I will soon begin a new adventure in my career, which has me pondering why I became a librarian in the first place. Most people know that I love travel, so why didn’t I become a travel agent or tour guide? I also love good design & architecture, so why didn’t I follow that path? And then there’s the fact that I majored in History for my undergrad, so why not a teacher or researcher? And the short answer is…
I’M CURIOUS
After 14+ years of experience working in public libraries, I’ve come to see that curiosity is a common trait shared among our profession. It’s a common trait in our patrons as well. It’s one of the main reasons we read, after all. We want to know what it’s like to experience other places, other times, different ways of thinking or feeling. We want to learn new things. We want to meet new people. We want to improve ourselves or the world around us. And some of us are just plain nosy.
These are the same reasons I love to travel, so how lucky am I to have found a profession that marries these two passions? The general public may not think of librarians as being adventurers, but we really are…even if we never get to travel to Egypt or climb Mt. Everest. We can learn about these places, & even better, we provide the means for everyone else to learn about them.
Some people question the need for libraries in this digital age, and it’s a valid question. Sure, I can couch surf the world from my phone & satisfy my curiosity without ever visiting a library. But here are some questions to ponder:
“Who do you think created those great sites that you’re getting that info from?”
“Who uploaded all those beautiful museum images online & made sure they were freely visible to you?”
“If you could no longer afford internet at home or unlimited ebook purchases [as is the case with many in our community], where would you go?”
It’s the curious librarians & information professionals who are constantly asking questions & who care passionately about ensuring that everyone has equal access to quality information. We have no interest in profit or pursuing personal agendas. We are driven by a shared vision that a well-informed world is a better world — that knowledge is power & it belongs to all. The world needs more curiosity & those who encourage it, so let’s hear it for those inquisitive librarians.
