Sarah Grace Young '27 is a rising senior majoring in Biology and English. She is a Senior Desk Associate in the circulation department at Swem Library.
When did you start working at Swem Library? I was hired as a Page for Swem Library circulation during my freshman year. At that time, I would shelve and search for books. A year later, I was promoted to be a Desk Associate, and now I am a Senior Desk Associate. I help patrons with whatever they need, whether that’s finding a book they're looking for or teaching them about the resources our library has to offer. I also work with Development to write thank-you letters for donors. I’ve always loved reading, so my dream job as a kid was to work in a library. As a Work-Study student, applying to work at the library seemed like the obvious choice.
What does a typical shift look like? A typical shift for me involves sitting at the desk and being available to help patrons. While students are our primary patrons throughout the school year, we have a lot of community members visit the library over the summer.
What is your favorite part of your job? One of my favorite parts of my job is talking to our patrons and learning about their research and interests. This summer, a community member told me about his research into Hildegard von Bingen, a German composer and theologian from the Middle Ages.
What have you learned in your position? I’m always learning something new while working. I also write thank-you cards to donors during my shifts. Writing these cards allows me to show my appreciation for everything our alumni and community do to support our education. It also means that I get a deeper understanding of how the library works and how our funds are used. Donations are so important for the library, and I have a greater appreciation for all the resources Swem Library has to offer.
What is your favorite spot in Swem Library? My favorite spot in the library is the circulation department! I love my job, and a big part of that love comes from my appreciation for my coworkers and bosses. While I may be a little biased, I know that the people who work in the circulation department are some of the best people on the planet. Some of my best friends throughout my time at William & Mary have come from my job here at Swem Library, and I also know that the professional relationships I’ve built will provide a strong foundation for my professional life after graduation.
What is something you wish more people knew about the circulation department? One thing I wish people knew about the circulation desk is that we’re always here to help! We all love the library and love to tell people about everything we offer at the circulation desk. We check out chargers, dry-erase markers, calculators, DVD players, and even a skeleton! We’re also a safe place to make a report if something is going on in the library. If you see something, please say something. Above all else, we value the safety of our patrons, and we will provide whatever help we can.
What's in your future? Learning from my supervisors in the circulation department and talking to the research librarians has inspired me to pursue a Master’s in Library Science after graduation.