Image courtesy Winifred Fordham Metz
Winifred -- a.k.a. "Fred" -- Fordham-Metz
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We've all heard the stereotype before – librarians are quiet, shy, bookish sorts who go around shushing people all the time. If you think that's true, think again. We asked Winifred Fordham-Metz, a librarian at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill about this pervasive pigeonhole and here's what she had to say, "I think it is lamentable but funny. Of course, ultimately it is untrue! Quiet and shy are not adjectives that come quickly to mind when I describe myself or a good many of my colleagues."
As for bookish, speaking as a former librarian myself, I'll take that tag any day … come on, who doesn't want to be described as well informed or scholarly? And scholarly most librarians are. At a minimum, librarians must attain a Masters Degree of Library Science (MLS). Today, many librarian posts require additional Masters or Doctoral degrees in a specific field. For her current position as Media Resources Librarian, Winifred holds an MLS. She's taken courses in film studies and has practical experience managing film collections and selecting foreign and independent films.
Much like many other librarians who find themselves in charge of a collection, Winifred's job is twofold -- she's the head of the Media Resources Center and serves as the Media librarian. As the head of the center, she manages day-to-day operations, leads a team of five full-time library professionals and manages the materials budget. She also plans, develops and manages the public services and programs the center offers. As Media librarian, Winifred develops and manages the collection, selecting films, music, screenplays, language learning kits and other materials. In addition, she assists students and faculty, answers reference questions, curates film festivals and screenings, writes descriptions of the films and documentaries offered in the collection, researches emerging media and trials and institutes new services. Winifred works on several committees and professional groups, too. Whew -- obviously you won't find Winifred (who also goes by Fred) sitting quietly somewhere with her nose buried in a book – well at least not at work.
Image courtesy Winifred Fordham Metz
Fred in the MRC Digital Media Lab at UNC-Chapel Hill
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Read on to find out what life as a librarian is like.
Express: What made you decide to be a librarian?
Winifred Fordham-Metz:It wasn’t a linear decision by any means, but a convergence of a number of things, really. First, my twin sister went to graduate school to be a librarian and was working in a library and seemed to really like it. Also, one of my favorite jobs ever was working in a library when I was an undergrad. And, of course – I’ve had a life-long affinity for libraries that began with story hour at the local library when I was tiny. I got completely hooked when the nice librarian at my elementary school suggested I read “The Mouse and the Motorcycle” and “From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.” Also, the top Library school in the country was right in my backyard, so to speak. So, when I was contemplating graduate schools, it seemed like a natural choice.
Express: You mentioned working in a library while you were an undergraduate?
Winifred Fordham-Metz:Yup, I got assigned to a special collection library on campus. I helped process personal papers. Everyday at work, I got to sort, read, arrange and give brief descriptions of people’s collections of letters and journals. Some of the work involved business and government papers as well. But, what I enjoyed most were the letters and journals. Someone’s life was virtually unfolding before me – I got to read unedited, first-hand experiences of soldiers and war nurses, of writers and politicians. It was an incredible experience.
Express: What's an average work day like for you?
Winifred Fordham-Metz:In the morning, I start by answering a lot of e-mail – some are questions about our collection, some are requests for new materials, etc. I also spend a little time reading industry news, looking at new software and electronics and services that will eventually inform what we do here. During all of this, I might get called up to the service desk to help patrons – or called into the audio or media lab to help too. I often have a couple of committee meetings or meetings with faculty or students peppered throughout the day. I try to block out time to review current film and documentary orders lists as well as time to work on special projects several times a week. Depending on the time of year, I will spend some time reviewing the materials budget, updating stats, and writing reviews. From start to finish, I will have several spreadsheets open (adding new film titles and documentaries to review for purchase) and a documentary or film running, too.
Express: How large is the media resources collection and what does it comprise?
Winifred Fordham-Metz:Currently, we only actively collect in DVD, CD and digital format. But, we do still maintain a large collection of VHS and 16mm films. All told, we have approximately 6,000 DVDs, 10,000 VHS, 3,000 CDs, several hundred LPs and Laser Discs, and 3,000 16mm films.
Express: How do you decide what films to purchase for the collection?
Winifred Fordham-Metz:Several things help inform how I select films to add to the collection. First and foremost, I look for things that address the instruction and research needs of our community of users. For this, I work closely with faculty to identify specific films or documentaries they want to show or themes they are trying to convey. I also keep up with any new classes being taught on film and reach out to incoming faculty interested in media and film. I try to anticipate themes and keep current with emerging directors, documentaries, short and independent films too. The collection also sees high extra-curricular use, so I keep current with popular films as well.
Express: Besides managing the collection and helping students and faculty, what else do you do?
Winifred Fordham-Metz:Lots of committee work, volunteer work in the community, writing, research and watching lots and lots of films. When our media lab's manager isn’t around, I help trouble shoot in the media lab and audio lab. Today, I worked with four students who’ve formed a local hip hop group; they came in to use our audio lab to lay several tracks for a project. I also helped a student with the layout for a film poster he was designing for his class and an instructor who needed to edit a film project.
Express: What would our readers be surprised to learn about your job?
Winifred Fordham-Metz:There are hardly any books involved – and absolutely no shushing. If anything, where I work now, we promote noise in our digital media and audio labs.
Express: What's the most rewarding part of your job?
Winifred Fordham-Metz:Helping connect people to the films, helping find answers to people’s questions, seeing other people get excited about documentaries or films I’ve suggested.
Express: What's the most exciting part of your job?
Winifred Fordham-Metz:There are lots of things, like finding new resources. Right now, we’re beginning a trial for digital delivery of films. Essentially, we’re making it so faculty and students can access a group of films they’ll need for their class, anytime anywhere via the Internet. And there's curating film events, attending film festivals and conferences, meeting with new filmmakers about their work and screening raw footage they’ve shot.
Express: What's your least favorite thing about your job?
Winifred Fordham-Metz:Getting stumped by a question – not being able to help people get what they need for their research. What else? I don’t have a window in my office…
Express: Have you worked in any other library collections?
Winifred Fordham-Metz:You betcha. Technically, the first library I worked in was way back in high school. I worked the circulation desk and shelved books during sixth period every day, my senior year in high school. When I went to college, I got placed in a library for my work-study assignment. It was an amazing collection of southern histories and manuscripts. In between undergrad and grad school, I managed a video library and was responsible for collecting foreign and independent feature films. During grad school, I worked in another special collection, processing a forestry collection. My first job out of grad school, I managed a small imaging department in a library and spent a lot of time dealing in digital rights management of photos and slides from the collections. As you can see, jobs in libraries are pretty wide ranging and cover a bunch of areas and different interests.
Express: What advice do you have for our readers who would like to become librarians?
Winifred Fordham-Metz:Study, figure out what interests you, learn as much as you can, travel – and try to work in a library in high school or college – so you can see if it would be a good fit for you.
Express: OK, we have to ask – you go by "Fred" and you work in a library – did you inspire a certain character in a certain Joss Whedon TV show?
Winifred Fordham-Metz:You know, I used to get asked that question all the time when that show ran. I don’t know Whedon, so I chalk it up to a funny coincidence. But, then again, you never know … she did have long dark hair, my same glasses and a charming southern accent …
Getting Started
Want to read more about library-related work? Visit your local library or bookstore and go online for more information:
- A Day in the Life: Career Options in Library and Information Science, Priscilla K. Shontz and Richard A. Murra, editors
- What's the Alternative? Career Options for Librarians and Info Pros by Rachel Singer Gordon
- American Library Association http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=Education
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