{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/presentation/3/context.json","id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/iiif/f76639mn4k/manifest","type":"Manifest","label":{"en":["Alana Coulum Oral History"]},"logo":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/010/original/Aviary_QPLlogo_192x192.png?1578574261","metadata":[{"label":{"en":["Description"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSummary of Full Interview\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAt the time of this interview, Alana Coulum, 29, had been promoted to Assistant Manager of Queens Public Library's Seaside Community Library.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eWhile attending undergraduate classes at SUNY Potsdam, Coulum studied abroad at Seinan Gakuin Daigaku in Fukuoka, Japan, where she learned to speak Japanese. After graduating from SUNY Potsdam with a B.S. in History in 2014, she completed her M.A. in Library and Information Science at St. John's University in 2016. After working in the Queens Public Library's Job and Business Academy, Coulum became a General Librarian at Queens Public Library's Ridgewood Community Library. During her time at Ridgewood, she was responsible for expanding the collection of anime titles and media. Additionally, she conducted virtual bilingual storytimes in Japanese during the COVID-19 pandemic.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAmidst the easing of pandemic-related safety measures such as mask wearing, Coulum notes that there is increased public desire for in-person library programming, suggesting that she will be working to fulfill these community needs in the future. In aggregate, Coulum emphasized the importance of libraries and the role that librarians play in assisting community members. She stressed the importance of reminding elected officials of this to ensure that funding for community programs and education continues.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Rights Statement"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eCC BY-NC-SA Contact digitalarchives@queenslibrary.org for research and reproduction requests.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Source Metadata URI"]},"value":{"en":["http://digitalarchives.queenslibrary.org/search/browse/41643"]}},{"label":{"en":["Date"]},"value":{"en":["2022-03-21 (created)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Type"]},"value":{"en":["Video"]}},{"label":{"en":["Agent"]},"value":{"en":["Alana Coulum (Interviewee)","Joshua Cortez (Interviewer)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Source"]},"value":{"en":["Interview conducted as part of the Queens Public Library 125th Anniversary Project."]}},{"label":{"en":["Coverage"]},"value":{"en":["2011-2022 (temporal)","Ridgewood and Rockaway Park, Queens, NY; Fukuoka, Japan (spatial)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Language"]},"value":{"en":["English"]}}],"summary":{"en":["\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSummary of Full Interview\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAt the time of this interview, Alana Coulum, 29, had been promoted to Assistant Manager of Queens Public Library's Seaside Community Library.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eWhile attending undergraduate classes at SUNY Potsdam, Coulum studied abroad at Seinan Gakuin Daigaku in Fukuoka, Japan, where she learned to speak Japanese. After graduating from SUNY Potsdam with a B.S. in History in 2014, she completed her M.A. in Library and Information Science at St. John's University in 2016. After working in the Queens Public Library's Job and Business Academy, Coulum became a General Librarian at Queens Public Library's Ridgewood Community Library. During her time at Ridgewood, she was responsible for expanding the collection of anime titles and media. Additionally, she conducted virtual bilingual storytimes in Japanese during the COVID-19 pandemic.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAmidst the easing of pandemic-related safety measures such as mask wearing, Coulum notes that there is increased public desire for in-person library programming, suggesting that she will be working to fulfill these community needs in the future. In aggregate, Coulum emphasized the importance of libraries and the role that librarians play in assisting community members. She stressed the importance of reminding elected officials of this to ensure that funding for community programs and education continues.\u003c/p\u003e"]},"requiredStatement":{"label":{"en":["Attribution"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eCC BY-NC-SA Contact digitalarchives@queenslibrary.org for research and reproduction requests.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},"provider":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/aboutus","type":"Agent","label":{"en":["Queens Public Library"]},"homepage":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/","type":"Text","label":{"en":["Queens Public Library"]},"format":"text/html"}],"logo":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/010/original/Aviary_QPLlogo_192x192.png?1578574261","type":"Image"}]}],"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/210/271/small/Alana_Coulum_Photograph_aviary.jpg?1698326433","type":"Image","format":"image/jpeg"}],"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271","type":"Canvas","label":{"en":["Media File 1 of 1 - QPL_Interview.mp4"]},"duration":1378.592,"width":640,"height":360,"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/210/271/small/Alana_Coulum_Photograph_aviary.jpg?1698326433","type":"Image","format":"image/jpeg"}],"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/content/1","type":"AnnotationPage","items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/content/1/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"painting","body":{"id":"https://aviary-p-queenslibrary.s3.wasabisys.com/collection_resource_files/resource_files/000/210/271/original/QPL_Interview.mp4?1698326171","type":"Video","format":"video/mp4","duration":1378.592,"width":640,"height":360},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271","metadata":[]}]}],"annotations":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/transcript/60348","type":"AnnotationPage","label":{"en":["Full