Via Community News Service, in partnership with Vermont State University Castleton
Pam Arel is the Children’s and Young Adult librarian at the Castleton Free Library in Originally from Boston, she has always had a deep love for working with children. With a diverse career spanning banking, museum work and education, Arel ultimately found her calling in the library, where she inspires curiosity, creativity and community engagement. Outside of work, she enjoys gardening, camping in Maine and spending time with her family.
Q. What book would you recommend that everyone read at least once in their life?
A. I think “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White. The other one would be “A Little Princess” by Frances Hodgson Burnett, but I think first would be “Charlotte’s Web.” Both of them stick out to me because their message is of kindness, fortitude, grit, resilience, however you want to say that, and hope. They both touch on death, which I think we don’t talk about enough, and it’s a natural part of both of the stories. They sort of have everything in this neat bundle, I still reread both of them every year.
Q. Besides lending out books, what services do you think are most beneficial to library users?
A. We loan out many things, from sleds to moisture meters to snowshoes, but I think the biggest service that we offer is information. We have so many people that come in. Like last Saturday an older man, you know, said “I don’t know how to use my phone” or a parent will come in, distressed because their child is having trouble with potty training. It’s like where do I go? Who do I talk to? I had someone come in last week that needed help finding and printing out a renter’s rebate. So, it’s information more than anything tangible because it’s constant. And a lot of times we’re psychotherapists. I can’t tell you how many times somebody will sit down and just unload for an hour.
Q. What does your typical day off look like when you’re not here at the library?
A. On my typical day off, I have been going to the gym. I love to go for a walk. Weirdly, in the summer, I never read. I’m outside gardening. But during this time of year, I’m usually working on my house, whether it’s building bookshelves and painting or whatever. I like to work with my hands.
Q. What are some common misconceptions that people may have about librarians?
A. Maybe not so much now. But I think sometimes there can be this misconception that maybe we’re stuffy and serious. But most of the librarians I know are funny and goofy. That’s why I love my story hour, which I had today, because I can be really stupid and goofy and childlike. I won’t say childish but childlike.
Q. What is the most rewarding part of your job?
A. For me, as a children’s librarian, it’s seeing a new family come into the library and having kids not just read books. A lot of parents get distressed because they’ll come in and they’ll (their children) just play and they don’t want to look at books. I always tell parents and grandparents it doesn’t matter. They love the library and they don’t care what they’re doing. Today I read a book that I thought the kids would like, because they’re pre-k, and they were like a foot from me and they were totally engaged in the story. And we had great conversations about it afterwards, so that, when they’re so engaged in the story, and they’re not aware of anything else, is my favorite part.
Q. Do you have any memorable conversations that stick out to you that you’ve had with any patrons?
A. Yeah, I’ve had a lot of political ones lately, and they trust us with that. Let’s face it, most people know librarians are pretty liberal, but other than that, if you don’t want to get into that… I did have a mother who was really distressed about her child in school and didn’t know where to go for help. I had worked in the school district, the Slate Valley District, for about 17 years, so I still know people and I think most of them (library patrons) know that. So, I’m able to say, look, there’s this person I know, contact them, they will help you and don’t be afraid of doing that.
Q. Is there a book or author that changed your perspective or had a lasting impact on you?
A. Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women” left a big impact. Not that the other books didn’t, but I was a little older when I read that. I still read that every year too. Having a strong female lead forging her own path that was very different from what society expected of her.
Q. Can you trace the moment back that you knew you wanted to become a librarian?
A. No, but I’ll try to make this short. This is my fourth career, so my first was in banking. My second was in museum work; I did that for a long time. Then schools and then I retired from the schools. I always wanted to be a librarian, but you know life happens and you do other things. But when I retired, the librarian here was leaving and Mary (Director of Castleton Free Library and Adult Services Librarian Mary Kearns), who I’ve known for years and she lives up the street from me, said please apply for this. I never want to stop working, but I had no intention of taking another job. Honestly, I wouldn’t have done it with adult services, but I adore kids, I’ve always adored kids. I’ve always worked with kids except in the bank. I just, I couldn’t say no and I love it.
Q. Do you think the evolution of technology has impacted libraries or do you think it will in the future?
A. Oh, yeah, definitely and for a couple of reasons. It’s very hard for some people to keep up and like I said before, they rely on us to help them, which means we have to stay on top of it. I know a lot of people are worried about AI (artificial intelligence) and in some sense so am I, but I also like technology, and I like to use it for however it helps me. I don’t think it’ll ever stop people from wanting to hold a book in their hands and read and learn on their own. So yeah, it has already and it will continue to and that’s a huge part of how we serve our patrons, helping them learn about technology. We do have occasional technology nights, too. So, people can drop in if they have any questions.