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Describe yourself using a book title: What Do You Do With a Chance? by Kobi Yamada and Mae Besom and his other book What Do You Do With an Idea? I would describe myself as being inspirational. Sometimes something amazing happens and my confidence grows, oftentimes a chance comes my way and I have an opportunity to do something with it.

What’s the best thing about being a librarian? The best thing about being a librarian is having an opportunity to encourage others to be lifelong learners and avid library patrons.

Twitter handle: @RobLeeBurgess

Describe yourself using a book title: This Book Is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us by Marilyn Johnson

What’s the best thing about being a librarian? I really enjoy helping students become successful so that they can complete their life goals.

Describe yourself using a book title: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy I know that sounds weird, but at different times, I am one, or all four of these. I am always asking questions, seeking God’s wisdom, unsure of myself, yet striving to always be kind and to be a friend to all those I meet.

What’s the best thing about being a librarian? In some way, I believe I always wanted to be a librarian. I would help in the library in elementary school, shelving books. I created a library in the local homeless shelter for my Gold Award project in Girl Scouts that remained in operation until the shelter closed 25 years later. It wasn’t until I began my career as a public librarian, and later a health science librarian though that I truly realized how people gravitate to libraries when they are hurting or need a safe space. As a teacher, I believed the best thing was seeing the “ah-ha” moments in a student’s educational journey. As a teaching librarian, I still love those breakthroughs and cherish each one but even more, my cup is filled when a student tells me they come to the library because it is comforting, relaxing, or a welcoming place for them. I love hearing that we have succeeded in creating a space within the library where all of our students feel welcomed, valued, and wanted.

Describe yourself using a book title: A Man for All Seasons (a play and film rather than a book but a literary product nonetheless)

What’s the best thing about being a librarian? As someone who is fascinated by just about everything I find librarianship to be a great career to discover and learn about God’s creation and our role in it. I can’t think of a better profession for a generalist with a lot of curiosity. I can’t decide if I would call myself a Renaissance man or just a guy with ADD.

Describe yourself using a book title: Curious George Goes to the Library

What’s the best thing about being a librarian? Being able to share my love of reading with my students by introducing them to the wonderful world books have to offer. I love seeing that light bulb go off when they discover how wonderful books are.

Describe yourself using a book title: Knowing God by J.I. Packer. In all that I do, I want to know Christ.

What’s the best thing about being a librarian? There are two things that I enjoy about being a librarian: serving others and knowledge. It’s not a secret that at the heart of librarianship is serving others by assisting them with the information (or knowledge) they are seeking. On the one hand, we model Christ’s command to love others (service) and on the other hand, we provide hope (information). Information (or knowledge) can bring hope to a person who needs it.