Transcript [Transcript]"]},"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/transcript/60348/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Joshua Cortez: My name is Joshua Cortez and I'm interviewing Alana Coulum on March 21st, 2022. By making this recording, we both consent to use of our names, voices, images, and likeness by the Queens Public Library, understanding that this recording will be the property of the library and will be used in connection with the promotion and marketing of the library, its programs and services. It will not be sold by the library in any way. We understand that we will not receive compensation and agree to hold the library harmless from any claim arising from the use of this interview and recording. Alana, thank you again for agreeing to be interviewed for the Queens Public Library Memory Project. Before we begin I just wanted to offer the opportunity, if you were able to provide some context by describing what led you to this point in your life. More specifically, what was your previous education or any experiences that led you to pursue a career in Library Sciences?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271#t=3.0,69.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/transcript/60348/annotation/2","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alana Coulum: Sure. So thanks for having me Joshua. So my name's Alana Coulum. I-- well like a lot of librarians, I guess it all started because I had a love of reading, but a couple things from my educational background. I received a Bachelor's in History from SUNY Potsdam which is in Upstate New York. And while I was there, I kind of got the idea planted in me, that's just like, you know what, what's [unclear] Libraries? That seems like something I'm interested in and because my history-- my background was in history I wanted to go the route of Archival Studies, maybe Record Management, that kind of thing. So when I, when it was time to graduate in 2014, I started applying to Graduate Schools and I was very fortunate to get a full ride to St. John's University in Queens. So that's kind of how I wound up in New York City. While I was there, I had a Graduate Assistantship - I think that's what they called it, and I was a Queens Memory Project and City Center for Culture Fellow. So me and a couple other students from Queens College and St. John's were able to work on, Oral History Projects together. And I'm, I was on the other side of this interview, I was interviewing people in the Community [laughs]. Which is kind of funny that now I'm being interviewed now.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271#t=69.0,160.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/transcript/60348/annotation/3","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alana Coulum: And along with that, let's see, I got my MLIS in 2016 and I was, working a couple jobs and I was trying to find full-time employment. So I worked at FIT as a Circulation Assistant there which was a lot of fun. And then I also was, a Part-time Contractor with the Job and Business Academy at Queens Public Library. So, my first real experience with Queens Public Library is working at the Ridgewood Community Library for almost two years. I was there Part-time, hosting workshops and trying to help people look for employment. And, so I kind of got my foot in the door that way, and eventually I was hired as a Full-time General Librarian, and I worked at the Ridgewood Community Library for five years as a General Librarian. And just two, let's see, two weeks ago I was promoted to an Assistant Manager. So now I'm in the Rockaways at the Seaside Community Library Branch.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271#t=160.0,231.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/transcript/60348/annotation/4","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Joshua Cortez: Well, congratulations on a promotion. I also know we mentioned in the pre-interview that you had spent some time in Japan actually, as a study abroad, I believe it was. Could you speak a little bit about that as well?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271#t=231.0,242.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/transcript/60348/annotation/5","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alana Coulum: Oh, yes [laughs]. I forgot to mention that. So my course of study-- like my, what do you call it? Like concentration in History was Asian History, specifically Taisho era Japan, so that's like the twenties and thirties in Japan. I was encouraged by my Advisor to go study abroad and like kind of pick up as much of the language as I could so when it was time to write my big term paper, I could add some translation work in there as well. So I, let's see, it was 2013-- I could only stay for a semester, but I was a Transfer Student at Seinan Gakuin Daigaku in Fukuoka Japan-- so that's in the Southwest, Kyushu in Fukuoka, and it was an amazing experience [laughs]. So it's nice that I had that experience. I kind of had that cultural exchange and I brought that with me at, Queens Public Library, because I started a, Japanese Story Time for some of the moms I got to know at Ridgewood. I don't know if I'm jumping the gun for another question--","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271#t=242.0,315.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/transcript/60348/annotation/6","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Joshua Cortez: No, that's okay. That actually perfectly leads into the next question which is, what have you contributed to the Library? So if you could speak more to that, that would be great.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271#t=315.0,323.