New librarians check in at Pierce New employee brings long overdue social media presence to campus

KRISTINA VILLAMIL

Reporter

@krisvillamil

Mario Macias, a new librarian at the Pierce College Library believes that “ there is so much more librarians can do than just allow students to check out books and print something.”

At 26 years old, Macias is one of two new hires for the library this semester. Macias hopes to change the library’s social media presence on campus. He previously worked for the Oviatt Library at California State University Northridge.

Being a librarian was not a profession Macias always saw himself in.

“I didn’t think that was going to be a librarian. I didn’t even know librarianship was a career option,” Macias said.

Macias was born and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico.

At the age of 10, he and his family moved to California.

According to Macias, when he started fifth grade and bilingual education, it took him “a while to get out of E.S.L. classes.”

Though it initially took some time to get through E.S.L classes, he attended Grinnell College in Iowa on scholarship and majored in English. During his time at Grinnell, Macias befriended some librarians who encouraged him into looking at librarianship as a career. After graduating in 2011, Macias did not immediately jump into the library scene. He moved back to Los Angeles and worked as a receptionist for a public relations firm. Not too fond of the job, Macias had been thinking about returning to school and applied to a graduate program at the University of Washington.

“We make a good team. Together, we want to wake up the library.”

-Lisa Valdez Outreach Librarian

“I applied to this graduate program just to see if I’d get in,” Macias said. “I didn’t even know if I was going to get in. didn’t even feel confident that I would get in.”

Macias was accepted into that program. He spent two years in Seattle, working towards his Master of Library & Information Science through the University of Washington’s residential program. People who want to earn their MLIS can do so through online, residential, or hybrid programs. For Macias, being in the physical environment earning his master’s was an important aspect of learning.

“I feel there was a little bit more that I could get out of

Schedule

Sept. 23 to 29

Water Polo

Wednesday, Sept. 23 vs. Citrus, 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 30 at Santa Monica, 3:30 p.m.

Soccer

Friday, Sept. 25 at Taft 1 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 29 at Oxnard 4 p.m.

Football

Saturday, Sept.26 at Glendale 7 p.m.

Volleyball

Wednesday Sept. 30 vs. Santa Monica 6 p.m.

Brahma Invitatinal Sept. 25 and Sept. 26 4:00pm/TBA