1. Name of Library:
Witt Research Center
801 Old Water Street
Tampa, FL 33602
2. Name of Librarian: Jennifer Dietz
3. Background of Librarian:
Ms. Dietz holds an undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Utah, and an MLIS from the University of South Florida (2006). She intended to attend law school. However, her mom was a school librarian and she had previously worked for the Sundance Film Festival Archive so, while in school, she took a library assistant job in Hillsborough County for experience. Thus, she eventually became a children’s librarian. After two-and-a-half years, a promotion came up and she went for it. The county doesn’t tell candidates where the promotion to director is, but Ms. Dietz ended up at the Witt Research Center and, as they say, the rest is history. She now has a total of six years in the county.
Ms. Dietz is a member of the Society of Florida Archivists (SFA) and the Society of American Archivists (SAA), attending meetings and conferences. She also attends SFA classes at USF and Tampa Bay Library Consortium (TBLC) workshops.
Ms. Dietz’s favorite part of her job is that it is never boring; there are always projects to do, including cataloging, programming, and research. It’s always new each day. When asked her least favorite part, she replies, “Libraries are always under fire with budget cuts. You always have to prove the worth of the library; you have to continually justify its worthiness.”
4. Library: It is a well lit, well air-conditioned, small library housed on the third floor of the Tampa Bay History Center, right next door to the St. Pete Times Forum. It has a large wall of windows and a glass door to minimize the impediment of the beautiful downtown view of water, boats, and condominiums. The stacks room is small, but utilizes the space well, allowing for room to grow by employing rolling shelving. Patrons are not allowed to browse the stacks, but instead tell Mrs. Dietz what they need and she retrieves it for them. Patrons can utilize the resources on site. As I roam the facility, I notice a guestbook, signed by many patrons. I notice extra-large books on special narrow shelving titled Pioneer Florida, a table of literature including “Facts & Figures for Hillsborough County,” “Hillsborough Reads” pamphlets, and advertisements for public library programs such as homework assistance for kids. On the walls, I find historic newspapers and advertisements, a Lord’s Indexed Street Map of Greater Tampa, a “Florida Works Progress Administration, Creation of Counties in Florida 1820 to 1936,” a “Plan of Tampa 1886,” and a painting of a Florida road by Nettie Gates, circa 1930s. On the magazine rack I find American Libraries, AASLH History News, History Magazine, and Cigar City Magazine, among others. Among the pamphlets are TRAILS Tampa History & Obit. Index, What the Census Tells, City Directories of the US, and FL Vital Records Combined Index. Informational flyers include “Getting Started…Genealogy Basics” and “How to Find Military Records.”
a. What type of library is it? It is a research library of closed stacks, i.e., nothing circulates, and no one goes into the stacks.
b. What type of community does it serve? What special information needs do they have? Mainly researchers writing articles and books, and individuals searching genealogy. They come for specific reasons, and stay a long time. There is a book club every month, and almost all authors have been in for research. On an aside, author Nick Wynne, co-writer of Florida in the Spanish American War, credited Ms. Dietz in his acknowledgements. The two biggest things patrons are looking for are Tampa local history and genealogy.
c. Is the library open to the public? If so, on what basis? Yes. It is open to the public, free of charge, in a partnership with Hillsborough County.
d. How many patrons are eligible for service? How many patrons are served? Patrons number approximately 111 per month. The databases require a card, which is provided for free. It is a branch location of the Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative, with branch code TBH.
e. To which governing body or to which official does the head of the library report? Ms. Dietz, as head librarian, personally reports to Hillsborough County Library Services.
f. What special services are offered to the patrons? Patrons have access to special databases and help with research. The librarian really partners with patrons to assist them along their way. Additionally, a microfilm reader, copier, and scanner are provided for their needs.
g. What hours is the library open? It is open 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and again 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and on Saturdays by appointment with one week notice (same weekday hours apply on Saturdays).
h. Describe the size and scope of the collection, including circulation statistics. The collection is 3,000 books and 2,000 family files. It has a budget of about $12,000 beyond donations. Each book has a session number, consisting of the year it came in, the donor number, and the item number. It has Sanborn maps from the 1930s to 1950s, yearbooks of local high schools and colleges, rare first editions and signed copies, subject files, maps and atlases of Hillsborough County, the Tampa Tribune from 1900, and aerial maps from the 1930s. They are in the process of cataloging everything for the public library catalog. It is a non-circulating research library.
i. What is the size of the staff? Number of professional and support staff? What staff did you observe? What impression did you get of the staff? Were they businesslike, courteous, and friendly? The staff consists of head librarian Jennifer Dietz, and currently one graduate assistant completing her fieldwork for the USF MLIS program. The graduate assistant assists Ms. Dietz one day a week for six hours, splitting time between the Witt Research Center and the John F. Germany Public Library. There are also six library volunteers helping Ms. Dietz; they work approximately four hours per week. In total, including the volunteers and the graduate assistant, there are approximately thirty total hours of assistance per week. There are also eight staff members at the John F. Germany Public Library who are trained to substitute for Ms. Dietz on an occasion when she may be out. On my visit, I met the graduate assistant, who was currently working on the process of cataloging everything for the public library catalog. Both the GA and head librarian were very friendly, courteous, and businesslike, inquiring about my pursuit of my own MLIS degree, and offering any assistance I may need with my tour and interview. It was a relaxed but very professional environment.
j. What technology is used? There is a copier, scanner, and microfilm reader. The staff and patrons utilize Excel, Word, Office products, and PastPerfect Software for patron sign on. The computer databases are very independent, showing what the history center has on a given subject, allowing patrons to browse the museum collection. It includes the Burgert Brothers Photographic Collection of 15,000 images. Patrons can order prints, such as an historic picture of their house—a very popular service!
k. What type and level of visibility in social media (Facebook, Flickr, etc.) does the library have? The library itself does not yet have a blog, but hopes to soon. The public library (Hillsborough County) has all forms of social media. Ms. Dietz contributes regularly to the Library History Roadshow Blog, for which she wrote a contribution the morning of this interview.
l. Do you think you would like to work here? Itemize the plusses and minuses. I think I would like to work here. I would get to meet an array of people, from the curious genealogy investigator to the intent researcher, published and unpublished writers, and history lovers. As Ms. Dietz said, it would never lack new projects and new patrons. For example, one current patron is researching Florida breweries. “A lot is like a treasure hunt,” said Ms. Dietz. I think it would be fun to say that about your career. Granted, constantly justifying your existence in already too-tight budgets is never fun, but sadly it is a trait of many important professions now, and I believe it is valuable to remind everyone, especially oneself, of how important you really are.
5. What did you leave with? Ms. Dietz’s advice was to be flexible—a key, she said, for librarians to get to where they want to be. Additionally, I found it interesting that the collection of this library is often used by educational curators for planning their programs. Lastly, the Witt Research Center has first editions, autographed copies, and rare books. It has hand-written ledgers, journals, and old receipt books. It also has Grismer’s Tampa, which the public library just digitized because of demand.
6. Reflections: I don’t think that I would have even known a library might be housed in a history museum, had it not been for this project. I am realizing that people, like me, come to this profession via a multitude of backgrounds, and with a variety of experiences. I’m beginning to see that my chosen path of librarianship can take many, many avenues. And I like that.
No comments:
Post a Comment