Interview with Ofelia Moran, Circulation Supervisor

Star Wars Day at the Excelsior Branch.

Please share with us your name and current title and organization.  

Ofelia Moran – Library Technical Assistant II/Circulation Supervisor with the San Francisco Public Library, Excelsior Branch.

How long have you worked with your organization?

Started July 1994; it will be 27 years this summer.  

Did you work for any other library systems?

No, I started working for SFPL a little after I graduated from high school.    

Please give us an overview of your time at SFPL. Go into as much detail as you like!  

I first learned about the library world during my last year in high school. I joined a youth summer program run by the city of San Francisco called the Mayor’s Youth Employment and Education Program (MYEEP). The purpose of the program was to introduce teens to different fields of work. I came in late to the program, so a lot of the other office jobs were taken; however I saw the library in the list and was drawn to it. I worked at the Richmond Branch as a youth intern during the summer of 1990. I was hired as a library page in Nov. 1991 and worked for about a year before I joined the military. A few years later I came back looking for a part-time job and got hired again as a 3602 library page in July 1994 at the Excelsior Branch. I worked as a page for eight months and then got the opportunity to apply for a promotion at the same branch. I became a 3610 Library Assistant in March 1995; I worked as a library assistant for about five (give or take) years before I once again had the opportunity to be promoted to a 3616 Library Assistant I within the same branch. That is when I knew the library was it for me, so I started investing in learning new skills. I was given the opportunity to act as lead in the absence of my former supervisor who was also my mentor. 

I have been very lucky to have worked with a lot of amazing supervisors/managers whom I’ve learned a lot of my supervisor skills from. About six, maybe seven years later I was again given the opportunity to be promoted into a supervisor position as a 3618 Library Technical Assistant II at the Mission Branch. This was the first time I worked at a different location and it was a great experience. I had the chance to use everything I learned with an amazing team at the Mission Branch but about five years later my former supervisor retired from the Excelsior Branch and I decided to come back. 

I have lived in the Excelsior neighborhood since I was 10 so I’ve always had a special connection with this neighborhood, and I knew I wanted to return. I knew I made the right choice when I came back; I enjoy working and helping all the public that come daily into the branch.  

You've worked at so many different levels of the organization. How have you seen the public library evolve and change in that time?

The library has and continues to evolve since my Day One. Some changes have been beneficial and some not so much. The library card catalog still existed when I first was hired at the library. I remember seeing my coworkers create three card catalog entries for every new book we received; one would be filed under the title, the second under the author’s name, and the third under the call # (there may have been more than 3 but that is what I can remember). As a library page, one of my job duties was to learn how to file them so that they were in the right order for librarians to help patrons with their searches. When I came back the second time, most of the collection had been digitally cataloged, which of course has made it easier.

Technology is the main reason for many of the changes in the library. I like to call it a double-edged sword; it has made our daily tasks a bit easier on one end, but has added a lot more work on the other end. It has shifted a lot of our daily work into teaching patrons how to use the new technology. The fancier the technology is, the harder it is for a lot of the patrons we serve. At the Excelsior Branch, we serve a high number of low income and senior population. Staff must not only learn but also teach patrons how to use the new technology. A small yet huge change I can think of is the public printer; it used to be a one-touch job. When the printer was no longer supported, the library invested in what is called a Multi-Function Device (MFD). It has so many functions and it is a great device yet it can be very intimidating and hard to use for a lot of patrons who are coming in to print a single page and must learn how to use a very complex device to print their one page.  

In your own words, how does circulation work together with librarianship? 

When I first started working for the library, the job of a librarian and a circulation staff was very  distinct; circulation staff never crossed over and vice-versa. Technology, along with the new structures of the buildings have changed this. It has made both classifications learn a little about each other's jobs. I have been very lucky to work with a great group of staff both circulation and reference. We both support each other within our own knowledge and rely on each other for more complex help.

What would you like librarians to know about circulation? In other words, is there anything you'd like to share with librarians about circulation and support staff? 

I have been very lucky to work with amazing librarians who are always willing to step in and help out when there has been a need. It would be great to see this model in other locations. I work with a great team.

How have you had to pivot because of the pandemic?

Just like every other library staff member I’ve had to learn to be very flexible and adjust and learn new assignments. I was activated as a disaster service worker (DSW) back in April 2020 and worked at the SF Marin Food Bank. It was a bit scary when I first reported. There was very little known about the pandemic other than that it was deadly and was spreading rapidly. The first assignments were done on a voluntary basis. Living alone, I felt the need to step up and take the assignments. I knew of a lot of other staff members who had children, or were in the vulnerable population who would be forced to take the assignments if not enough of us did. It turned out to be a very fulfilling assignment; knowing that I helped put food on the table of hundreds of San Francisco residents made me feel good at the end of the day. Some of the assignments I did while working for the food bank was filling the bag with produce, team lead and helping translate for Spanish speakers while serving as line monitor. Once I got past the fear it turned out to be a nice assignment and I got to go out and get some sun and exercise while doing it.

During the summer it was announced the library would start offering in-person service and the Main Library along with Excelsior Branch had been selected as the first locations that would open for curbside pick-up. I was called back to the library and had to re-shift my focus to library work once again. I came back to work under different conditions from what I was used to prior to the pandemic. It was like learning a different job and part of my responsibility was to make sure that the staff who worked with me worked in a safe environment. 

What do you like to do outside of the library?

I love to listen to music, dance, spend time with my daughter and my two grandkids, take walks with my dog, go for runs, try different restaurants, and spend time with my family and friends.  

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I am very active with our union; one of the best things that I’ve seen come from the pandemic has been the connection from the staff with their union. This past year has been very challenging for everyone but at the end we all have learned how resilient we are and that if we continue to work together we will finish stronger than ever.