2012 Senior Books
Senior Books Project
Every year, the graduating seniors who are working in the library are invited to pick a favorite book and say something about what it was like to work in the library. Scroll through the years to find some great books and hear what it’s like to work in the Library
Years available:
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Elijah Chiland
- Year of Graduation: 2012
- Library Department: Media Services
- Worked 3 years in the library
ELIJAH’S BOOK SELECTION
Strange Tales from Make-do Studio by Pu Songling
ABOUT THE SELECTION
My friend and I picked this book up at a Barnes and Noble once and read the whole thing in the store. The stories are plainly written, but I think Pu Songling has a few tricks up his sleeve.
ON WORKING IN THE LIBRARY
I have enjoyed getting to know all my coworkers and supervisors, and it has been strangely fun to see what kinds of movies everyone is watching.
Elise delMas
- Year of Graduation: 2012
- Library Department: Circulation
- Worked 4 years in the library
ELISE’S BOOK SELECTION
The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman
ABOUT THE SELECTION
I first read The Golden Compass when I was 8 years old, and it was the first novel I had read that was beautiful and challenging and exciting all at once. My paperback copy is now worn with countless readings; I’ve never grown sick of it. This was also the first book I had found with an awesome heroine I could relate to. Lyra is scrappy, tough, and incredibly flawed, and I was convinced we were going to be best friends.
ON WORKING IN THE LIBRARY
I get to work with wonderful people and be around books all of the time. What more could you want out of a job?
Katherine Safiah Donaldson
- Year of Graduation: 2012
- Library Department: Reserves
- Worked 4 years in the library
KATHERINE’S BOOK SELECTION
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
ABOUT THE SELECTION
A book about books.
ON WORKING IN THE LIBRARY
I really feel like I’ve learned a lot working in various capacities at the circulation desk over my four years at Macalester. I liked learning about how things are run behind the scenes and how much work goes into making information accessible for students and professors, something which has inspired me to pursue a career in librarianship in the future. I also liked all the nice treats the librarians bring in for student workers!
Amy Fitzgerald
- Year of Graduation: 2012
- Library Department: Technology Support
- Worked 3 years in the library
AMY’S BOOK SELECTION
ABOUT THE SELECTION
When I read this during my junior year, I suddenly remembered what it’s like to love reading for its own sake–to be moved and hooked by a book so much that I couldn’t wait to finish but also didn’t want it to end. After spending so much time reading because I was an English major, it was refreshing to reaffirm that I was an English major because I love reading. And it just so happens that language, communication, and the feelings behind words are exactly what this play’s about. (But it’s also really exciting! Promise.)
Caroline Karanja
- Year of Graduation: 2012
- Library Department: Reserves
- Worked 4 years in the library
CAROLINE’S BOOK SELECTION
ABOUT THE SELECTION
Toni Morrison is one of my favorite authors. Sula is an amazing book about life, love and friendships.
ON WORKING IN THE LIBRARY
I have a great relationship with the whole library staff. Everyone is really positive and we enjoy doing our work. We have great conversations and the atmosphere is very positive. It’s also really nice to work with people who went to school at Macalester and to be able to hear the stories they have to share.
Kate Lanning
- Year of Graduation: 2012
- Library Department: Cataloging
- Worked 4 years in the library
KATE’S BOOK SELECTION
The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis
ABOUT THE SELECTION
Narnia is a classic series that everyone should read, whether to their children or just for fun. I can’t help but love the first one the best.
Kristen Ross
- Year of Graduation: 2012
- Library Department: Mendery
- Worked 4 years in the library
KRISTEN’S BOOK SELECTION
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
ABOUT THE SELECTION
This is the kind of book that if I ever became a writer I would want to write. The kind of book that no matter how many times you’ve read it, makes you still laugh and cry at all the right moments.
ON WORKING IN THE LIBRARY
A great boss and fun co-workers!
Elle Schalow
- Year of Graduation: 2012
- Library Department: Reference
- Worked 3 years in the library
ELLE’S BOOK SELECTION
ABOUT THE SELECTION
My mom grew up reading Curious George and she used to read them to me. I love that George knows no bounds, gets himself into all sorts of trouble, smokes a pipe and looks adorable while doing it.
ON WORKING IN THE LIBRARY
There are so many behind the scenes activities that make libraries so interesting that I never would have known about otherwise and there’s always interesting conversation to be had with the librarians Working for reference also really helped develop my research skills.
Maya Suzuki Daniels
- Year of Graduation: 2012
- Library Department: Reference
- Worked 3 years in the library
MAYA’S BOOK SELECTION
Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison
ABOUT THE SELECTION
Painful. Incredible. Really, really, good.
ON WORKING IN THE LIBRARY
Seeing my friends every day.
Oleh Zaychenko
- Year of Graduation: 2012
- Library Department: Technology Support
- Worked 4 years in the library
OLEH’S BOOK SELECTION
ABOUT THE SELECTION
Sometimes children’s books deal with more difficult topics than some adult literature. I read “Timm Thaler” for the first time when I was very little, but I still remember how profoundly sad some parts of this book are. If you’re anything like me and you enjoy reading children’s books from time to time – then this one’s for you. And if you’re nothing like me, then you might still find parts of “Timm Thaler” breathtaking, but you and I will probably never be friends.
Abigail Rankin
- Year of Graduation: 2012
- Library Department: Technology Support
- Worked 2 years in the library
ABIGAIL’S BOOK SELECTION
Dangerous Visions by Harlan Ellison
ABOUT THE SELECTION
Basically, Ellison wrote to the hit sci-fi writers of the ’60s (a golden age for the genre) and said, “Hey, give me your most cutting edge, envelope-pushing short stories and I’ll put the best ones in this book.” What he got was two anthologies full of a new wave of science fiction writing, new in terms of both content and style. Things that would be too edgy to get published in other formats got out in “Dangerous Visions”, and all pieces are written powerfully enough to transport you to alternate universes/other worlds/different times. Some of my favorite quotes come from “Dangerous Visions” and “Again, Dangerous Visions”. Sarrantonio wrote that Ellison and DV “almost single-handedly […] changed the way readers thought about science fiction” (Sarrantonio, “999: New Stories of Horror and Suspense”). Such a feat definitely seems worthy of a Macalester student’s admiration.
ON WORKING IN THE LIBRARY
I love being able to help people learn about how to use the multitude of resources at their fingertips (particularly in the basement, what with me being LibTech and all). I also just love books and journal articles, so it’s comforting to be surrounded by vast amounts of knowledge I can discover with just a trip away from the desk.