Wow, I can’t believe it’s over. I know the saying, “All good things must come to an end,” but I really wish they wouldn’t! I have loved every minute of my internship at Baca County Library; words can’t express how grateful I am to have had this opportunity to learn and grow, but I’m going to try.
This summer has been full of amazing experiences both through the internship and volunteer work. My absolute favorite thing to do at the library was selecting books to order and processing them when they come in. There’s nothing better than a brand-new book. At the library, roughly once a month, we got a new shipment of 20 to 30 new books to relish and prepare to be put on the shelf. It didn’t matter if it’s a kid, young adult, fiction, or non-fiction; seeing what would soon pass through the doors countless times, in perfect condition, was just a bit thrilling. Moreover, seeing books that I picked or am interested in on the shelf is the greatest feeling. I did have to learn, through Jody constantly reminding me in the nicest way possible, that the books I mainly read, are not the books that would check out at our library (e.g. Sci-Fi). So, I had to select books that our regulars would check out, like Danielle Steele or Casandra Clare.
That was one of the easier things to get the hang of, I had a bit more hesitation when it came to answering the phone or interacting with patrons. When I first started to answer the phone almost everyone would automatically ask for Jody, but as I became more of a fixture in the library less of the callers felt the need to speak only with Jody. There were always those questions every now and then that I couldn’t answer and had to ask about, but the person always got their information and that was the important part. The same can be said for interacting with patrons. At the beginning of the summer, I didn’t know how to provide them the information they needed. Nevertheless, as I became more familiar with the library I was able to help patrons find specific books or movies. It felt good when I could point them to exactly what they wanted (not so good when I couldn’t).
Regardless, I learned how to interact with people on a professional level in a public setting; something that can’t be learned in school and that I am eternally grateful for. So, thank you to Ogallala Commons, the Baca County commissioners, John Wittler, and especially Jody. I can’t imagine putting up with me all summer through my constant questions and requests for her to get the spider on the wall (she always did). So, thanks again Jody, for a wonderful summer!
Until next time,
Becky Heath
