Welcome back to another installment of 5 Questions! If you would like to choose 5 Questions yourself, feel free to choose 5 from this form.

Morgan Ritchie-Baum, Business & Social Science Librarian

Tell us about what you do at ZSR Library?

As a member of the Research, Instruction, and Outreach Team – I think of what I do at ZSR as falling into one of those three “buckets”. So, I can usually be found helping students, staff, and faculty in the School of Business and College source information for research projects or strategizing about how to structure and execute their research, preparing for and teaching bibliographic instruction in undergraduate and graduate classes within both the School of Business and College (in departments like Econ, Politics, Communication, and Entrepreneurship), prepping and teaching my own courses (LIB 230 – Business & Accounting Research Sources & Strategy and various LIB 290s), and working with my partner-in-crime Summer Krstevska on outreach for the BIC (what we call our “library” – the Business Information Commons – over in Farrell Hall) and our own professional research agendas.

What is a typical day in your work life?

I think this will surprise exactly no one but every single day is different which is part of the reason I got into and continue to love this profession! In general, there is a lot of email reading and responding, trying to keep up with what’s going on in the literature and profession, writing (my office is one big sticky note most of the time), running between buildings on campus for various meetings and classes, and finding opportunities to chat with colleagues and students about what’s going on in their lives and work. Although I consider myself an extroverted introvert, I’m energized and inspired by the incredible work and dedication to “pro humanitate” I see happening all around campus and try and soak it all in where and whenever I can.

What is your favorite library story? (or memorable experience?)

As a former public librarian…I have a lot (lol), but … one that immediately comes to mind is from that time in my career. As a public librarian, it was almost a daily occurrence to sit down with someone and help them with a resume or job application. One hard thing about being a librarian is we can really learn (and end up caring) a lot about an individual through their informational need that we are helping with – but very rarely do we find out how things “turn out.” One day, I came into the office, and there was a handwritten thank you note addressed to me from a patron whom I had helped a few weeks previously apply for a job. She was letting me know she had gotten the job I had helped her apply for and was also able to finally secure safe and sustained housing because of it. You better believe I cried, and I still have that note.

What is one word that best describes your ZSR experience?

Fulfilling

How did you start working in libraries?

I was in the retail book trade for about 15 years. I discovered while doing this that more than books, I loved people and, more specifically, connecting people to information. It wasn’t until my partner and I were stationed at Ft. Knox, KY and I made friends with the Director of the Library on base (shout out to DoD MWR Libraries and Librarians who do so much for military members and their families around the world!) that it dawned on me there was a profession for people like me! The rest, as they say, is history.

Is there something you want to tell us about yourself?

I recently joined our local Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby League – Greensboro Roller Derby!

What is the best piece of advice you have ever gotten?

I’ve received a lot of great professional advice over the years. One that sticks out in my mind – there are no bibliographic emergencies!