs, graduate school and part time hours at the library. I want to hug them whenever I see them. Despite being busier than most, they’re both incredibly patient with patrons, with kids, and with my kid lit questions. Edie is simply 12 kinds of great. She’s a fabulous story teller, whether we’re chatting over the stacks or she’s leading a group of kids in storytime. She makes gorgeous jewelery, is an incredible cook and can pretty much do anything that’s put in front of her.

Teen and Technology Services (along with Knowledge and Learning Services!) is headed by Sarah Ludwig who I knew briefly in library school and am overjoyed to have met again. Smart, funny and grounded, Sarah’s clear-eyed sense of… everything is a boon to those around her. Everyone who meets her remarks on her level-headed insightfulness (uh, Sarah, is “insightfulness” a word?). Judy is everyone’s go-to person for everything. “Let’s ask Judy” is heard or spoken by nearly everyone daily. Judy can tame a surly printer while helping one patron research census data and teaching another learn to use a mouse. Her patience is legendary amongst staff members. Teen Tech liaison Alex is laid back and approachable whether he’s helping a senior learn to use the internet or managing a room full of kids playing American Idol on the Xbox. Heather gets a ludicrous amount of work done in 19 hours a week and never seems to break a sweat. Even-keeled in the face of technology malfunctions and teenaged drama, Heather’s quiet industriousness is belied by her affable and serene demeanor.

Erica B heads adult programming and she never fails to surprise me. Direct yet diplomatic, Erica is not afraid to tell you what she thinks, leaving you impressed and wanting to hear more from her sharp mind. I still don’t know how she ended up as a librarian (instead of, say, ruling the world) but I’m glad every day that she did. Media and publicity maven Barbara hears it all. She’s an incredible listener and has a talent for “putting on her patron hat” (as she calls it) and offering a fresh perspective. There are very few people I’m happy to stay up late for, but I will miss our late-night collaborations on the library newsletter. When I started putting the staff page together, I put Cathy up as “fixer”. Cathy makes everything happen, keeps everyone around her organized and can get anyone through any crisis. She’s magic. The other half of the dynamic duo of the administrative office is Debbie. Quick-witted and dependable, Debbie is what my mother calls a straight shooter. Float a half-baked idea by her and she’ll hand you back a three-tier cake. Alison scared the heck out of me when I first met her, but I’m lucky to call her a friend now. Disarmingly honest, ferociously passionate about animals and a champion skeet shooter, Alison knows her way around a number. She helped me understand the world of accounting and the joys of a good paper trail.

I’ve left my own department for last because I could write a book about how wonderful they are. Blanche is the library to many of her patrons. She’s the only staff member who has been there longer than Louise. She’s an astounding font of institutional, local and business information. She sails by, drops a wry comment or just the piece of information you need and continues through her day, bringing answers and gentle teasing to staff and patrons alike. Blanche is an indefatigable defender of her patrons, especially those who need her most. Janet’s unassuming demeanor belies a spitfire intellect and quick wit. Precise and focused, every library needs a Janet to bring its polish to a high sheen. Her extensive sports and music knowledge and undefeated grammar hammer are just gravy. Able to see the best in every situation, each person and any interaction, Sally is the optimist’s optimist. No matter what you’re talking about, Sally gets it. She is a heat seeking missile for points of commonality and joy. She blasts through work like a cyclone and makes it all seem easy. Part-timers Gretchen and Terry round out the team. Gretchen has a subversive streak that delights us all when it peeks out. She does everything quickly and efficiently (including walking and talking) and is the very definition of thorough and fair. Terry’s background as a teacher shines through everything she does. Patient, even-tempered and good-natured, I’ve seen her talk high school students through the process of a paper from “I don’t know, a paper on history” to solid research plan. Upbeat and understanding, Terry is always likely to see a positive solution to any problem. They’re an astounding team and I’m going to miss working with them.

I wanted to post this to publicly acknowledge the wonderful people I worked with. I’m looking forward to starting my new venture with Bibliomation and Evergreen but felt that the good folks at Darien deserved a shout-out.