March 8, 2010
by Yvette Lessard | Staff Writer
City College librarian Catherine Chenu-Campbell is not the stereotypical librarian. Photo by Vincent Fernandez
Her name may be incorrectly spelled “C-A-M-B-E-L-L” on the door of her office, but librarian Catherine Chenu-Campbell just laughs it off. It’s one of the many ways she says she’s perceived wrongly.
She says she’s not the stereotypical spinster. Step into her office and you’re greeted with a loud and hearty “hello” from her and a quiet huff from the service-puppy-in-training she keeps by her desk.
Chenu-Campbell says she’s not the only librarian who doesn’t fit the stereotype.
“You need to like people for this job,” says Chenu-Campbell.
With Women’s History Month coming up, she says the staff is ready to support classes and visiting speakers focusing on women’s history. As for herself, Chenu-Campbell has been training the next generation of librarians in the female-dominated field.
“It’s really fun because all the students who take that class want to be there,” says Chenu-Campbell. “They’re interested and interesting and have a lot of different backgrounds.”
Chenu-Campbell trains hopeful future-librarians as well as the Information Technology program to become librarian paraprofessionals, like herself. She admits she got into the field by random when a temporary employment agency placed her at the California State Library.
“I don’t think very many people think, ‘I want to be a librarian when I grow up’,” says Chenu-Campbell. “It was just luck.”
Chenu-Campbell has been working at City College since 1981 and says she stayed in the field because she enjoyed the people she met and the resources they provided. She is one of many working in the library, analyzing statistics and figuring out how best to serve students.
Criminal justice major Sophan Mey says the librarians have been a lifesaver.
“Last semester I really was lost,” says Mey. “I came to find a book and the librarians were really helpful.”
As for her coworkers, they say they appreciate her efforts. Librarian Lorilie Roundtree says in her time working with Chenu-Campbell she’s been able to see her as a professional.
“She can usually see the bigger picture behind issues as they arise and she has a wide knowledge of campus history to help us in our discussion.”
Connect with us!