After starting with novelist and Ninja Peter Darbyshire yesterday, I’d like to switch perspective on the same questionless questions and go with public librarian Alexandra Yarrow. A long-time friend of Bookninja, Alex is a Supervising Librarian at the Ottawa Public Library (Rideau Branch).

I am… a public librarian

I am known to… type and read very, very fast, devour novels while slouching in wingback chairs and then share them with library patrons, offer library tours and free coffee, and sing in a high voice for storytime.

I do this in… skirts.

I do this because… We’re the people’s university! I feel strongly about the need for excellence in our profession, and service to all members of our local community. When I was getting my Masters in Library Science, I had this quote from librarian Wendy Newman on my kitchen whiteboard, and it’s still a touchtone for me: “Universal access to the universe ideas.” That’s the business (I hope) I am in.