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Honoring our Graduating Library Assistants 2020

Books

Great American Ice Cream book cover

The Great American Ice Cream Book by Paul Dickson

Jin Kim '20, Studio Art, Preservation Department

I had a blast reading this book while repairing it. It's a fun yellow book with lots of ice cream recipes you could try at home and entertaining history to read while you eat the ice cream. I especially loved the compiled list of slangs used in soda fountains (p. 102-108): 'With a little practice, three strawberry milkshakes become 'Shake a Crows patch,' while three large glasses of ice are, 'Hail a crowd in the air,' and four chocolate sodas translate to 'Jerk a bridge through Georgia.' So neat!

I loved running into all sorts of books in the preservation department. I repaired a lot of old books - most of them were last checked out in the 1900's, and they cover all sorts of topics. 

 


 

The God of Small Things book cover

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

Hannah Rittman '20, Political Science, Loan Services

This was my older sister's favorite book who passed in March due to a climbing accident. I chose this book to honor and remember her.

I have enjoyed interacting with the Carleton community through the library and helping people read more.

 


 

Cutting for Stone cover

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

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Jonathan A.L Grinde '20, English, Loan Services

I chose this book because I read it for my English senior seminar class. It was such an encapsulating read that I read it with fervor and struggled to put it down. My copy is full of sticky notes, underlines, and margin notes. It is such a rich book that delves into literary themes, life, medicine, and the beauty of language. This book took me to the past, to Ethiopia, to New York, and to operating rooms. My only complaint is that it wasn't long enough.

I enjoyed being in an environment surrounded by books and people who cared about books. I cherished the impromptu conversations with my coworkers, supervisors, and friends who would stop by the desk. I'm grateful for my opportunity to work in the library where I met so many great people and spent so much time. Gould Library is a great place to have worked for three years.

 


 

Pictures of Dorian Grey cover

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, illustrated by Henry Keen

Cecilia Kryzda '20, Cinema and Media Studies, Loan Services

I coincidentally read this book surrounded by extraordinary beauty, in a Kyoto onsen, so it felt like an omen. I have never read a book in which each sentence made me laugh and prickle at the same time. It's so hard to deeply disagree with a book that seems to be provoking you at every turn of the page. And it's a juicy gothic story too—full of sin, lust, and tragedy—squeal!

I have loved all the people I've become friends with behind the desk as co-workers, and across the desk as patrons/fellow students/professors. I will miss chats sparked by seeing what others are interested in.

 


 

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Na Han (呐喊) by Lu Xun (鲁迅)

Alan Ran Zheng '20, Psychology, Reference, Data, or Digital Humanities

Nahan critiques the existing antique values within societies and calls for people to challenge the current status quo. The values and ideas in the book is ahead of its time and revolutionary. Personally, it is inspirational and reminds me to reflect on my personal beliefs and values constantly.

The digital humanities cohort provides a supportive and collaborative working environment that is a great thing about working in the library. Also, the position provides plenty of opportunities for growth and development for the student workers.

 


 

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The Library Book by Susan Orlean

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Emika Otsuka '20, Political Science/International Relations, Reference, Data, or Digital Humanities

My co-intern, Cece, gave me when I graduated from school last term, and this is one of my favorite books! This book is also about the history of libraries and librarians and I really enjoyed reading it while reflecting on my time at the Gould Library.

What I liked most about working in the library was definitely working with my co-interns and librarians. I was fortunate enough to get to know these people and learn from them!

 


 

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Macbeth by William Shakespeare
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Cece Lasley '20, English, Reference, Data, or Digital Humanities

This was the edition of Macbeth that I used for my comps.

I've loved getting to know all of the librarians through my work as a Reference and Instruction Intern, as well as getting to help Carls with their research at the Reference Desk. My work in library has confirmed that I want to pursue librarianship as a career!

 


 

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Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett

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Pilot Irwin '20, Cinema and Media Studies, Reference, Data, or Digital Humanities

Monstrous Regiment is one of the few standalone books in Terry Pratchett's fantasy series Discworld, making it one of the better places for people to begin the series. It's a compelling, satirical read that deals with sexism, xenophobia, propaganda, and war while also managing to be absolutely hilarious.

My work in the library has taken me into contact with a lot of interesting fields that I never thought I would have the chance to explore, like data privacy law, educational technology, and online social trends. It's given me the opportunity to sharpen my research and writing skills, and allowed me to work with an excellent team of kind, diligent people. I owe a lot of my growth over the course of this year to the work I've done with the library and in the Digital Humanities department, and I'm so proud of everything we've accomplished.

 


 

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Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire

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Aaron Young '20, History, Reference, Data, or Digital Humanities

I tried to find a book that had a profound impact on who I am from a young age. I am a lover of storytelling and I believe that arose partially from when I was little and my mom used to read stories to me. My favorite one was D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths. Where a lot of my friends grew interested in Greek Myths through the Percy Jackson books, I was fascinated by the stories, personalities, and squabbles of the Gods in D'Aulaires' book. I was amazed at how the stories of the Gods from thousands of years ago could so beautifully describe the world and the human condition. Because of this book, I realized what stories could do for people and how it could help make sense of the things that are so difficult to understand.

