I chose a rather large library away from my usual setting (besides, the librarians know me in our surrounding areas because this assignment is similar to other observations and interviews I’ve done), and felt a bit out of place. I must have come at an odd moment when the other librarians were taking their break or helping other patrons because I could only find the one librarian at the desk.
She was kind and professional (exhibiting RUSA-touted listening behaviors) as she listened to my question, then followed up with some of her own. “Just any type of book?” Perhaps, one that would be relaxing, or help me get out of my own skin for awhile. “Fiction or non-fiction? Well, probably fiction.” I agreed.
She then pointed me to a section of shelving marked “Staff Picks”, and said I should look around there. I asked her if she could recommend anything in particular, but she said she hadn’t had much time recently for reading, though the reviewing librarians usually had good reasons for choosing which books went onto those shelves.
I did find some excellent books on the shelves she referred me to, and was gratified to find some of my favorite titles were there in very shabby, well-loved copies. There were classics interspersed with new bestsellers, fiction and nonfiction in a surprising variety of genres.
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