An Amazing Ten Years

June 11, 2001 is an important date in my life. It was my first day as a part time librarian in the HCPLC's History and Genealogy Department. I had been in library school for a month and hadn't a clue of what I was doing. My job interview consisted of me honestly answering that I didn't know how to access the catalog or what databases were available or what genealogy was, but I was more than willing to learn if someone was willing to teach me. For some crazy reason, Lisa W. thought she could teach me and decided to hire me. Lisa was my first of many mentors over the years. She gave me my start and had faith in my abilities over the years.

Other genealogists and librarians touched my life and affected my career. Too many to be named in this post, but some of them appear in this pic of Elvia's last day in the department. Drew S. took the time to mentor me while I was in school when I wanted to be an academic librarian. After a fateful meeting at ALA, where librarian's were discussing the new HeritageQuest Online product and I met Curt W., who would eventually become my boss, I returned to school asking Drew to guide me into becoming a genealogy librarian. Through the years, I questioned his advice, such as the time he recommended I take a position as a general reference librarian instead of as a genealogy librarian when I graduated. He thought it would make me more marketable and he was right. Over the years, he had faith in me and offered me my first outside speaking engagement, talking to paraprofessionals about genealogy, and even recommended me to replace him in the University's MLIS program instructing possible future genealogy professionals.

Andrew B. would be the next person to have a major impact on my career. He recognized my leadership skills and thought I should replace Lisa as head of the History and Genealogy Collection, where I had begun my career. With his guiding hand in becoming a library supervisor, I started the next portion of my career. Even when I told him, I was ready for a change and needed to move on, he supported my decisions and still guides me when I face career challenges. When I left HCPLC and began my new experience, the group pictured in this photo were my employees (Cheryl was part of our group but not my employee).

The man I met at ALA eons ago, Curt W., would entice me during a phone interview concerning his views on genealogy instruction and its future. After our conversation, I knew where I belonged. I moved away from everything I knew to work in one of the premiere genealogical research facilities in the country, coordinating programs and seminars, and offering my expertise to others, while working with some of the most knowledgeable and wonderful group of people I've ever met. It has been a long and winding journey over the past ten years and I would never have made it this far, without my mentors. As I said there are those who I haven't mentioned, including the multiple researchers and society members, who made up my customer base over the years, but those I referenced have had the largest impact. Without their influence, I wouldn't be where I am today and I thank them for everything.