I have loved working in the library both as a Digital Archivist and a Digital Humanities Associate due to the wealth of knowledge that we work with. I love helping others understand the world and tools we have here. It's just such a fun place to be and everyone here is incredibly warm and friendly. I will miss working here.

 


 

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Beastie Boys Book by Adam Horovitz

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Matt Thill '20, Statistics, Reference, Data, or Digital Humanities

I stumbled across this book while waiting for a meeting for work. I never knew much about the Beastie Boys, but found the images in the book as well as their impact on pop culture fascinating. I came back to that book frequently while waiting for my weekly work meeting to start and always looked forward to leafing through it before each meeting.

I've loved learning more about all of the work that goes on behind the scenes at the libe. I've really come to appreciate it as a resource, and this year it has become an increasing part of my on-campus experience.

 


 

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House of Light by Mary Oliver

Sarah Steinke '20, Linguistics, Technical Services

Over the past four years, Mary Oliver's poems have brought me comfort and joy and wonder, and helped me make a new friend. They remind me that there are many ways to look at the world, and that it's worth looking. This book includes one of my favorite Mary Oliver poems (The Ponds), and it's the last book I read at Gould Library as a student here.

Everyone in Technical Services has been lovely to work with, and I've always appreciated the time I get to spend there. I've really enjoyed being a part of so many different projects, from processing new resources to working with digital collections to weeding old or damaged books, which have helped me learn a lot about how libraries work. I really love the libe, and I love that working there has helped me get to know it even better, and hopefully helped other folks who use (or love) the libe.

 


 

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When the United States Spoke French by Francois Furstenberg

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Nicole Connell '20, History, Archives, Special Collections, or Preservation

I read this book in the fall of my sophomore year in Serena Zabin's class, "Age of Hamilton." There are two and a half pages that I have practically memorized by now, as they contain wonderful anecdotes regarding letters of introduction and the role they played in the emigrants' lives. My fascination with these letters and how they facilitated social networking and mobility eventually led to what became my comps.

I have really enjoyed working in the Carleton Archives these past three years. The archives has so many interesting things and I have learned so much about Carleton working there. I love showing my friends old photos or relaying the fun tidbits that I have learned. It's also been a great way to explore what working in an archive entails, which has helped me cement my plans of pursuing archival work in the future.

 


 

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The Princess Bride by S. Morgenstern, abridged by William Goldman

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Kaelen Felknor-Edwards '20, History, Dance Minor, Loan Services

It is a classic tale of adventure and romance that combines witty exchanges with sword fights, intrigue, and biting historical commentaries.

I really enjoyed the working with staff members both during the school year and the summer, as well as being introduced to a variety of new books.

 


 

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The Story of Tibet: Conversations with the Dalai Lama by Thomas Laird

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Tenzin Kunsang '20, Mathematics, Reference, Data or Digital Collections

It is very much a symbol of who I am, how I was brought out, the philosophy I like to talk about, ...

Loved working with staffs who are constantly willing to help you no matter what and remain supportive and makes the students feel loved. My digital humanities supervisors and meeting with them just feels like meeting up with friends!

 


 

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Top 40 by Brandon Brown

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Katy Gilbertson '20, Psychology, Loan Services

I read "Top 40" in my A&I freshman year ("American Lyric: Poetry, Pop, and Rap"), which remains one of my favorite classes I've ever taken at Carleton. "Top 40" takes a brilliant, unpretentious look at chart-topping pop, and provides reflection—funny and insightful and strange—in the form of 40-line prose poems. Pop is an often-overlooked genre, and can be deemed "shallow"; Brown challenges this unfair characterization. While by no means a staunch defender of every pop song's artistic integrity, he exposes some of pop's subtle truths about our lives... He poignantly questions the difference between the extraordinary and the mundane... Ultimately, Brown's frank, idiosyncratic style is an excellent blurring of the line between poetry and prose, and it's proof that verse needn't be cryptic to be powerful. Reading this book prompted me to be less tentative in my own writing, and besides all this, it's just really fun to read!

I've loved getting to sit behind the desk and watch Carleton hum. The Libe is such a wonderful heart of campus. Whether I'm helping someone find a book, chatting with acquaintances at the desk, or just doing a routine reserves check-out, my work at the Libe has always made me feel really involved in, and appreciative of, the Carleton community.

 


 

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The Modern World-System III: The Second Era of Great Expansion of the Capitalist World-Economy, 1730s–1840s by Immanuel Maurice Wallerstein

Sociology and Anthropology, Technical Services

This book, more than any other I've read, convinced me of the direction that social science should head towards.

Getting a first look at all the books and journals that come into the library and, of course, the people.