Choose to be Curious Episode #30: Checking out Curiosity at the Library - with Jennifer Rothschild
Jun 14, 2017
Jennifer Rothschild, part of the collection development team at Arlington Public Library, shares the vital role libraries play in sparking curiosity. She discusses unique items available for checkout, like wheelbarrows and thermal cameras, showing how librarians act as personal curiosity concierges. The conversation also highlights community initiatives, such as library gardens for food assistance, and tools like Novelist that help readers discover new literary adventures. Rothschild's insights underline the enduring importance of libraries in fostering inquiry and connection.
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Librarians as Curiosity Concierges
- Librarians today act as personal information concierges, guiding patrons to the info they seek.
- They also teach evaluation skills and help when users lack time to research themselves.
Librarians Learn From Curious Patrons
- Librarians get to learn and be curious themselves when answering unusual patron questions.
- For instance, learning about the economic impact of railroads from a researcher's inquiries.
Arlington Library’s 80-Year Legacy
- Arlington's first official librarian started in 1937, organizing scattered neighborhood collections into a standardized system.
- Within 18 months, over 10,000 volumes were catalogued and accessible to the community.
