It really all began when I was quite small and walked through the door of a grey building I had only ever seen from the outside. The big adult behind the desk gave me a form to join the library. I ran home got my mother to sign the form and returned. I remember sitting on the floor in front of a shelf of books and feeling enthralled that I was actually 'allowed' to take one of these books and bring it home.
You didn't have to pay either!. And you could get another book out the next time! I was sold.That sense of 'being acknowledged' by the big world and the empowerment that coursed through me that day has never left me. It was the start of a love affair with books and libraries that never went away.
Life took many twists and turns and a few different careers followed one another.
Then one day many years on, just as happens in the land of make-believe, the magic happened! A job in the local library was advertised.I was at a juncture in my life and this was just the perfect fit for my current situation and my ongoing love of reading.
I contemplated doing the job for 'free' if I didn't succeed. I could think of no other nicer job ....ever!
I loved the interaction with borrowers and most of all I loved finding an answer to their query. The chase was never long enough or hard enough. I found I had to stop myself delving further and further. But that was the 'calling' - helping someone find answers to their inquiry/research question no matter how small,no matter how big or incomprehensible it was to me.
These days I have little or no contact with borrowers but I do a lot of book buying and have a big involvement with reading groups and so 'the love' for the job continues to be sustained!
What do they say 'do what you love and you will never work a day'!
