I began working in the Libraries a week after my arrival in California. At first, I only worked 10 hours a week, and I couldn't even check out books. Eventually I worked up to 20 hours a week, and now I am full-time staff. All the while, I have been a student at Claremont Graduate University, pursuing my PhD in Politics and Policy. (Presently I am awaiting the results of my qualifying exams-an endurance test worse than the examinations themselves!)

My familiarity with the Libraries has been invaluable to me as a student and as a resident. The academic benefits to a student who knows where books are located and how to find them if they cannot be located are obvious. Keeping abreast of changes in the collections and increasingly of newly available resources on the web has held me in good stead. Knowing of whom to ask specific questions cuts research time dramatically. I often see students (and even faculty) wandering aimlessly through the library, hoping to stumble upon what they seek, led by dumb luck. The brave ones will ask for assistance-"What does 'fol' mean?" or "How do I recall a book?"-but most, well, they are just not tenacious.

Of course, after three-and-a-half years here, I have become friends with my co-workers (not that it took all this time, mind you). So when I had a dental emergency, I could ask comfortably, "Who's a good dentist around here?" Or when I had an automotive mishap, I could ask "Who's a good mechanic around here?" Or when I had a personal crisis, I could talk it out.

In my present position of Student Coordinator for Circulation at Honnold/Mudd Library, I have the opportunity to inculcate in new students how valuable familiarity with the Libraries can be. More importantly, though, I get to be a sort of "big brother" to them, especially those from out of state (including those from "up North"-arctic exotica like Modesto). Restaurants, driving routes, test anxiety, occasionally a bit of Dear Abby work, too.

The Libraries have been good to me; I try to return the favor by being good to them and those within them.

Kenneth Feer, Honnold/Mudd
kenneth.feer@ libraries.claremont.edu