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/transcript/60348/annotation/7","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alana Coulum: Great. Yeah, that's probably my biggest claim to fame while I was there. I got to know some of the moms that were Japanese there and they-- I kind of got to know them and they wanted to have, that kind of bilingual experience. Like, of course the kids are going to speak English in school, but at home, they're only going to speak Japanese. So I got to know everybody and I was asking around and be like, hey, would you be interested in this? 'Cause I [laughs] -- it's been like almost a decade since I was in Japan, but I could definitely do like a Story Time [laughs], with kids. No problem.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271#t=323.0,357.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/transcript/60348/annotation/8","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alana Coulum: So it was, yeah, our friends group in Ridgewood, gave us some money, so I could purchase some Japanese language picture books. And I started a little monthly, Story Time, which was a lot of fun and I learned a lot [laugh]. And yeah, even though I'm not a Children's Librarian I like doing Story Time. It's, really fun to just kind of like let loose and do your silly hand [laughs] puppet stuff for like a half hour. So that was a lot of fun to do that. And, it was nice because, I saw a need in the Community for this kind of program and I had the skill set to kind of, assess or fill that need. So that was definitely like probably the biggest thing I contributed while I was at Ridgewood. Anything else? Let's see, I love Graphic Novels, so I really paid close attention and I really grew that Collection at Ridgewood [laughs]. It's pretty big, there's a lot of Manga Graphic Novels and stuff like that at Ridgewood. So I was very attentive and made sure like, oh, this is gonna circulate, so I'm gonna make sure to put this in the collection and all that good stuff.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271#t=357.0,443.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/transcript/60348/annotation/9","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alana Coulum: Like I mentioned before, I also did Oral History Interviews. It was two years ago, last or no, it was early last year with the COVID 19 pandemic, Queens Memory had a little like, I forget exactly what they called it, I believe I was an Ambassador-- and me and my Assistant Manager at the time, Mary-Ann Olsen, we interviewed some local Artists in the Ridgewood, Glendale, Middle Village Communities and we were asking about how the pandemic has affected their art or their livelihood in these Communities. So that was kind of our focus. We-- 'cause there's a lot of like thriving Artists community in Ridgewood. So we wanted to ask them and get their opinion on how, you know, how are things going? But the pandemic obviously affected everybody. But we wanted to have that like time capsule there and preserve that. So that was a lot of fun too. I learned a lot doing Oral History interviews.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271#t=443.0,507.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/transcript/60348/annotation/10","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alana Coulum: Other things, we won an Innovation Grant to start doing VR Programs. So that was really fun. This was obviously before the pandemic [laughs]. So, I helped-- I did with Teens and I liked doing it with Older Adults the best 'cause I got to like show them like, hey, check this out, check this VR headset and I'm gonna put it on your head and we're gonna take a trip to Venice, you know, just kind of play around in Google Maps. And, that was really, that was really special to share with them. I had a lot of fun doing that.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271#t=507.0,547.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/transcript/60348/annotation/11","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alana Coulum: And, one more thing about the Bilingual Story Time. When we shut down for the pandemic, I also started last year in the summer to do it virtually. So I believe it was like every Friday QPL had a Virtual Bilingual Story Time and I would do the Japanese ones. So I think monthly I would-- I did them for a little under a year I did Virtual Story Time. And we actually did a special Children's Day theme one. I collabed [Collaborated] with a Librarian at NYPL, Nobuko Wilson who's wonderful, she's a doll-- and I believe you can find that on Vimeo, if you wanna to see, if you wanna watch me and her do some, a special story time for Children's Day. And that was a lot of fun, she was really fun to work with. Yeah, I think that's everything I can think of right now [laughs].","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271#t=547.0,607.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/transcript/60348/annotation/12","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Joshua Cortez: So it seems like with the COVID pandemic, certainly it presented a lot of issues in regards to trying to bring outreach to the Community. But when it came to that story time, it seems like that was actually a very viable option for you. How do you see that going forward, and what do you think that'll bring to both the Community and the Library, in the near future?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271#t=607.0,631.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/transcript/60348/annotation/13","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alana Coulum: Right now, just because some things are, we're stepping back from a lot of COVID precautions, right? So we just last week got rid of the Mandatory Mask Mandate, which of course you're still welcome to wear a mask if you want to in the Library, but there's been a greater demand, at least from what I've seen for in-person programming. And now we're finally allowed to do that. So I'm in, a new location. So I definitely want to, kind of survey and just ask what people in this new Community, in the Rockaways, what they most want, to go forward from there. Virtual-- I would like to start-- keep doing Virtual Programming, but there's definitely a push for in-person stuff. Like people are ready to like come back and, do Movie Nights or, and I have to see what else was popular down here in Seaside. I definitely, Movie Nights, I've heard that one, 'cause people are asking me about that and Book Talks and even stuff like Disaster Preparedness. Stuff like this, like what do you do if-- your home floods? Like what kind of resources are available? Which less fun, but still very important, need for the Community.