Search Interviews

Recording February 27, 2018 – The Leavitt sisters grew up in St. George, Utah and have many memories of the library. Ann Leavitt Jacob’s first vivid memories of the library are of attending 2nd grade there, though she admitted “the...

Friends and co-organizers Nureaka Ross (28) and Lynette Mejia (51) discuss their involvement in advocating for their local library system and obstacles they have faced along the way.

Recording April 24, 2018 – In a day before television, reading was important to best friends Leslie Empey Johnson and Cynthia Cox Shepherd. They reminisced about dropping by the Thomas Judd’s Store for candy and heading across the street to...

Spouses, Scott Savage (58) and Jennifer Savage (56), share a conversation about the books that Scott writes, their collaborative working process, the tours they go on together, and the power of books. They also talk about neurodiversity and the role...

Etta Gold interviews her AJL BFF Heidi Rabinowitz.

Coworkers Silvia Bunn (67) and Deborah Clark (60) gather to honor and appreciate Deborah's years of service at the Mildred L. Terry Public Library, the first public library for African Americans in Columbus, GA. Deborah reminisces about coming to the...

Recorded August 14, 2018 -- Libraries and reading set the stage for the continued education of a brother and sister. Janice McArthur Hepworth and E. Durant McArthur grew up in the St. George, Utah area and the local library had...

Recording March 27, 2018 – To Billie Bleak [pronounced Blake] Frei, the St. George Library basement was a wonderful way to spend a hot summer afternoon in the cool of the children’s section. She grew up in St. George, Utah,...

Friends Winifred Lucy (70) and Olga Harris (71) take turns asking each other questions about their families, their careers, and their long and close friendship.

Peter Leavell (42) talks with his librarian Megan Egbert (37) about the beginning of his love for reading and his journey as an author.

Colleagues Karen Johnson Slaton (59) and Selena Martinez (24) share a conversation about their work as librarians, the value of libraries, their library’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and where they see libraries headed in the future.

Friends Kyle Buske (80) and Kate Lorenz (74) discuss their friendship formed through working at the library and how libraries have evolved.

Administrative Librarian, Rebecca Light, interviews Acquisitions Librarian, Jenny Carr, about working during the Covid 19 Pandemic.

Acquisitions Librarian Jenny Carr interviews Administrative Librarian Rebecca Light about working during the Covid 19 Pandemic.

Jennifer Senn interviews her coworker Sarah Hartman about how life and work have changed at Middleton Public Library since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. This is part of a series of staff interviews.

Sherwood Regional Library customer, Loretta, discusses kindness from strangers. This conversation was a part of the “All Together Now: Share Your Stories” program for the Fairfax County Public Library’s 2023 Summer Reading Adventure for adults. You can learn more about...

Lynn Fremed [no age given] and her One Small Step partner, Cristina Ramirez (46), discuss their experiences in Richmond and issues of class struggle, diversity, and education accessibility.

Becky Merwin (74) talked with friend Chris Brookes (73) about life, service, farming, giving back, and the library.

Coworkers Bonnie Scherr (60) and Rachael Perez (23) share a conversation about their experiences living in Dalton, Georgia, the books that have impacted them, their work in the library, and the roles they see themselves filling in their community.

Daryl Bowen (76) recounts his personal and family history to his daughter, Lorelei Sterling (49).

Spouses, Faith Smith (44) and Justin Smith (45), reflect on the community they have lost and found since their daughter came out, and everything they have learned in the process.

Zachary "Zach" Hottel (31) shares a conversation with his wife, Ayla Hottel (29). They discuss Ayla's work in healthcare and Zach's job as a library archivist, as well as Zach's experiences as a volunteer with the fire department.

Laura Beth Walker (48) shares a conversation with her colleague Dorothy Fitts (77) about the meaning of the Oxford Library to their community and the importance of the services it provides.

From Fairfax County government organizations, Barack Obama, to a random Metropolitan Police Department officer, Lorraine has been shown compassion by so many people and she continues to pay it forward through her community activism. This conversation was a part of...

Kinshasa Vargas-Pile (47) talks to her wife, Heather Riley (41), about her love for being a librarian, especially in Baltimore, and the sense of community she has found through it.