Mark Stawecki
MLIS, Librarian
I was born and raised in New Hampshire so I am familiar with how to scrape ice off of my windshield with my credit card. After graduating from college, I worked in a bookstore then at the University of New Hampshire in the Technical Services department. Later I accepted a position as Night Stacks Supervisor. I really enjoyed this posiiton as I got to work with a variety of circulation departments.
After several years in that role I decided to make a change, which is vital to personal and professional growth. I pursued my dream of going to Japan. For a year I worked as an English teacher at a conversation school in the city of Gifu. Pick any adjective and that was my experience (my top two are "enlightening" and "rewarding"). The picture is of Kinkakuji found in Kyoto.
Once back in the U.S.,I moved to Phoenix, Arizona. New Hampshire is a fantastic, quiet state; however, sometimes you need something bigger. I was very fortunate to find another library supervisor position, this time at Arizona State University at the Downtown Phoenix campus. The center was just opening, and being there from the beginning was challenging and exciting. I graduated with my MLIS from the University of Southern Mississippi online.
My post-degree career moved me to Bakersfield, California, a somewhat isolated and very hot city. I was primarily the supervisor of multiple departments including children's', reference, and circulation. Even though Phoenix is fairly urban, in Bakersfield, the library hosted a higher number of homeless and recently freed inmates, an often overlooked demographic. I was primarily the supervisor of multiple departments including children's, reference, and circulation. I moved back to New Hampshire (what a long drive!) adn am working on my next steps here.
Library science represents a concept I strongly believe in—intellectual freedom. People need information in order to make proper decisions and understand themselves and the world. Librarians are the caterers of information, the warm human element to the unfeeling Web, and this is why we will not go extinct. We are cousins to teachers, enjoying that sense of elation when we're able to connect a person to what they are seeking, especially if it turns out to be a surprise to him or her.
I’m an avid movie watcher, reader, and writer of prose and screenplays. One short story so far has been sold and published. I study Shaolin Kenpo and dance when no one is looking. Europe is my next destination goal, perhaps Poland or England.