Michelle Harris has served at Midlothian, Central, Chester, Enon and Ettrick-Matoaca libraries. Currently residing in Chester, she has called the area home for twenty-five years.
“I started working for the county in 1980 with the bookmobile program,” Harris said. “Seeing a child’s love of books and reading, I have appreciation for the written word. I realized the library is about books and beyond.”
MICHELLE HARRIS HAS SEEN LIBRARIES CHANGE OVER THE YEARS WITH COMPUTERS TAKING MORE prOMINANCE, but there is still PRINTED MATERIAL.
With so many careers to choose from, why be a librarian? “I loved making the connection with people and making the connection between books and people to better people’s lifestyles,” Harris explained.
Harris can remember the days when checking out a book meant stamping cards and putting them in the back of a book. Now, she said, you get a printed receipt with a list of your checked-out items.
There have been lots of changes in service. “Years ago,” Harris said, “ to borrow a special item, you would put in a request and it may take a week for it to come in or longer. Today you can make a request online and have the item delivered to a location (library) of your choice and if it’s available, you will usually have it within a day or two.”
“I remember when the Internet was first introduced to staff, and we thought that was incredible,” Harris said. “Now we tend to take it for granted.”
The seasoned librarian said other changes include laptops that are available to check out,
3 D printers, and more.
Have there been any special experiences that stand out to Harris? With many to choose from, she had a special one to share. “One of the things I did the most was story time presenter. It has been very rewarding, I feel it’s playing a role for preparing kids for school. Now, parents who attended my story times, are visiting (story time) with their kids who are taking part.”
So after over thirty-plus years of service as a librarian in Chesterfield, is Harris ready to retire?
“Hmm,,,maybe sometime,” Harris pondered. “There is never a day I tire of working with the library.”
