I'm getting a complex here . . . Am I vying for the most experienced, or oldest, with the longest, or most varied career in libraries?

My library career began back in 7th grade volunteering at my junior high school library. I also volunteered at my high school in Rolling Hills Estates and worked for a year during high school and another year during undergrad at Palos Verdes Public Library.

I learned about computers in college and library school when we had to use punch cards (does ANYONE ELSE remember these noisy horrible machines?)! I loved BASIC and CP/M, even DOS -- but I resent the mouse required by Windows. Guess I just hate to take my fingers off the keyboard.

After being a native and lifelong Californian I went to library school at U. of Kentucky (go Wildcats) and graduated in 1974. I came home to the aftermath of "Prop 13" (very few jobs and lots of unemployed or underemployed public and school librarians).

Over the years I have worked in a gentleman's private library, a community college library, various law school libraries (picking up a law degree on the way), law firm library, County Law Library, did a short sabbatical replacement for a year at U.C. Irvine and then went back to law schools.

For the last ten years I have been library director at Western State University College of Law in Fullerton, California, and I love the school, my staff, etc. We have new owners, so this is an exciting time. There have already been improvements in the technology on campus.

The library is three years old, highly networked and state-of-the-art. It is also a warm environment with caring staff, a variety of seating at different types of tables and carrels in both open spaces and "nooks and crannies," and is exactly what the librarians and students wanted. It is also the fifth library that I have designed for the university (three of them were actually built) over the years.

Water sports are my idea of fun. I can talk almost anyone into them -- I even got my 77-year-old-mother to go ocean kayaking with me once (just once). I have two miniature schnauzers that keep me busy. I am also providing a "foster home" for a rescue organization that saves the companion animals of people who die or must go to nursing homes where they cannot have their pets. Anyone want a one-eyed Pekinese who is a playful little imp that steals every stuffed animal in sight? His name is Teddy and he is precious!

Like everyone else, I am really looking forward to spending a week with fascinating people from all types of libraries (I think I have worked in just about every type of library there is, so I feel a kinship with each of you). I am also looking forward to learning from all of you and challenging my established assumptions, etc. in a beautiful environment.

See you in August! I'll be the "tall lady."

Carol Ebbinghouse

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