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271#t=631.0,711.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/transcript/60348/annotation/14","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Joshua Cortez: Yeah, certainly. And I know you had mentioned as well that you were a big part in expanding the collection in, Japanese Comics and just even Comic Books in general, it seems like for your Library. And I know you had also just mentioned now about, there's a Video Collection as well. Were you able to expand Japanese Video, Collections in your Library? Any Anime or anything else?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271#t=711.0,746.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/transcript/60348/annotation/15","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alana Coulum: I made sure to-- not, I didn't get that many TV Series just because they're so expensive, unfortunately, but I made sure to get all the new Anime Film releases like, Promare, that was a big one. What was that? I forget what the studio was. Who did that?-- But anyway, Promare, I made sure like oh, we should have the original Ghosts in the Shell, we should have the work of Satoshi Kon and Perfect Bue and all that. So I wanted to make sure, because I did-- looking at the Collection of what other Libraries have, I was like oh, there's kind of a gap here. So I wanted to make sure we fill that in and, the most popular stuff like the kids at Ridgewood love My Hero Academia, which is extremely hot right now. So I made sure to get all those film releases. Yeah, the Jujutsu Kaiseno movies are in theaters now, so make sure to get that, [laughs] all that good stuff. But yeah, I also was in charge of ordering DVDs and Movies and what I really focused on is like-- oh, we had a little extra money in the budget, I made sure to get TV shows that were normally only available on streaming. I wanted to make sure, because a lot of people in the Community, they don't have Netflix or they don't have Hulu or anything like that. Excuse me. So I wanted to make sure, like it's important to have this on a disc, physical media, and it's important for that kind of material, even though it's entertainment, for it to be accessible for everybody. So I wanted to try my best to-- I always, no barrier to entry. That's what it is at the Library, right? So everybody can come in, no matter who you are, and you can check out what you want. So I always keep that in mind when it's time to purchase material, books, DVDs, whatever for like the broadest category of people. So yeah, that's really what I focused on when it was time for TV shows.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271#t=746.0,871.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/transcript/60348/annotation/16","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Joshua Cortez: Yeah, and I think that speaks well to, as you mentioned, the accessibility question and, how can you reach to widest possible audience, which brings us to next question. How has the Library responded to changing needs in the community that you've been part of?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271#t=871.0,887.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/transcript/60348/annotation/17","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alana Coulum: Prob-- well like I mentioned before, probably the biggest one was when everything shut down early 2020 it took a couple of weeks, but we were already back up with Virtual Programming which was great, and I had a lot of fun doing that. And things are still kind of nebulous, but if somebody asks me like \"hey, can you get this book?\" and we don't have in the Collection, I'll make sure to put it on my list for next month to buy it. Or somebody is interested in a certain type of Program, I always try to the best of my ability to see if we can have that program here, especially now that things are opening up again. Hopefully we'll stay open.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271#t=887.0,943.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/transcript/60348/annotation/18","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Joshua Cortez: Definitely. That would be a blessing if we can stay open across the board. So are there any specific memories you have or experiences where the Library has had a positive impact on someone's life in your Community?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271#t=943.0,959.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/transcript/60348/annotation/19","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alana Coulum: Oh gosh, there's so many. And you know, big and small, probably the most like direct aid I can say I've given someone is when I worked with the JBA, the Job and Business Academy, and I would, I kind of had this contact with a Customer, or a Patron for-- on and off, for a couple years. But I first met her 'cause she was in my workshop class and I helped her get a job which is awesome, it's, you feel so good when that happens. And she still remembers me, like she'll come in and be like, oh how are, how are you? Thank you again, how's your family? You know? And this is probably like five, six years ago, I helped her get a job, so that's definitely nice to have a relationship with somebody in the Community.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271#t=959.0,1014.