In celebration of National Librarians Day on April 16, The NAU Review talked to Aaron Kimbrell, the assistant librarian for experiential learning at Cline Library. Find out why his “average day” is never average and what kind of game show he wants to host.
What brought you to NAU?
Good fortune brought me to NAU—seriously! I talked my way into starting up a creative, Makerspace-like service at my previous library in California. I became so fascinated by the various ways that people learned in that space—on their own, with each other, in workshops—that I ended up on a doctoral journey at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in learning design. All the time I was looking for a place where I could work in this area full time. I’ve always loved the northern Arizona area and saw the position open up at Cline at just the right time in my personal life. It’s been a joy to land here.
Tell me about a day in the life of your job.
The day is never the same twice in any library role, but there are a few different dimensions that always seem to show up. First, library work is service-oriented; the library team always seeks out ways to open doors for students and staff. That’s as simple as getting a study room booked or as tricky as figuring out a complex design or technical challenge with a piece of equipment (looking at you, laser cutter). Another dimension is the day-to-day tasks: making sure the spaces we offer are working properly and we are ready to be of service. Last is that big picture. I try to spend some of every day coming up with ways to knit together what we do in the MakerLab to our students’ interests, the Flagstaff community and the values of academic life and inquiry.
What got you interested in library science?
I give credit to two things. One is that, like many others, I’ve always been interested in learning outside of the classroom. Teaching myself film photography or guitar (very poorly on that one) or lessons about local wildlife. Libraries are a place for that. Secondly, I give a lot of credit to a college friend who has worked in libraries for far longer than I have. He’s now in admin at Los Angeles County Libraries, but he really encouraged me to try librarianship out. He saw the fit that I had not yet. I applied for an MLIS program and really took to it. The rest is history.
Are there any secrets you want people to know about Cline Library?
I’ve only been at Cline for eight months. Word from Cline Library admin is that I get to learn the secrets starting at one year—ask me again in August! I can reveal that all librarians know that every library is haunted— especially the elevators.
Tell me about a significant childhood memory and how it has impacted your life today.
I took a lot of community center art classes as a kid growing up in Virginia. For several years I did cartooning during the summers and it was just outrageously fun and silly and enlightening. We learned all kinds of techniques using photocopiers and tiles and mixed media and just wrote the weirdest stuff with our ink-stained mitts. I really seek out that kind of convivial, alive and expansive sense of learning together in the spaces I’m working in.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
A game show host for animals. Cats, mostly.
What is your favorite way to spend a day off?
This is not a fair question for someone working on a dissertation because you develop a bit of a split identity. One way that definitely feels good is to knock out some reading and writing for the dissertation. A truer answer (outside of any academic work) is being outdoors with my partner, Ari, and hiking or biking in all the new-to-us locations in this area. It is absolutely gorgeous here, and we both love being out in nature when we get a chance. There’s not a better reset on the planet.
What are three items on your bucket list?
- Live on a houseboat—I’ll count a long stay.
- Write or draw a comic book—I can collaborate.
- Get that game show in production—not just for animals, though.