by Joe Miller,
Director of Development
This week’s post comes from Trisha Barb, librarian at the Linwood branch. Trisha explains that being a librarian in Pocahontas County isn’t just sitting behind a desk checking out books.
When you mention the word “librarian,” most people will picture someone wearing glasses and a cardigan, sitting behind a desk, shushing patrons, then going home to spend every evening in front of a big book.
I don’t quite fit those stereotypes.
To be fair, I do wear a lot of cardigans. And I do love literature and helping my community.
I also love spending time outdoors. And if you’ve ever stopped by the Linwood branch on a Thursday when the Linwood Little Librarians are visiting, then you’ll know that I’m not one for insisting on silence in the library!
While I may not fit the stereotypes, I do love being a librarian.
My job is sublime for a multitude of reasons. I have great coworkers. I get to see the smiling faces of library patrons when they find the perfect book. I love seeing kids discover new places in the pages of a story.
My favorite part of working as a librarian in Pocahontas County is that so much of the job takes place out from behind the circulation desk.
Over the summer, the library set up a booth at First Fridays in Marlinton. I loved volunteering to cover the booth because it offered the chance to do fun activities with the the community—things like making buttons and face painting—while also sharing information about our Summer Reading Program.
I’ve also gotten to do things like host story time during the Capitol Christmas Tree Celebration. I loved getting to see some of my favorite young patrons outside the library, taking in all the excitement and festivities with their parents.
My favorite adventures outside the library are the days I get to assist Nature’s Mountain Classroom.
If you’re not familiar with it, Nature’s Mountain Classroom is an experiential learning program for kids in second through fifth grades. Kids get the chance to learn about Pocahontas County—both its natural and cultural beauty—while adventuring in it.
In the coming days, I’ll be hosting “Pop-Up Story Time” at the Snowshoe Hare coffee shop. Keep an eye out for additional “Pop-Up Story Time” sessions in the future near you.
What truly makes all these events magical are the communities and people who make them possible. Seeing so many local businesses and community organizations come together to create long-lasting memories for everyone involved—especially the younger generations—reminds me of why the place where I get to work and live is special.
We love being part of our community. If you look around at pretty much any event going on around our county, odds are pretty good that you’ll spot a librarian.
When today’s young library patrons here in Pocahontas County are grown, they won’t remember librarians as people who simply sat behind desks.
My hope—my goal each day—is to ensure that they remember someone reading them a story at a nature center or a coffee shop. Someone helping them put their favorite literary character on a button. Someone teaching them to write haikus after a hike.
Who knows. Maybe some of those memories will turn into stories that another librarian will read to another generation of kids who are on a whole new adventure.
That librarian will probably be wearing a comfy cardigan, too.
