by Jennifer Zhan, opinions editor

Librarians are often portrayed as strict guardians, prowling the shelves while glaring over the rims of their glasses at bothersome visitors. Librarian Denise Gary could not be more different.

“To me, the library is kind of a customer service organization. We’re here to help,” Gary said. “Especially today, with all the technology, I don’t necessarily think my job is to be the keeper of books so much anymore as it is to make sure I can show people where to find information.”

For that reason, the librarians aren’t just in charge of buying and processing books. They also help answer computer or research database questions, as well as provide students with materials and assistance for school projects.

But Gary says her favorite thing to do is help a student who is looking for a book the library doesn’t own.

“It’s important to me that they get to read what they like to read. And I think it’s important that kids understand that we think they’re important,” Gary said. “Even if I wouldn’t read it, I still try to make it available for them — within reason, of course.”

She says the library is constantly thinking of ways to become more available and helpful to students.

“This year we’ve also started opening two Saturday mornings a month, because I feel like we have more students who don’t have access to computers at home, but need it for their classes,” Gary said.

The idea was first suggested by the library’s teen advisory group, which was also responsible for the library’s first top patrons party to reward students who checked out the most books while drawing more students into the library.

“But we just barely scratch the surface of all the things that we can do,” Gary said. “In the future, I’d like to have a writing lab, more computer tables where kids can bring their laptops to work and a maker space where kids can use 3D printers.”

Although it may sound tiring to come early and leave late every day, Gary says she wholeheartedly loves her job.

“Being a librarian is great because you get to be around young people who are learning, which keeps me younger,” Gary said. “Of course, I get to read, but I also can explore technology and have access to things that I might not have access to otherwise.”

Gary says she believes libraries are on the path to becoming places where people not only check out books and get things done, but learn and experience more.

“Our biggest challenge, then, is probably space. We have a lot of reference books that take up a lot of space. And even though we have them on ebooks, we’re not to where we think about that first,” Gary said. “If people would utilize the online resources, we could use that space for [some of the projects I mentioned earlier].”

In the future, Gary admits that there will probably be fewer libraries, thanks to an increase in the accessibility and popularity of online alternatives like Kindles.

“But I think that’s sad because I think a library is place where academics or people who like to learn, that’s their space. And a lot of times it’s a safe place for kids, and a quiet place for people to sit and think,” Gary said. “Just like in [ancient] Greece when people would sit around with each other [in libraries] and just talk — I think a library can still be used for that and have technology available in the same manner.”

She says that most of the time when she walks around in the library, students are talking about academics or helping explain to each other how to do projects or assignments, which is exciting.

“I love that the library being used a lot. I like a lot of kids in here, because then my time goes faster because I’m busy helping,” Gary said.

She says she hopes that as the library becomes more available, students will start to understand that when they need help, the library is a good place to go.

“Sometimes when I ask someone for a pass when they come in, they get offended. But I’m just following the rules,” Gary said. “We really want them to be in here and we really want them to get what they need. I wish they knew that we’re really on their side.”