I had a student send me the following poem:

My First Memory (of Librarians)

By Nikki Giovanni

This is my first memory: A big room with heavy wooden tables that sat on a creaky wood floor
A line of green shades—bankers’ lights—down the center
Heavy oak chairs that were too low or maybe I was simply too short for me to sit in and read
So my first book was always big

In the foyer up four steps a semi-circle desk presided
To the left side the card catalogue
On the right newspapers draped over what looked like a quilt rack
Magazines face out from the wall

The welcoming smile of my librarian
The anticipation in my heart
All those books—another world—just waiting
At my fingertips.

It warmed my hard to think of someone so young to think of a librarian in such a warm way.  What is this generation’s memory of librarians?  I wonder.  I know our roles have not changed.  We still want to help and serve those who come and look for information. We want the resources they receive to be top notch.  We want to create a passion for reading for a lifetime.  So as each person walks through our doors, what is the impression we want to leave upon those who enter?  I hope that I can leave that welcoming smile and a helping hand for what their heart seeks.  For me, this is the lasting impression of a librarian.