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/transcript/60348/annotation/20","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alana Coulum: And there's just so much, you know? Helping someone print out a document so they can, it could be just a visa document or something so they can-- it's the next step in getting their loved one back over here in America or helping a kid with their homework. Not math though, because I look at their math homework and I'm like, I can't help you with that [laughs]. But everything else, I'm good. Just making somebody's day because they come in and they don't really know what they want. Or like, oh, I want to check out this book. I know it's-- the cover is blue or something, you know? And then kind of working with them and being like, oh, I know-- okay I know what you want, and giving that item or that service to them. And, you made someone's day even with something as little as that. So it's those little things that really count, I think in my experience.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271#t=1014.0,1074.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/transcript/60348/annotation/21","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Joshua Cortez: Yeah, definitely. I mean, those little things are just as important as the larger, wider range-- positive impacts that you can have on someone's life. So looking towards the future, do you have any hopes or aspirations for Queens Public Library? Do you have any suggestions on how it can improve, how it can build larger or more closer relations with the Community?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271#t=1074.0,1105.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/transcript/60348/annotation/22","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alana Coulum: I guess my hope, my biggest hope, is that Institutions like the Library are here to stay. When you really think about it, there's not many places in this Country where you can just hang out [laughs], in a-- exist in a space and you're not expected to pay a price of admission or purchase something in order to be there. The Library, you can just come in and you can rest or study or get to know your neighbors. And I think it's extremely critical that we protect these spaces and make sure they have the funding to thrive. We help so many people every day, even if not even directly at a reference question or service point or something like that, just giving people a space to be. And I would hate to see all of these services and materials go by the wayside just because our funding gets cut or something. So if you, if you like your Library, share [laughs], share to your Elected Local Leaders that you love your Library and you want them to stay. Keep checking stuff out, Circulation always helps. And if you're interested in a Program, come swing by and I don't know, learn something or just hang out with us. That's really the most important thing, is just, if you like your Library continue to use it.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271#t=1105.0,1202.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/transcript/60348/annotation/23","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Joshua Cortez: Definitely. And I'm noticing with some of your answers to these questions, one of the fascinating things I'm noticing is that, this emphasis on helping each individual person instead of looking at like helping, there's such a ground-level aura to this, in a sense of helping each individual person. What skill sets did you have to develop in order to be able to just on a whim, be able to help someone with research queries or helping someone with printing out documents or whatever it may be?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271#t=1202.0,1240.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/transcript/60348/annotation/24","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alana Coulum: That's a very good question [laughs]. I have some students that ask me, who are in Library School or they want to-- or they're interested in maybe being librarian or work in a Library, ask me kind of that same question. And I said, \"you have to like people. Like this is a people person job, no matter what the stereotype is of like the old Librarian with a bun in her hair, and she's just reading at the desk. No, this is-- you have to like people, you have to like to talk to people [laughs].\" Like you-- and to have that inner drive of wanting to serve. It's all about service, it really is. I always push myself to go the extra mile when I'm talking to that Customer. I just wanna make sure, like, is there anything in my power that I can do to help you, 'cause that is my job. No matter if it's just helping a guy look for a book on his trip to Puerto Rico or helping someone print out a document. It's-- and the-- probably the wildest thing about this job is just like it's, every day is so different. Every question you get, it could be really wide range of like topics and questions and problems and stuff like that. So having an open mind and knowing how to talk to people, I think is the two most important skill sets you can have to be a librarian.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271#t=1240.0,1337.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/transcript/60348/annotation/25","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Joshua Cortez: Thank you, Alana. And before we wrap up this interview, was there anything else that you'd like to add?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271#t=1337.0,1342.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/transcript/60348/annotation/26","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alana Coulum: No, not really. Just, if you like your Library, just, just come in [laughs]. Come in and hang out.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271#t=1342.0,1355.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/transcript/60348/annotation/27","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Joshua Cortez: Perfect, okay [laughs]. Thank you so much again, and just as part of this project, Happy Anniversary to Queens Public Library. Thank you again for being part of this interview process.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271#t=1355.0,1368.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271/transcript/60348/annotation/28","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alana Coulum: My pleasure. Yes, Happy Anniversary Queens Public Library, 125 years! [laughs].","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/108825/file/210271#t=1368.0,1378.592"}]}]}]}