2014 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
Allie Affinito
- Year of Graduation: 2014
- Library Department: Access, Instruction and Research Services
- Worked 4 years in the library
ALLIE’S BOOK SELECTION
ABOUT THE SELECTION
This book introduced me to the works of Neil Gaiman, and I’ve never looked back. It’s that perfect mix of science fiction with fantasy and intense sarcastic realism that never ceases to keep me interested. Also the frame about religious figures is pretty ingenious and runs through several of his books/comics. If you haven’t read it I strongly recommend it (obviously).
ON WORKING IN THE LIBRARY
So many things. But probably the most rewarding part of this job, and the part that I’ll miss the most are the personal connections that I’ve made to the people who work here, my library family.
Adam Bauer
- Year of Graduation: 2014
- Library Department: Access, Instruction and Research Services
- Worked 4 years in the library
ADAM’S BOOK SELECTION
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
ON WORKING IN THE LIBRARY
I have enjoyed the many different people I have had the opportunity to work with, whether it be student workers like myself, or the members of the library staff.
Jane Berdysheva
- Year of Graduation: 2014
- Library Department: Access, Instruction and Research Services
- Worked 4 years in the library
JANE’S BOOK SELECTION
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
ON WORKING IN THE LIBRARY
The atmosphere!
Rebecca Boylan
- Year of Graduation: 2014
- Library Department: Archives
- Worked 1 year in the library
REBECCA’S BOOK SELECTION
Amber Bunnell
- Year of Graduation: 2014
- Library Department: Access, Instruction and Research Services
- Worked 4 years in the library
AMBER’S BOOK SELECTION
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
ABOUT THE SELECTION
This is a great novel about magic, love, memory, and other worlds. Over my four years at Macalester, Daughter of Smoke and Bone is by far one of the most imagination-indulging stories I’ve read. When you’re swamped with papers and exams and applications, escaping to another world for a few hundred pages can bring you a lot of perspective and energy!
ON WORKING IN THE LIBRARY
The amazing people. Every day has been full of laughter! Funny people and books is actually all you need in life.
Matt Edelman
- Year of Graduation: 2014
- Library Department: Collection Development and Discovery
- Worked 4 years in the library
MATT’S BOOK SELECTION
Random Family by Adrian Nicole Leblanc
ABOUT THE SELECTION
Leblanc shines a light on a part of the world that many people at Macalester do not know. It will make you think hard about some of your preconceived notions about the urban poor.
ON WORKING IN THE LIBRARY
I have really enjoyed working in library and media services because of the informal atmosphere and the sense of companionship shared among the staff.
Kiyal Eresen
- Year of Graduation: 2014
- Library Department: Access, Instruction and Research Services
- Worked 4 years in the library
KIYAL’S BOOK SELECTION
The Book of Disquiet by Fernando Pessoa
ON WORKING IN THE LIBRARY
People!! Eternally grateful to all of them–I know I’d be multiple times luckier if I got supervisors even-just-a-quarter this understanding, guiding, entertaining and awesome in my next paid job.
Jeff Garcia
- Year of Graduation: 2014
- Library Department: Collection Development and Discovery
- Worked 4 years in the library
JEFF’S BOOK SELECTION
Hellfire Nation by James Morone
ABOUT THE SELECTION
Hellfire Nation, besides being one of the books that saved my History capstone, is an engaging and revealing read about American society and its relationship to sin. James Morone avoids the trap of blaming it all on the Puritans, discussing their sophisticated views against later sensationalist tendencies. If you want to learn about moral panic in the United States from Cotton Mather to the Comstock laws, read this first.
ON WORKING IN THE LIBRARY
Probably the frequent treat days, the friendliness of even the staff I didn’t know, the rush of finals, and probably just my simple job repairing books in the library mendery. Also, Laura Secord’s been the best and most understanding supervisor someone could have (no shade to the other staff!). By now, after four years of book repair, Xacto knives, and glue, I must be at least 2% paper.
Drake Thomas Myers
- Year of Graduation: 2014
- Library Department: Media Services
- Worked 4 years in the library
DRAKE’S BOOK SELECTION
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes, trans. Edith Grossman
ABOUT THE SELECTION
For me, when I read this book in high school I knew that all things rested on the perfect folding of the relationship between the Don Quixote machine and the Sancho Panza machine. As if the way they operated was the new way to live. The gonzo, John Kennedy Toole, Nietzschean way to approach the world and the systems of control and stupidity everywhere there. The novel is “ironic” in a way, but in the final analysis it’s the answer.
ON WORKING IN THE LIBRARY
Over the last 4 years working at Media Services has been really nice. I’ve loved being close to the media studied in classes at Mac, and being able to see what other classes and disciplines watch. The bosses are all great and understanding, too.
Evan Myers
- Year of Graduation: 2014
- Library Department: Access, Instruction and Research Services
- Worked 4 years in the library
EVAN’S BOOK SELECTION
Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers by Robert Sapolsky
ABOUT THE SELECTION
This book is an incredibly informative and amusing look at stress.
ON WORKING IN THE LIBRARY
Working under Ron in the relaxing library atmosphere has been a pleasure.
Jill Romero
- Year of Graduation: 2014
- Library Department: Collection Development and Discovery
- Worked 4 years in the library
JILL’S BOOK SELECTION
ABOUT THE SELECTION
Beautiful artwork, addictive plotline.
ON WORKING IN THE LIBRARY
Jack and Mary Lou are the best supervisors ever and I am happy to have worked for them for four years. Being the one of the first people to see the new shipments of books is pretty cool and I especially loved looking through the art/photography ones. Also, thank you to all the staff members for taking care of us by organizing the Library Student Workers Treat Day every semester during finals week.
Jesse Russell
- Year of Graduation: 2014
- Library Department: Access, Instruction and Research Services
- Worked 4 years in the library
JESSE’S BOOK SELECTION
Stephen M Straub
- Year of Graduation: 2014
- Library Department: Access, Instruction and Research Services
- Worked 4 years in the library
STEPHEN’S BOOK SELECTION
Drown by Junot Diaz
ABOUT THE SELECTION
Every person deserves to find their writer. This is mine. It took me this long to find him, and now he inspires whatever work I put out. Never have I read something so particular that spoke to me on many levels and was accessible for people who had no idea about the lives of his characters. This collection of short stories changed the way I read and write. The most common thing I thought and said was, “I can write like this?!”
ON WORKING IN THE LIBRARY
ALL THE BOOKS.