The Library Cast

When most people think of a library, chances are they think of librarians working there.  While that's very true, librarians aren't the only ones.  Like actors who can't make a movie without all those working behind the scenes, librarians can't run a library without all those working in various positions.  Today I'd like to talk about some of the other members of the library cast who may not be as well-known as librarians.

The circulation desk is where everyone goes to check out and return library items.  Depending on the size of the library, it's possible that the person checking out books to you isn't a librarian but rather a paraprofessional known as a circulation clerk or library technician.  This person keeps things moving along, checking items out and in.  The circulation clerk will also be the one to contact you if you have an item on hold or an item that's overdue.

Shelvers or pages are important jobs in the library, but they rarely get the credit they deserve.  Many are part-time employees, and some are even high school students or unpaid volunteers.  These people are responsible for getting items back on the shelves for you to peruse and check out.  They push around carts filled with items, bending low and reaching high to get things back where they belong and keep shelves looking orderly.  Many librarians, including yours truly, began their library careers as shelvers.

Nowadays, information technology (a.k.a. computers) is a big thing, and libraries are fortunate to have an IT expert on staff.  Although librarians are skilled in helping patrons use technology, including e-mail, the Internet, and electronic databases, they need help in maintaining and repairing computers when needed.  That's where an IT expert comes in.

Of course, the library is normally a welcoming and clean place to spend time reading a book, studying, or playing a game of checkers.  If the library is tidy and the bathrooms are stocked with toilet paper, that's because of the cleaning crew ensuring patrons are comfortable and have what they need.  They make the library a place where you want to spend your time.

These are just some of the many members of the library cast who help the library function successfully.  Take a moment the next time you visit your library to realize that beside librarians, there are other people at work who contribute to making your library experience a good one.

With gratitude to the all the library employees from the perch.

The Play's the Thing

For those of you who may not know, before I became your friendly, neighborhood perch librarian, I was a college instructor teaching theatre courses, such as Introduction to Theatre and American Theatre.  I was also involved in college theatre productions, working in various capacities from props and costumes to dramaturgy.

You might be surprised, then, to hear that I was a little nervous when I was asked to help with the library's drama club this summer.  Although I was no stranger to the theatre, working with a group of actors who had not reached their tweens was a new and unfamiliar experience for me.  I was unfazed by Shakespeare, Molière, and Aeschylus, but doing Hansel and Gretel with nine kids ranging in age from 3 to 7 petrified me.

For 8 weeks, there was a lot of trial and error with acting warm-ups and drama games.  We learned to be flexible, however, letting the kids develop their own version of the classic story.  The play was turned into Hanna and Gretel when a boy declined the role of Hansel and a girl wanted to play it.  There was a Deer, a Dog, a Unicorn, and even a Super Dinosaur that came to Hanna and Gretel's aid.  In a twist of fate, the Witch wanted Hanna and Gretel as guests for dinner, not as dinner.  It may sound cliché, but it really was rewarding to see how the kids progressed.

What I started with trepidation and the potential for failure turned into a successful and positive experience.  Despite their young ages, the kids came through, proving that they could follow directions and do more than what was expected of them.  I learned not only what theatrical exercises worked with very young actors, but also how to be comfortable and actually enjoy doing theatre with kids.  The kids must have enjoyed it as well since half of them asked if the library was going to do the drama club during the school year.

I suppose the lesson to be learned here is to be open to things outside of your comfort zone, because you can learn and have fun with something new.

Theatrically yours from the perch.