Library IRL: Meet Pam Grubb, Supervisor of Library Services at Stout Children’s Library
Library IRL is a monthly series that highlights the people behind the books, spaces, and services at HPU Libraries. Each feature offers a closer look at one member of our team, sharing insight into their work, interests, and the many ways they support students, faculty, and campus life. It is a chance to show the real people behind the library and tell the stories that do not always fit neatly into job titles or service descriptions.
This month, we are featuring Pam Grubb!
About Pam
1. What is your title and how long have you been at HPU Libraries?
Children’s Librarian at the Children’s Library & Teaching Resource Center, located in the Stout School of Education. As of October 3, I will have been here for 10 years.
2. What does a typical day look like for you, or what do people think you do vs. what you actually do?
Typically, I am assisting students in selecting titles that fit their needs. This might mean finding appropriate selections for an assignment or, more often, helping with requests like, “My kid says she wants books about ballerinas.” I also select and order all of the materials for the collection. My job involves a lot of checking books out, checking them in, and shelving them as well.
Your Work
3. What part of your work feels the most meaningful to you?
I love, love, love helping students find materials that fit their needs.
4. What is something about your role that most people might not realize?
I select and purchase the books for the collection, and the collection is not made up of books that freshmen donate!
5. What is one project or accomplishment you are particularly proud of?
During COVID, with the cooperation of Dr. Lambert, I devised a system to get books into the hands of students in the Literacy class. Because it is such a hands-on class, COVID made things especially difficult.
Each student had a bag, and I selected books for each bag and sent them to the classroom in a wagon. Students could pick up their own bags, helping to minimize contact and the spread of germs. When the books were returned, I wiped everything down before reshelving it. We were also able to send sets of books to students who were quarantined.
The Human Side
6. What is your favorite spot in any HPU Libraries space and why?
The Children’s Library, of course!
7. Coffee, tea, or something else?
Coffee.
8. What is something on your desk or in your workspace that says a lot about you?
My candy dish. I have always had a candy dish on my desk, ever since I began my career many years ago. Seeing it put a smile on someone’s face always warms my heart.
9. What is a skill you have that is not in your job description?
Maybe organizing projects. I was the Graduation Project Coordinator at the high school where I worked, and I loved it.
Library Culture
10. What is a library resource or service you love that more people should know about?
I often tell Intro to Teaching classes about the “hold” feature in their HPU Library accounts. Many students have never heard of it, and then I start seeing holds come in from some of those same students. 😊
11. If you could magically add one thing to the library, what would it be?
An office and storage space.
Just for Fun
12. Favorite book, movie, or album right now?
I love reading and rarely listen to audiobooks, but I just finished listening to Theo of Golden, and I have been recommending it to everyone. I don’t know that I have a single favorite book.
13. A book you love but rarely get to recommend?
I am always recommending books to students and adult friends, so I can’t think of one! I actually have a library in my house and loan books to friends.
14. If your job had a theme song, what would it be?
“What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong. It is one of my favorites.
15. One fun fact about you that surprises people?
Haha. I was voted Most Athletic in my graduating class many, many years ago.
By Gerald Ward, Assistant Director, Head of Archives & Special Collections