The Friday of the ALA Annual Conference, while rehearsing for the opening session, my friend Stephanie whispered to me that she’d been invited by a journalist from the NYT to participate in a story, and did I want to come with her and be a part of it. I agreed because OF COURSE.

That weekend would prove to be a pivotal moment in my career and come Sunday morning, the day of our interview, I almost cancelled. My emotions had been on a multi-day rollercoaster and I wasn’t sure that I was up to it. But it was the New York Times and I rallied. 

Stephanie and I met with Elizabeth Egan and proceeded to have one of the most mind melding, robust conversations in my career. Stephanie and I just understood how the other would answer. We played off of each other so well, even saying we needed to take the act on the road.

The photographer was phenomenal and helped us feel comfortable. We even had shots taken with the two of us, prom-style. 

I think I told three people about the interview: my husband, my daughter, and my mother. I didn’t believe it would go to print but it was fun saying to my mom, I can’t talk. I have to go get my picture taken for the New York Times.

We answered all of the questions you see in the article, and many more, and my quote actually calls back to two separate questions: one about librarian stereotypes and the feminization of our profession, similar to nurses and teachers; and one about the one question people always ask when they find out I’m a librarian (“What’s your favorite book?”).

I’ve spent the weekend thinking about the impact I hope that piece has. While my quote may be taken as a little flippant, others are strikingly movingly, and all of them are so, so true. In the 19 years since I decided to pursue librarianship, never did I ever imagine I’d have this opportunity, and I’m forever grateful to be included in a community that constantly works to improve the lives of others.