In this episode, we are thrilled that Elaine (Molly's mom), joins us to share about the ins and outs of her career as a librarian. Her story is an example of a passion becoming a vocation. She followed her love of books (and bookmobiles!) from Minnesota to Honolulu to attend the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa to earn an M.S. in Library Information Science. We get into all the details about her life as a reference librarian - aka Google before Google - and the quirky encounters that happen when working in a public library. Elaine shares the many hats that librarians wear (or are perceived to wear), especially when library patrons have urgent needs - from taxes to horoscopes, car repairs to medical research, she's done it all over her 40 years as a librarian. Hopefully this will inspire you to snuggle up with a great book and get lost in another world. Enjoy!

Episode Highlights

0:40 Elaine's book idea was the origin of "Heartbeat Narratives" podcast

1:41 The power of bookmobiles

2:38 Choosing to be a librarian from a young age

3:41 Summers in the library, picture books, daytime reading

5:14 Do you suggest ways to engage kids in reading more readily?

5:32  Molly "borrowing" books as a toddler

6:47 The big leap! Moving from Minnesota to Hawaii to enter a Library Information Science Master's program

9:59 Remembering 1979 at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa

11:12 Saying "yes" to opportunities

12:09 Blossoming in Hawaiʻi

12:50 Home

13:50 Inspiring the second librarian in the family

14:28 The Google before Google, the best bibliographies

15:50 What it was like being a public reference librarian

16:46 Librarians are frontline workers

19:44 What types of people are drawn to the librarian profession?

21:29  Questions about tax forms, car repairs, the list goes on...

22:45 Best and strangest interactions at the public library

25:50 Favorite reads and selecting books

29:00 E-books and e-readers are changing the literary landscape

30:41 Libraries are valuable community centers

32:28 How can patrons make your work as a librarian easier?

34:08 Get to know your librarian - they will help you with everything!

34:53 Career highlights

36:55 Was there a book that changed your life?

38:14 What does good storytelling look like to you?

39:38 Harry Potter: reading the right book at the right time

42:14 A career of variety

44:07 Passion as vocation, and it all started with a good book

Show Art Photo Credit: Molly Mamaril

Host and Producer: Molly Mamaril

Guitarist: Amund Gismervik