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 rea