WLA Member Profile: Christine Peck

Christine Peck is recently retired from serving as the library manager at the Aberdeen Timberland Library. Christine writes that she’s “optimistic about the future of libraries. I have found people to be hungry for ideas. I think libraries will be here for years to come providing that access we all want and need.”

Meet Christine:

Q. How did you like your job as Library Manager at the Aberdeen Timberland Library?
A. It was an honor to serve the Aberdeen community for over thirty years. I was only the third “head librarian” for the Aberdeen Library in over seventy-five years. The citizens of Aberdeen have long valued excellent library service. Today the Aberdeen Library enjoys the support of three very generous endowment/trust funds in addition to an active Friends of the Library group. 

Q. How long have you been a member of WLA?
A. I first joined WLA in the mid-70’s while working as a library assistant prior to entering library school.

Q. How have you been personally involved in WLA?
A. Besides attending conferences and Library Legislative Day, my first contribution came while finishing library school. I organized and offered a continuing education workshop on lifelong learning in libraries. Later in the early 80’s, I served as the WLA Membership Committee chair.

Q. How have you benefited from being a member of WLA?
A. I have certainly benefited from the active legislative presence WLA maintains. My library is stronger because WLA is educating our legislators and other elected officials and leaders on library issues, library funding, and the importance of libraries of all kinds.

Q. What is your favorite thing about libraries?
A. My favorite thing about libraries is that they bring together the best and the worst of human thought and ideas, and everything in between, then make it all freely accessible to anyone to explore and use as they wish. 

Q. What are you currently reading?
A. A great book for library staff and supporters is Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain. A must read for everyone – introverts and extroverts alike.

Q . What area of the library stacks do you like to browse in for your own enjoyment?
A. I definitely gravitate to the social sciences (my undergraduate degree) particularly psychology, sociology, political science, and economics. However, I’m just as likely to be found checking out the cookbooks, the travel section, or the new fiction.

Q. Where did you go to library school?
A. University of Washington

Q. Do you have any children?
A. Three grown sons. One son is in product design in San Francisco, one son is in computer aided drafting here in Aberdeen, and my youngest son is attending medical school in Washington, D.C. 

Q. Any pets?
A. One black cat – Lucky!

Q. What is your favorite spectator sport?
A. Youth Soccer – even after being involved with it for over twenty years, it still is the best game in town.

Q. What is your favorite travel destination?
A. The World! -- and libraries, of course. I’ve visited 66 libraries in 9 countries on 6 continents. Favorite place to spend time – Olympic National Park.

Q. What are your favorite foods?
A. Local – razor clams, Quinault salmon, chanterelle mushrooms, and little wild blackberries – all found here on the Olympic Peninsula. Plus, I’ve never met a cookie I didn’t like.

Q. What is your favorite leisure-time activity?
A. READING! Sitting outside on a warm day, with a slight breeze, reading – even better. I’m also an avid hiker and a newbie kayaker. I enjoy my close proximity to beaches and mountain trails. And of course traveling the world near and far.

Q. What is your favorite music?
A. I’m particularly fond of the piano. Although I was never fortunate enough to be able to learn to play myself, I enjoy any style of music that includes the piano.

Q. Is there someone you personally admire and would want to emulate?
A. I’ve had the good fortune of working with some outstanding local and district library board members. From them I’ve learned to pick my battles, and to value graciousness and kindness even in the midst of disagreements.

Q. What are some words to live by?
A. “Some things don’t matter much. Like the color of a house. How big is that in the overall scheme of life? But lifting a person’s heart – now, that matters.” Sue Monk Kidd (Secret Life of Bees).

Q. Is there anything else you’d like to share about yourself?
A. Personally, I’m optimistic about the future of libraries. I have found people to be hungry for ideas. I think libraries will be here for years to come providing that access we all want and need.