Quick Questions with Lorin

Lorin

WOC+Lib Co-Founder

What's something you're reading or watching right now? Tell us about it.

I recently finished "Little Fires Everywhere" on Hulu. It was incredible. I feel like Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington really hit it out of the park with their performances in this one. The nuance with which the series (I haven't read the Celeste Ng novel yet of the same title) deals with race and class specifically, is truly majestic and harrowing at the same time. Highly recommend.

How are you staying grounded during this time?

I'm trying to establish routines with how I do things. I also use the "Forest" app on my tablet and phone to help me stay focused for short amounts of time. I'm taking advantage of online courses and trying to stay up on my game.

What is something you want to learn more about?

I'd like to learn more about community and personal archives, as well as oral history projects from people I respect/admire.

Who do you want to be in 5 years?

I want to be running shit at my own library. :)

Tell us about your first library job? How did it shape your career choice today?

When I was in grad school to become a librarian, I held three part time jobs simultaneously. I was going to school full-time, and finishing a 3-year MI degree program in two years and working three part time jobs. I don't miss that life. I was working at monitoring a computer lab at a non-profit that supported people impacted by mass incarceration as part of a larger AIDS service organization. I had an internship at an academic library in the Humanities and Social Sciences. I also worked as a Circulation Assistant at a law library. I'm grateful for the exposure and experience these gave me, although I was not paid very much and very tired.

What legacy do you wish to leave as a Kick Ass Librarian in the field?

I want to maintain an ethic of love, care, and kindness, be the supervisor/manager/colleague that I wish I had, and be memorable as a librarian from an underrepresented background.

What’s the most valuable piece of career advice you’ve been given?

Don't take things personally and when it comes to criticism, take it as a way to make you even better - not that you are lacking, but becoming. Also, to only truly take in feedback from those you admire, not those you don’t.

What superpower would you like to have?

Super strength and recover abilities like Wolverine from X-Men.

What’s your favorite section in a bookstore or library?

Black Studies.

What’s your proudest accomplishment?

Becoming a librarian.