From the Library: Glad to be of service

Kirstie David
During the past few years that I’ve served as a librarian in Norwood, I’ve split my time between two very different departments: literacy and outreach. I choose this word — served — deliberately, as opposed to worked or something equally utilitarian, because it connotes an added layer of meaning and more fully captures the reason I gravitated to this profession. To me, service implies a certain sense of being a helpful person or, as denoted by Merriam-Webster online: contribution to the welfare of others. Books are lovely, reading is essential and a steady paycheck is reason for gratitude, but until librarians are paid like bank executives simply to read, there must be a raison d'etre. For myself (and, I imagine, many others) this larger purpose is contributing to the welfare of our patrons. My dual role has provided a unique opportunity for doing just that across the widest spectrum imaginable; many participants in the literacy program are just beginning their reading journey, while usage of the library by outreach patrons can be measured in spans of time that eclipse decades and can better be described in terms of generations.

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