Student Spotlight Kit Lombard ’23

Student Spotlight Kit Lombard ’23

What do you want to do after college?

I have always had a plan to go to college, but the after part has left me confused. I think I am just going to go with the flow and see what happens. I do think, however, that I want to take a break from school because this is all I know of in life, and I want to experience what else is in the world. I always wanted to live in a different country. So, I may apply for opportunities abroad, whether it is research, a full-time job or partnering work with an organization. I also will apply for jobs in the U.S., but I would like to live in a different state than where I lived previously.

What does your job at the library entail?

I am an Information Desk associate. Any time you have questions about the library — whether on our resources or books — you come to me. I help individuals find books or films, I checkout a variety of items the library provides and I answer any phone calls. Also, the Information Desk is usually where visiting families or community members ask for directions. Overall, this role has allowed me to meet a lot of people.

What is your favorite thing about your job?

As a student, it is fair to say that I am appreciative for any moment that I am not stressed out. For me, this work-study provides an effective break from my schoolwork. The library is naturally quiet and peaceful, so it is very relaxing to be here. I also value how grateful the library staff is to have work-study students. They know our names, greet us and have conversations with us. This creates an overall amazing experience. Every time I have a workstudy shift, I am grateful that is here.

What is your fondest library memory?

Being told I get to work at the front desk early on in my first year was exciting. Normally this role is possible after a year of stacking books. But, during my first year, the library was short on substitutes. It reinforced the trust and appreciation the library supervisors had for work-study students. I enjoyed stacking books because it gave me an understanding of the layout in our library stacks. This allowed me to unintentionally stumble across the vast variety of books we have in our inventory: cookbooks, poetry, autobiographies and historic books. We have so many books that you could not find at your local library.