Meet the Managers: Rich Webster, Digital Services Branch

I do not love to read. There. I said it. Judge me if you must, but it’s true. And I stand by that truth. I do not love to read.

I realize this quality (or lack thereof) makes me unlike many of my coworkers and the people who visit BCPL. After all, libraries are synonymous with books and reading. Right? So you may think it strange that, despite my tendencies, I’ve worked in libraries for 26 years. And you may wonder: How’d this happen?

Good question! When I was a kid my mom joked that I had two speeds – running and sleeping. She exaggerated, of course, but not by much. Sitting on the couch with a book in hand was not something I often did. Rather, I played outside with friends, rode and wrecked my bike, or explored the woods. To describe me as “outdoorsy,” then as now, is an understatement. And anyone who visits England-Idlewild has likely crossed paths with me.

However, I am very curious also, and that curiosity frequently compels me to sit still long enough to learn something new – sometimes by checking out a book and other times by using online resources. So, I may not love to read, but I love to learn. And what better place to learn than a library, where I can explore the subjects that interest me most?

It’s likely I make a distinction without a difference, but that’s okay. What matters most is we grow as individuals and communities.