Today we’d like to introduce you to Vivienne Beckett.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My journey of becoming a Librarian started in Columbia, Missouri where I received my master’s degree in Library Science from Mizzou (University of Missouri-Columbia). While still in school, I held an internship at the Missouri Botanical Garden Library in St. Louis, Missouri cataloging books on botany. Many of these texts were first editions, containing beautiful scientific drawings of plants.
I enjoyed this internship and knew that there were many aspects to librarianship that were interesting to me. During that time, I also was hired as a part-time Reference Librarian at St. Charles City-County Library working there on Sundays. After graduation, I began my first professional job in the reference department at another large public library, St. Louis County Library, and was promoted to Branch Supervisor after six months.
My husband, whom I met in library school, also started working as a professional librarian at St. Louis County Library too at the same time as me. Since then, I’ve enjoyed helping customers find the information they needed so that they can finish their homework, business research, and to find resources for entertainment and enjoyment. Later, I moved to my hometown of St. Charles, Missouri to work for the St. Charles City-County Library District.
My husband, who is a native Texan, and I next moved to San Antonio and worked in libraries there before moving back to St. Louis where I worked as an Assistant Library Director and promoted to Director at Scenic Regional Library. After that, I decided I wanted to spend more time with my family and became a Branch Manager at St. Charles City-County Library. Overall, I’ve worked with many staff and customers from all walks of life and learned many interesting things in the public library world. I learn things from the customers about our communities, and I hope they have learned things from me about finding information and from the speakers and events I’ve planned at the library.
With technologies constantly changing throughout my career, I’ve experienced the tail end of the height of print materials, seen newspapers shrink and even fold, and watched library customers shift much of their research habits from paper-based to online. Ebooks took off as a popular format and so did audiobooks on CDs, and now downloadable audio files. I have trained customers to use ebooks as they have received new tablets, Kindles, and other devices and brought them to the library in the packaging.
I’ve given presentations at the Rotary Club and community centers to demonstrate library resources they can use from the comfort of their homes. Our libraries also offer streaming movies and tv shows, which are still available on DVD and some newer ones on blue-ray. The evolution of information has not changed to one single format and probably never will. I feel privileged to have the skills to work in both worlds of print and media. It has been an exciting journey as libraries have evolved.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road has been smooth with some challenging twists and turns all while moving forward. I have been promoted and learned new skills in every job. I’ve literally endured tornadoes, snowstorms, and hurricanes and oversaw library buildings where I’ve been while managing library staff to keep services running smoothly and still providing excellent customer service.
My most recent accomplishment includes working as interim branch manager while my manager was out on FMLA leave. I was in charge of our branch library (Katherine Tyra Library at Bear Creek) when Hurricane Harvey hit Houston. It was a trying time for everyone on staff because many homes and neighborhoods were affected. I quickly went into recovery mode and contacted all of the staff to see if they were each ok.
My family and I were self-evacuated during that time, so much of the initial work during and immediately after the storm I was doing from long distance in Austin and DFW. I kept in touch with my library administrators and followed their procedures for this hurricane event. Our library branch was flooded. This was devastating to me, our staff, and our Bear Creek community.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Harris County Public Library – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I work for Harris County Public Library (HCPL). I am currently Assistant Branch Manager/Adult Services Librarian at the Katherine Tyra Bear Creek Library. We are a public library with 26 branches. HCPL provides information, technology, and resources for everyone in the community. We support people by providing educational resources, consumer information, and entertainment. We also now have a mobile library known as the Curiosity Cruiser launching soon. This mobile library is similar to a bookmobile service and will drive throughout Harris County to provide books, materials, and services to all ages.
I am an Assistant Branch Manager/Adult Services Librarian. My job is to supervise staff and take care of managerial duties, address problems and issues with the branch facility. I work closely with my manager, Amy Campbell, to keep our library running smoothly. I also help customers each day find books, movies, and information for their research. I specialize in creating and implementing interesting, educational and entertaining programs for adults.
Sometimes the programs I plan are open to all ages too. I love to plan exciting programs with a cultural twist because they have such a positive party-like atmosphere in a safe environment. These events energize me and allow me to use my creative skills when planning these events. I also enjoy planning other types of events such as educational, historical, and technology programs too. These can range from nutrition education, gardening, financial literacy, to 3D printing, or creating a resume in Microsoft Word, and are highly needed in our community.
My most proud moment was to be able to serve the Bear Creek Community during the aftermath of the hurricane and to be a part of a larger library system that came to everyone’s aid throughout Houston & Harris County to help people after the storm. It is an amazing library system to work for. HCPL did so much throughout the county to assist people after the storm, including taking up donations to help co-workers whose families were badly affected.
During the aftermath of the storm, and while my supervisor was out on FMLA leave, I was in charge of my branch as Interim Branch Manager. I coordinated our staff in many ways and took on the responsibilities involved in reporting to our library administration. I supervised our librarians and I helped coordinate popup libraries in the Bear Creek Community. Our branch staff has been at Clay’s restaurant on Thursdays since October, providing library services on a small scale. We offer storytimes for children, books and audiobooks and DVDs/blue rays to check out.
We also provide laptops for public computer usage. The customers who have been visiting our popup library have been so grateful that we are doing this in their neighborhood. It brings some normalcy to their lives after they have lost so much after the storm. There are many people and businesses who have lost their homes, cars and businesses and computers. Some have even lost their jobs. We have heard story after story about how the hurricane affected our Bear Creek Library customers. And we wanted to help them by offering our services even though our library was closed temporarily. Our library endured severe flood damage and is closed now for remodeling. Everything inside the building was removed and the entire building was gutted.
Our library suffered water and mold damage. I coordinated our staff to go in once the engineers cleared it for the staff to enter. We went into the branch and removed as many books and materials that we thought we could save. Much of the materials were damp and impossible to use again. I am most proud of being able to lead our staff through this tumultuous time and feeling ready for the next challenge. I think that my creativity combined with my flexibility and tendency to thrive with change in many different working environments has set me apart in a positive way.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I am currently hoping to help the library serve our patrons through innovative programming. We are excited to launch new makerspace services and programs. This includes 3D printing capabilities for the public among other types of objects that can be created. For example, there are laser cutters, circuits, robotics equipment, sewing machines, and programs on learning to code are available at select locations.
Other maker programs include crafting with fabrics, legos and many different objects. The Harris County Public Library also has a presence every year at the Houston Maker Faire to show off our equipment and learn from other “makers” in the community. All ages can benefit from having access to makerspace programs at the library. I may give programming a try, but I will definitely keep working with our 3D printing equipment!
Contact Info:
- Address: 1815 Westgreen Blvd. Katy, TX 77450
- Website: www.hcpl.net
- Phone: 281-492-8592
- Email: vivienne.beckett@hcpl.net
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harriscountypl
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