LLOPSCited

by Karen Helde

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Traci Timmons, Librarian at the Seattle Art Museum. If you’re intrigued by this glimpse into a different kind of library, check out the SAM library page or Traci’s blog.

Q: Let’s start with some background. What path brought you to your current job?

When I entered college, I never imagined myself being a librarian. I always loved my school librarians, but never thought about that as my intended career. I began as an engineering student, then moved over to the School of Visual Arts when I realized I liked math, but didn’t want to do it as a career, and remembered how much I liked design and art history. I ended up going the interior design and art history route for undergrad.

I had worked at the campus museum developing a small library for them (still didn’t get it that I was destined to be a librarian) and ended up working in a mid-size museum in the education department when I graduated. I knew I needed an advanced degree in art history to go anywhere in the museum field, so I then went back and got my MA in Art History. Continue reading »

by Karen Helde

Is there life after librarianship? I talked to Denyse McFadden, longtime LLOPS member and former Library Director at Lane Powell to find out. Denyse now heads up the Human Resources department at Lane Powell and was gracious enough to share her perspective from beyond the stacks.

Q: What do you miss most about being a librarian?

I miss the collegiality of the profession. Librarians are hard-wired to be helpful and have highly developed skills at being supportive of one-another, while safeguarding the resources of their own employers or institutions. That support is warm, friendly, genuine and often very “behind the scenes.” Mentoring is in our DNA.

Continue reading »