Student Voices: Clancey Staldine

Hi, Clancey! Can you tell us a little bit about what you do for the Libraries?

At the circulation desk, it is very much greeting all our wonderful patrons, the students, professors, and public. I’m helping them out, checking out books, and giving them recommendations. Then in our Creative Technologies Lab, I’m actually helping out with our graphic design tablets. I’m getting them ready so we can help all of our arts students!  

It sounds like you know the Libraries inside and out. Do you have any library tips that you would like to share with our readers?  

When you cannot find a book, when you do not know what to research, talk to the librarians here! It sounds so simple, and yet the amount of times that I myself struggled at first to come up with resources, and I didn’t even go to the library. It would have saved me so much just time to go and talk to the people here. There is such a wealth of knowledge! It doesn’t even have to be about books. Beyond books our librarians and staff can help you with 3-D printers, with public access for fundraisers or food drives, and so many other things. You just have to ask. 

That is great advice. Now we just have to ask: what does the future hold for you?

For me the future still feels a little in the air. Being what’s considered a non-traditional student, I didn’t know for the longest time what I wanted to do with my life. It took a couple of years and a move across the country in order to figure out what career I wanted. But the Libraries here helped me decide I care about public knowledge; I care about people being able to access that knowledge. Just from the incredible staff here I have been able to hone in on what I want to do. Whether that’s archiving or storage management in the library, I will just be excited to be a public service when it comes to knowledge.  

Let’s talk more about public knowledge and helping people access that information. Why is that important? What does that look like?  

Libraries are incredible third spaces. They’re all about customer service and being able to help patrons. The patrons are going to bring a lot of curiosity, and sometimes they’re going to be you bringing their concerns. As somebody working in a library, I need to be prepared to have the answers or know where to find them.

Thank you, Clancey, that was very inspiring. Before we leave, though, I’m curious--what inspires you?

Speaking again as a non-traditional student, I really did not expect to go back to college. I didn’t know what I wanted to do. It was truly an incredible professor here, who used to work at the University Libraries, who saw me and saw my potential. She took me under her wing and introduced me to all the wonderful staff here. I don’t know if I would still be in college if it wasn’t for the library staff here. I deeply appreciate them!