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June 21, 2006

Do You Serve a Higher Purpose?

Today, I was feeling overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by all of the changes that have already occurred in our profession and all of the ones yet to come. I probably have at least another 20 years still ahead of me in the world of work. Sometimes, I wonder if I can be smart enough, adaptable enough and visionary enough to survive. I have been in the field for 23 years and may have that many more years to go and I occasionally feel a crisis in confidence.

Working with a dynamo like Sarah Long, who is always bring us new ideas and concepts for services,often, I feel very humbled and awed by what others in the profession are doing. At times like this, I find myself doing that middle-aged thing of asking “What am I doing here and is there anything that makes me special?” In the midst of this a co-worker handed me a book that Sarah had shared with her. It is entitled Sacred Stacks: The Higher Purpose of Libraries and Librarianship by Nancy Kaliko Maxwell.

Ms. Maxwell, who is Jewish, was inspired to write this book after the third person in one day referred to her as “Sister”, mistaking her for a nun. Granted she works at a library in a Catholic university but, some people were still making an interesting assumption. She was especially impressed by a conversation she overheard between a nun and an agnostic co-worker. The nun stated “Everything I do is an offering up to God.” The agnostic librarian responded “I know exactly what you mean. I feel the same way. I can’t describe it, because I am not sure I even believe in God. But at the reference desk, I feel like I am offering my work up to Something or Somebody beyond myself….In the library I feel I am serving some greater purpose.”

I blush to say it but, this really struck a chord with me. I am not the type of person who feels comfortable discussing my religious or spiritual beliefs in the work environment but, I guess I am a member of the Librarian Sect of Sacred Secular Knowledge. (Yes, I am looking into tax exempt status.) While I do not agree with everything in this book, I did find this brief nine chapter, 156 page book a balm for my soul and my book spines.

It is a great light read that provides ideas and thoughts that will stay with you and provide you with many hours of contemplation.

This book was great at snapping me back into shape. Being a lilbrarian isn’t really about me or how good I am, it is about putting the skills that I do have to use for the greater good and helping people. The message I came away with is enjoy sharing the knowledge and talents one possesses and relish how even your simplest acts can help others. Can I get an AMEN?

posted by Anna at 2:55 pm |

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