In a place like Houghton, our rare book library, staff members often work closely with instructors in literature or art courses that use original materials. An analogy is happening in the digital age, simply because students and faculty need guidance dealing with digital information. Librarians are getting more involved in training people to search for, download, and manipulate information and in helping faculty members develop digital materials. For example, the map collection created digitized maps of trade routes in the 19th century for a course in African art to help explain how various forms of art moved from one culture to another. It's a very exciting and challenging time for librarians.
Some people think the work of a librarian is routine.
Nothing could be further from the truth. I suppose if I had to choose, it would be Widener. I took this job as director of the University Library because I fell in love with Widener my freshman year. Back then, you had to get permission to get into the stacks, and I got a note from my English instructor because I was doing a paper. People tell me now that's the odor of decaying books and that I shouldn't have a romantic memory of it, but nevertheless, the odor of the Widener stacks is something you never forget.