Librarian Spotlight: Robin Bradford
October 2, 2017
*Deep sigh*
I don’t even know where to begin.
My heart is heavy.
I’m furious as fuck.
I’m exhausted.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Folks, we are living in some nutty times. Very very nutty. My thoughts are with the victims of the Las Vegas shooting and their loved ones.
I want change, and I will continue to demand change from elected officials. I will never stop being the squeaky wheel. These people have fallen down on the job by not ensuring our citizens are adequately protected. We deserve better, and our safety shouldn’t be compromised by greed. This isn’t about the right to blah blah blah. It’s about BEING and FEELING safe doing mundane things such as going to school, attending a concert, taking in a movie.
Rather than flood your newsfeed with more depressing news, allow me to be a little ray of sunshiney goodness on a horrific news day. Today’s blog post features a remarkable woman I’ve been following on Twitter for some time now. I spotted her at RT, but I didn’t get the chance to chat with her. I was determined to introduce myself the next time I spotted her at an event, and it finally happened at RWA Nationals this year! If you follow Robin on Twitter you know she is all about giving it to you straight, LOL and I adore her for it.
Get to learn a little about this wonderful woman!
I posed this question to authors and bloggers, and my librarian interviewees should have a shot at it as well. I always find author interviews kind of boring. We only get to see one side of an author, the polite side. I’m sure the same can be said for librarians. If you had an evil doppelganger, what detail would they enjoy revealing about you to the public that people would find surprising and possibly questionable?
Okay, I love question one! The problem is, I kind of AM my own evil doppelganger. For better or worse, I don’t fake politeness very well. But, to play along, I guess I would say that I’m quick to anger and slooooooooooooooooooow to forgive. If you’re out here acting a fool in public, or if you are somehow disrespectful to me, or people close to me, that’s it. I’m done. I often give second chances, but I rarely give thirds. I wish I could say I was patient and forgiving but…that just isn’t the case. It’s even less of the case post 2016 election.
Who is your favorite Disney character?
The genie from Aladdin. I thought I would have to think about this more, but the answer came almost immediately and I haven’t wavered.
What’s the oddest request you’ve ever received from a patron?
“Can I come home with you?” If you mean the oddest that related to the collection…I can’t really think of one. It’s been over 10 years since I worked reference daily, so I have limited contact with patrons. And the ones I see now, they really haven’t asked anything strange. The one that seemed to trip my dad up, however, was when I told him someone had called and asked how to cook a roast. He just couldn’t wrap his head around the idea that someone would call the library to ask that question. Even though he’s asked me the same thing (before he learned he could do it in the slow cooker!) I always laugh about this because it just goes to show how people don’t realize the variety of questions we get.
What are three characteristics you believe a librarian should possess?
Intellectual Curiosity – librarians should always want to know more. About everything.
Humility – way too many librarians I know think they’re better than everyone: their patrons, the people they work with, the people who give them money. It is not a very flattering characteristic in anyone, but it’s especially unattractive in librarians.
Fearlessness – On the other end of the spectrum, there are librarians who don’t trust their own awesomeness. I want them to get an extra shot of fearlessness and step forward. It’s why my twitter profile pic right now is “But what if I CAN do it?”
As a child, what was the best Christmas gift you received?
Wow. I wish I remembered. I was a very lucky kid, and got a lot of things. I’m sure each thing was my favorite at the time!
Say all books are banned (God forbid!) what three books would you risk life and limb to keep in your possession?
This is a tough one and I don’t know. I mean, one of the best things about reading is the discovery, so I almost want to pick 3 books, that I love but just don’t know it yet. And it’s too hard. I love so many books, I’d be the witch in the woods with the contraband.
What relaxes you?
Music. Always music.
Best Boy Band: New Edition, New Kids on the Block, Backstreet Boys, or *NSYNC?
I hated Backstreet Boys, so they’re immediately off the list. I liked N’SYNC, but I was a little on the older side when they came along. I love New Edition and NKOTB both with the heat of a thousand suns, but I have to give the edge to NE.
*I want you all to know I gave Robin’s “I hated the Backstreet Boys” part of her answer some serious side-eye. I WANT IT THAT WAY IS A GODDAMN MASTERPIECE* ♪♫♪♫ Tell me whyyyyyy. Ain’t nothin’ but a heartache… ♪♫♪♫
Finish this sentence: Romance means ________.
Everything.
Best book to movie adaptation?
I have to name 3:
Dennis Lehane’s Gone, Baby, Gone. It seemed to capture the book’s vibe/atmosphere as well as the story.
S1 Game of Thrones. Everything was exactly as I’d imagined from the scenery to the perfect casting. And it was very faithful to the book.
The Martian. I loved the book, and so had REALLY high expectations for the movie. And the movie delivered.
**Bonus Question**
Ever tried BDSM? If not, would you?
I am allergic to submission. I’d be the one trying to top from the bottom. Could I be taught? Maybe…. I’m not sure I’m D enough to work the other half of the equation. That said, I’ll try almost anything once…or twice. :)
Bio:
Robin is a librarian in the western part of Washington state. She’s also a lawyer, book blerd, and baseball addict (#WhiteSox fan). She’s got the degrees to prove her badassery (BA, MA, MS, JD). She’s a Romance reviewer for Indiepicks Magazine. And lastly, she’s the recipient of the 2016 RWA Cathie Linz Librarian of the Year Award.
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