Please join us in welcoming Micah Jefferson, the newest Reference Librarian at the Murray-Green Auditorium Library. Those of you at the Schaumburg campus may recognize Micah, who has been working with their Circulation Department for a few years now. We had Micah answer a few questions, to introduce him to the RU Community:
RU LIBRARY: What made you decide to become a librarian?
MICAH: I’ve been reading books ever since I can remember learning. I would often go to the public library and start in a subject like Science Fiction and start reading authors beginning with A and made my way through the alphabet. That’s probably why my favorite books “The Foundation Series” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundation_series) are by Isaac Asimov.
I first started working in libraries as a student worker at Founders Memorial Library at Northern Illinois University (NIU) in DeKalb. I worked there for the 4 years of my undergrad in Philosophy and upon graduation the Librarians that worked there suggested I look into pursuing a Masters in Library Science if I was really interested in continuing to work in Libraries. So I did.
RU: Where did you get your MLIS? (Masters in Library Science)
MJ: I obtained my masters from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. They had an online education program called LEEP (http://www.lis.illinois.edu/academics/leep) where you could take all of the required courses online without having to relocate to that campus. That was quite an experience. I focused on Data Curation and Digital Librarianship
RU: What is your favorite thing about the RU library?
MJ: My favorite thing aesthetically is the view of Lake Michigan from the Reading Room in the Auditorium Library. What I love most about RU Library though is the ease of access to online and print resources that may be accessed from on or off campus, and the high quality Reference services that are available to the students at both the Schaumburg and Chicago campus. Access to information is a basis for Social Justice.
RU: Do you have a favorite book or author? Tell us what you like to read!
MJ: My favorite book(s) are “The Foundation Series” by Isaac Asimov. I don’t feel as if I currently have a favorite author. I’ve picked up a few books by bell hooks and I think she has become one of my most favored writers.
I’ve read a lot of science fiction in my youth, but I currently like to read non-fiction, historical analyses, and biographies. Right now I’m reading Assata Shakur’s autobiography.
RU: Do you have a favorite restaurant in Chicago? Where is it? Close to campus or in a near-by neighborhood?
MJ: My favorite restaurant in Chicago has been Demera Ethiopian Restaurant (http://demeraethiopianrestaurant.com/). It’s up north at the corner of Lawrence Ave and Broadway St. I’ve never had Ethiopian food before moving a year ago. I just used a Groupon there and it was well worth the deal.
RU: What do you do for fun?
MJ: I’ve been b-boying (commonly known as “breakdancing”) for about 8 years now. I started dancing my first year at NIU with a group on campus call Groundhogs. After graduating and moving closer to Chicago to work at RU Library in Schaumburg, I joined a group that has been dancing in Chicago since 1982 - Phaze II Crosstown Crew. We are now teaching a bboy/bgirl class in Evanston Illinois at a community center called Boocoo.
RU: Finally, is there anything else you would like the Roosevelt Community to know about you?
MJ: Yes. This breakdancing librarian loves turtles.
Stop by the library and help us welcome Micah to our Crew!
