A Lifelong Journey with the Public Library: Personal Stories and Hidden Treasures

My tenure with the public library spanned thirty years and involved roles in academic, school, special, and public libraries. Throughout my career, I encountered numerous memorable moments. However, one experience stands out as particularly surprising and humbling.

The Surprise Encounter

My journey began as an Adult Services Librarian at a branch that hosted multiple story programs weekly. Although the Children's Librarian handled the majority, I assisted with one or two programs each week. As my career progressed, I transitioned into a Branch Manager overseeing several branches. Near my retirement, I faced an unexpected visit from a city IT department representative while our system was being maintained in one of the branches. When the man revealed his identity, my jaw dropped. It was the handsome man from the weekend story programs at the Riverside Branch!

He recounted how much he had enjoyed those programs and his lifelong love for the library. It was a full-circle moment, and undoubtedly, a unique experience for a librarian. While teachers are known for such encounters, librarians often do not share similar surprises from former patrons.

The Library of Lost Causes

During my time at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign from 1965 to 1975, I witnessed a high attrition rate among political causes and literary magazines. I inherited the records of over 30 of these groups, finding space in my large Victorian home.

One notable magazine I supported was started by the renowned critic, Roger Ebert. However, the political climate shifted dramatically when the Socialist experiment in Chile fell apart. I collected documents from government buildings and political parties. To circumvent the censorship and political persecution, I arranged to have these materials mailed to the "Communist Studies Institute" at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, using my home as the address.

During this categorical act of mission, a Chilean general, later Chile’s ambassador to the United States under Pinochet, confronted me in English, asserting there was no such institute. To my astonishment, he then provided me with new copies of the materials I had lost or destroyed. His actions were a profound act of support during a tumultuous time.

Following this experience, I moved to a 4-story brownstone with 16 rooms in DuPont Circle, where I stored the Chilean materials and other radical left archives from the 1960s. Some of these documents found their way into publications like Covert Action, Counter-Spy, Inquiry, and Liberation. Many of the Chilean library materials eventually made their way to Stanford University, later to be housed at the Hoover Institution.

A Compulsive Librarian

In the 1980s, my focus shifted to photograph, video, and material on rapidly changing tourist destinations such as Cuba, Bali, and Ipanema. My work involved collecting, preserving, and archiving information for publications and research. I can confidently say that I am a compulsive librarian with a keen interest in preserving materials that seem at risk of vanishing.

Throughout my career, the public library has been a cornerstone of my life, not only for the memories but also for the invaluable role it plays in society. Whether it’s a story program, a lost cause, or a collection of photographic history, the library remains a treasure trove of knowledge and culture.