Naomi: How did you find your current job? Kristen: I interned at the ACLU in my last semester of library school and really enjoyed it, but they had no plans to hire more staff in the near future. Then a few months after I graduated, a posting came up for an ACLU Assistant Archivist, but I thought there were so many people ahead of me in line for the job it wasn’t worth applying. But then my former supervisor encouraged me to apply, so I did, and three weeks later they offered me the position! I think the lesson here is that you should apply for everything, ever.
Naomi: Favorite library you have been to? Kristen: J. P. Morgan’s! There are secret doors built into the bookshelves, and his collection is like mecca for book lovers. It would be great to break into that vault…not that I’d steal anything, just hang out with the illuminated manuscripts for awhile and be really content.
Naomi: Favorite book? Kristen: Mating, by Norman Rush. It is this beautiful love story set in the Kalahari, but it’s also about socialism and glass-blowing and Latin. I have too much affection for this book to objectively describe it, but I recommend it to just about anyone. Also the Song of Ice and Fire series because, dragons!
Naomi: Favorite thing about libraries/ library technology? Kristen: Digital libraries that facilitate the sharing of rare and wonderful objects you would never see up-close otherwise, like the Roman de la Rose project.
Naomi: Any websites or feeds or blogs we should be following? Kristen: The Astronomy Picture of the Day! Why is the universe so awesome?
Naomi: Best piece of job hunting advice? Kristen: Apply for everything, ever. Don’t give up! You’re great, it’ll happen.
Kristen Kennedy is from Amityville, New York and got her MLS from Queens College in 2011. Before landing a gig in the ACLU Archives, she worked at a small medical college on Long Island. She enjoys archery, bocce ball, and many other fair-weather activities.