Ask the Librarian - Yan Qu

Here’s another story on one of the people who make our library system extraordinary. Yan Qu, who works at the O'Connell branch,  has been a librarian for over 15 years. She studied in China at Qiqihar Teacher’s College where she majored in English Language and has also received a master’s degree from Simmons Graduate School of Library and Information Science

What made you want to become a librarian and what do you love most about your job?
I wanted to become a librarian because of my passion for books and public service. I was an English major back in China, and some of my fondest memories revolve around curling up in bed at night and reading the works of Shakespeare, Sawyer, and the Bronte sisters. I wanted to read more English literature, but in the late 1980s, China was just beginning to open up to the rest of the world, so there was a dearth of good works written in English. Thus, I always had the big dream that if I ever made it to America one day, I would become a librarian so I could read all the English books I wanted! I count my blessings every day.

Besides having access to all the books in the world at my fingertips, the best part of my job is the everyday interactions I get to have with the East Cambridge community. The community is very diverse, with our patrons coming from all stretches of the world. Every day, I get to learn something new- whether it is bits and pieces of a new language or a recipe from a delicious exotic cuisine. That is one of the main reasons that I started our seasonal potluck dinners. I wanted to bring the diverse cultures of East Cambridge together in one night, so that everyone could have a good time and learn from one another and the bonds we share, including a love for good food!

After fifteen and half years of working at the public library, I feel that I can’t be any happier. It is the little things that can cause my heart to skip a beat, such as a simple “thank you” from a patron who finally got the latest James Patterson book he wanted, or the spark in a young patron’s eyes when she gleefully arrives at our Arts and Crafts sessions. The library is a pillar of the community, and I strive to make it a second home for all of our patrons.

How has technology changed your job? What is your opinion of e-books like the Kindle?
I can still remember the days when I had to stamp the due-date cards! Computers have revolutionized every single aspect of our lives. I embrace new technology, and I always find ways to adopt new cutting-edge technology to enhance our services. I personally don’t own a Kindle yet, because I am very loyal to books in paper format. The smell and feel of holding your favorite book is just something no e-reader can replace. There will always be a place for books, but I do envision that in the near future, we will be lending all genres of popular books by download.

What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you in your role as a librarian?
The funniest (and cutest) thing is probably all the names our younger patrons call me. Some kids call me Ms. McDonald, because we offer Toddler Sing on Wednesdays and I love to sing “Old McDonald Had a Farm.” Another boy enjoys calling me “Ms. Library” which I find extremely adorable. He thinks I know all the book titles in the world, but I actually don’t. Please don’t tell him that!

What is something that people may find surprising about your role as a librarian?
We not only offer books, but also provide opportunities to reconnect with long lost friends. During one of our potluck dinners, a Japanese woman named Junko suddenly started to cry when she recognized another Japanese woman named Yuke who had been her midwife twenty years ago when both of them were still living in Japan! Another one of our patrons reconnected at the library with her classmate from four decades ago, and the latest rumor is that the two might be dating!

There are always great things happening at the library! For more information on how you can get involved with the Friends of the Cambridge Public Library click here.

Ask The Librarian - Lyndsay Forbes

Much attention has been paid during the past year to our newly remodeled and expanded library buildings, but what would they really be without the wonderful people who staff them?  We will be doing a series of monthly interviews to help you get to know some of the people who make our library system extraordinary.  We begin with Lyndsay Forbes from the O’Neill Branch. 

What made you want to become a librarian and what do you love most about your job? 

 Lyndsay Forbes

C PL Length of Service :  5 1/2 years

Undergraduate degree from St. Anselm's

MLIS from Rutgers University

At first, it was figuring out what to do with a BA in English. I started out in academic libraries with the idea that if I didn’t like working in libraries, I could take some classes in another area and switch careers. Several years later, I’m still in libraries so it was a good fit for me.

I really love figuring out what people are looking for when they come to the library. Whether it’s someone trying to remember a title and vaguely describing part of a book, helping a student find resources for their project, giving someone from out of town a map, or seeing someone’s face light up with “this is exactly what I wanted” -- it's a great feeling.

What is your opinion of e-books like the Kindle?
I think e-books are fabulous. They're just one more way to read books. I’m glad that more publishers are making their titles available for the wide variety of e-readers that are out there. I know people worry that all the books are going to disappear or no one will use the library. I just think it’s another medium for materials, like audiobooks or DVDs.

I do think publishers and libraries need to find a system that works for both of them in terms of e-books. I’m not necessarily opposed to the idea of having to purchase a title again after so many uses by a library, but would want to have unlimited access. Right now, a title can only have so many users accessing it. Part of the beauty of an electronic medium is getting rid of that physical barrier. How great would it be to get to read that hot new title without waiting? That’s a possibility with e-books and it’s one I’d like to see become a reality.

What is something that people may find surprising about your role as a librarian?
I don’t go around shushing people all day. It’s a stereotype that won’t go away. Libraries aren’t necessarily the silent places people think they are. While you can find a quiet corner if that’s what you’re looking for, it’s more likely that you’re going to encounter some friendly noise and conversations when you come to the library.

What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you at the library?
We had a program for summer reading here called “Barn Babies,” which is a sort of traveling petting zoo of baby animals. They were set up in the back hall here. Before the program started, I went down the hall to use the bathroom. The goat, who seemed very suspicious of me, followed me down the hall and all the way to the door. Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t get the door open without letting him in. I had to go back and get another staff member to hold onto the goat. Wrangling goats is just not something you would think you would do while working in a library.

There are always great things happening at the library! For more information on how you can get involved with the Friends of the Cambridge Public Library click here.