The William H. Hannon Library is open 146 hours each week during the academic year. We collect, organize, manage, and provide access to a library collection with over 500,000 physical objects and millions of digital artifacts. Last year, over half a million people visited the library.
To provide these services for our community, we have a full time dedicated professional staff of 50... but did you know that we also have 100+ student workers whose daily efforts keep this place running smoothly?
Tom Costello was nominated by his supervisor, Reggie Melonson. Reggie asked Tom a few questions about his experience working here...
Name: Thomas Costello
Year: Sophomore
Major: Political Science major, Music and Computer Science minor.
Hometown: Stockton, CA
Where do you work in the library / what do you do here?:
I work in the Media and Reserves Department on the second floor of the library. I help patrons check out media items and reserve books, as well as put books on reserve for professors so multiple students in their class can access them. I also aid patrons in any problems they may have, check DVDs for quality, and keep the library shelves clean and orderly.
What do you like best about working in the library?:
I enjoy going down to the library basement because it reminds me of the secret government storage room at the end of Indiana Jones, with rows of tall shelves filled with books and other items. I also like being able to help my fellow students know and understand the library, because doing so truly helps with writing papers and conducting research.
Do you ever shush anyone?:
I actually never have. Although I have had to kick patrons out of viewing rooms for refusing to leave after their time is up and other students are waiting, which is sometimes necessary.
Do you have any insider library info that our readers might not know about?:
There is a new policy at the library that allows students to check out DVDs for a 3 day period (as long as they are not on reserve for a class) rather than watch them in the library. Since many popular movies are not on reserve, they can be checked out pretty easily. With Megavideo shut down, I know many people will be looking for a new place to get free movies, and the library is definitely a place to go.
What is the last book that you enjoyed?:
I read a lot of political and economic books in my free time. One of my favorites is Economics in One Lesson by Henry Hazlitt (editor's note: no relation to yours truly). It offers an excellent, concise explanation of free market economics. I am currently in the middle of reading The American Way of War by Tom Engelhardt, which analyzes American foreign policy through a rational perspective politicians should pay more attention to.
What is the strangest DVD that you've ever come across in your job?:
There are a handful of odd movies hidden in the shelves, but I once briefly glanced at a DVD titled I Still Worship Zeus. Hopefully the title is satirical.