Name: Sandra W.

Title: Library Associate

What is my job at the library? I work a lot with the interlibrary loan/request system - processing books patrons have requested from our library or other libraries in the consortium. I also can be seen quite often at the Reader's Advisory Desk, which is an information desk located on the main floor of the library. Finally, I am responsible for the mystery section of the library: ordering new books, keeping it looking nice, etc. If you know of any mystery titles you'd like to see in our collection, please let me know!

How long have I worked at the library? I'm pretty new, I've only been in employment here for 2 months (I started on July 5, 2005).

What is my favorite part of the job? I enjoy interacting with patrons and being able to help them find a book they're looking for, or even better solving a mystery such as figuring out what was the book they liked but can't remember the name or author. But, I am also a paperwork and organizational fiend so the behind-the-scenes work really appeals to that side of me as well. Really, there's no part of my job I DON'T like!

What do I like to read? I enjoy most fiction genres, it really depends on the individual book more than the subject I think. Generally, I love fantasy books. I was a HUGE Stephen King fan when I was younger, and I own every one of his books. I also like some more off-beat books like Still Life With Woodpecker by Tom Robbins and the Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy by Tim Burton. Really, I just choose books by whim with no rhyme nor reason. Many of my best reads were books bought in airports to read on flights.

What is my favorite book? There are far too many, from both my childhood and more recent times. A sampling would have to include some fantasy series: Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials Trilogy, Robin Hobb's Farseer and Tawny man series, George R.R. Martin's Song of Fire and Ice series, C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia, and Lloyd Alexander's Taran Wanderer books. There'd have to be at least one Stephen King book - perhaps Firestarter or Eyes of the Dragon. King Rat and Catch-22 rate pretty high up there, as do a couple of Neil Gaiman's books - especially Neverwhere. And I always enjoyed a good animal story - James Herriot's books and Sterling North's Rascal are a couple of good examples. I guess I really don't have a favorite, but this list of chart-toppers could go on for a while.

What is my favorite movie? Another tough one that I can only attempt to answer by listing some of the more favorite ones: Edward Scissorhands (and other Johnny Depp and/or Tim Burton films), About A Boy (and other Hugh Grant movies), Spirited Away (and others by Miyazaki), Anne of Green Gables (starring Megan follows), The Man With One Red Shoe, Drop Dead Fred, Ladyhawke, Amelie, Elf, The Princess Bride, Office Space, Annie, the original Star Wars trilogy, Nightmare Before Christmas. Again, this list could grow to be quite big if I let it but I doubt I have that much room here - I've probably already overstepped my space!

Other than reading, what do I like to do when I'm not working? I enjoy being outdoors - hiking, gardening, reading in the park. My husband and I do geocaching (www.geocaching.com) and volkswalking (www.ava.org). I also like just relaxing at home and watching a movie, or going out with friends.