The Article below was published in Vol. 136, Issue 6 of the Lake Forest College Stentor on March 12, 2021.
By Jovana Jovanovska ‘23
Staff Writer
jovanovskaj@lfc.edu
Miriam Heard is the Head of Access Services at the Donnelley and Lee Library. Originally from the Tacoma, Washington area, Heard has lived in Illinois for over ten years. She started working at the Lake Forest College library in the summer of 2017. When asked to share an interesting fact about herself, Heard said that she loves to knit, which is a hobby she picked up in 2018. Besides working in the library, Heard also has a Catalog Show that airs on WMXM 88.9 FM from midnight to 2 a.m. on Saturday mornings. She will be moving to another position at Johns Hopkins University this year, so Stentor staff wanted to learn more about this librarian who has made all of our lives much easier before she leaves.
Stentor: What’s your favorite thing to do on the weekend?
Heard: When I’m not busy working on a knitting project, I enjoy relaxing with my kitties (I have two) or baking—sometimes both!
Stentor: Who is your role model?
Heard: That’s a tough one for me! I look to many outlets for inspiration and feel like there are so many people in my life who are doing amazing things. I am definitely in awe at many individuals’ journeys to find happiness, so I strive to see all of the silver linings that life has to offer. Anyone who has faced a challenge, powered through it, and still has a positive outlook on life is a role model to me!
Stentor: What is your favorite childhood memory and why?
Heard: My favorite childhood memory is more cumulative. I have very fond memories of my summer vacations when I was in elementary school through middle school: road trips to Seaside, Oregon, spending time with my summer camp friends in Wenatchee, Washington catching lizards, swimming, or feeding rabbits at a state park, playing tag outside until 10 p.m. on a warm summer evening with my friends in my neighborhood, camping outside in various friends’ yard…It was all so awesome and carefree!
Stentor: How did you decide that the library was the right place for you?
Heard: I don’t know if I found libraries, or if libraries found me! It was definitely not my plan, but as an employee at my alma mater’s library in undergrad, I found the work to be quite interesting and enjoyable! It was through this job that I learned there was more to libraries than the stereotypical “just reading books all day” assumption. The complex layers of information management, services, and accessibility are what really drew me to pursue a professional career in libraries.
Stentor: What’s the most difficult part of your job?
Heard: The hardest part is saying goodbye to the students! I am honored to work with some really bright individuals, and as such, others realize their talent and potential as well! Building relationships with your team is a great feeling, so it’s always a bit sad to see them graduate, or move on to work in departments that better align with their field of study. But I am so proud to witness future movers and shakers continue to learn and grow—even if it’s not within the library.
Stentor: Where are you going after Lake Forest College and what job position will you have there?
Heard: I am going to work for Johns Hopkins University at their Homewood Campus in Baltimore, Maryland. My role will be Resource Sharing Librarian. It’s a new position there and I will essentially be leading a large team of Access Services departments that oversee a massive lending and borrowing network. Think I-Share on steroids!
Stentor: What is something you will always remember about Lake Forest College?
Heard: It’s definitely the people! This community will always have a place in my heart as one of the [coziest] places I’ve worked. I’ve worked at several institutions, but I haven’t been to one where I knew so many people from so many departments—and on a first-name basis! From students being kind, to upper admin[istrators] being approachable. I know I won’t experience anything like it, and I will cherish the friendships I’ve developed since working here.
Stentor: What is a tip you have for the students and staff at the College?
Heard: Read your emails! Haha! I am joking, BUT at the same time, the library puts a lot of thought and planning into how we craft the delivery of our messages; often there is a wealth of information in a message that makes every patron’s visit to the library super smooth and efficient. A second major tip is to plan ahead! You never know what curveballs life will throw at you. I’ve learned it’s best to plan ahead and not to wait until the last minute, because sometimes unexpected events can put a damper on your day. With some wiggle room, you don’t have to sweat the small stuff!
