Greetings from my corner of the earth in Rovaniemi! 

I am doing a practice period at Rovaniemi Central Library for the month of June.  I have been here for 3 weeks. I was informed about your newsletter and invited to add a little note here.  I’d like to share some lovely encounters I had a couple of weeks ago with customers.

My days usually began in the children’s section, where I learned to arrange returned loans under “aihepiiri#” or handled “aihepiiri books.”

It was a bonus to meet with children and to listen to them chattering, sometimes in wonder at the books they had picked up and sometimes in disagreement that it was already time for them to go home.

One day, I heard a parent speaking to their child in English, much to my delight.  I engaged them in brief conversation and learned a bit about the background to this learning that though Finnish, they were born in America and they hoped to keep the English language alive in their child. I think they were delighted that someone at the library had engaged them in this language they hope to keep alive. A lot happens at the library.

However short this encounter was, I felt really glad about the customer’s satisfaction and their little smile spoke of the gratitude she felt for these brief moments we chatted together.

At another time, I observed as  librarian carefully printed out receipts for books going out for loan. After this I was introduced to how books are organized on book shelves – numerically or alphabetically, as necessary for the public to collect.

While I was putting the books on the shelves, a gentleman came to collect his book and went a step further.  He came to the other end of the hall to say “thank you” to me.  He repeated this and gestured with the book.

For a minute I felt surprised as I thought  – “oh, but I haven’t really done anything”. Am just putting books on the shelves. I smiled at him. He was waving the book about and thanked me again.  That must be a very special book I was guessing, and he appreciated the effort put into getting him that book.

In the short space of time that I was in that aisle placing books on the shelves, I noticed people came in, collected their books and went away, so I certainly was surprised by this gentleman’s lovely gesture. Perhaps he is one who understands there is some work done before the books are ready for pick-up.

I wished him a cheery “Have a lovely day” – which made his eyes all the happier, and he was on his way. His delight was infectious, and his gratitude filled me with gratitude, and it was humbling.  The simple occurrences in life add that special quality to the day 😊

As a member of the public, I would normally get a message or notification to inform me to collect my book, for example. I wouldn’t think much about anything but just collect my item.

Doing my work practice here, and in the back office has been pleasantly eye-opening: The army of librarians working to get items checked, labelled, registered, and ready for collection in a timely manner.

I haven’t thought about the magazines you check and sort out for the shelves, or paid attention to your work behind the scenes to bring us an exhibition or event for example, taking care of details like necessary equipment, sufficient lighting, correct heights for installations, acoustics, refreshments and many more.

Perhaps one of the many advantages you provide, something as members of the public might not cross our minds – is the platform you give us at the libraries, to form friendships. People walk into a library, meet other people, and friendships are born either through chance meetings while collecting loaned items or through meetings arranged by the library, for example the language cafe. This is just to name a few. There is so much a library has to offer.

On this note I wish to extend this gentleman’s gladness and thankfulness to librarians. You are this army of the literary world making things possible for us, hurrying about behind the scenes, getting everything ready for us each day, and we very much appreciate you.

Each librarian at the Rovaniemi Library who has spent time with me has presented their work so delightfully, they simply like to help the public. Somehow it has got me wondering what to do when I grow up 😊

Thank you for your work. Summer is here; hope you enjoy every moment! 🌷