At the University Libraries, faculty and staff bring diverse backgrounds and interests to their roles, elevating the Libraries’ culture of interdisciplinary collaboration and lifelong learning and curiosity. We asked Overnight Library Assistant Patrick Hannay a few questions about his work, to find out more about the inspiration behind his contributions to the campus community.
Q: In your own words, what is a quick overview of your role at the Libraries?
A: My primary responsibility is EZ Borrow lending and making sure students get their requests as fast as possible. I know how stressful college can be, so getting people their items without delay is priority one for me. Beyond that, I’m your friendly neighborhood library associate at Hunt Library front desk, ready to help students and staff with whatever they need.
Q: Talk a little about the work you’re most passionate about. Why have you chosen to pursue this work within a library setting?
A: Educating patrons on the best ways to acquire what they need and to accomplish their projects and studies, whether that’s physical, digital, or consultation with a specialist. Libraries have grown so much in their roles over the past two decades, that not everyone knows what services and assistance libraries offer. It’s important to me that people know they can come to us and we can assist them with a multitude of services, such as research assistance.
Q: Share an experience or skillset that people might not expect a librarian/library worker to have. How is it a game changer for the work you do at CMU?
A: I’ve been using computers since I was five years old and I’ve got a knack for figuring out issues between digital devices like scanner-to-pc or pc-to-printer, and that’s been valuable in helping students work out digital hiccups. I’d also like to think that all library workers have special subject areas they’re keen on: mine are art history, virtual reality/gaming, and education.
Q: The Libraries serve as a neutral convening space to bring different areas of campus together. How do you value collaboration in your work? Can you give us an example of a recent collaboration that has helped a project reach new heights?
A: I can’t say I have an example of this as the library just naturally occurs that way, rather than it being some sort of focused directive. My concerns are day to day operations and individual patrons. When we do have projects, different library departments tend to come together very naturally to assist each other’s goals.
Q: What’s an area that you want to innovate and push boundaries in? Why is it exciting to you?
A: Honestly, I’d like to establish to students that the library staff are ready and eager to help them, particularly students that don’t have as much experience with libraries. Our business is helping, and I’d want students to know they’re never “bothering” us.
Q: What’s something in the Libraries that speaks to you personally? This can be a book, something in the Archives or Special Collections, a space in one of the buildings — anything you want to highlight!
A: Any time I see research, exhibits or projects that involve virtual reality, I smile a bit, knowing that I was thinking about such things and where they’d be in the future throughout my life. But if we’re talking about the libraries, fourth floor, Hunt Library, oversized books section. I could lose hours just grabbing random books and reading about anything from Japanese wood architecture, 20th century western movie posters, to Keith Haring or artist’s dynamic anatomy.