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.

Hu Womack, Instruction and Outreach Librarian

Tell us about what you do at ZSR Library?

I get to teach in our LIB program with some awesome co-instructors, I get to serve as liaison to COM, JOU, and SOC, and I get to be part of the awesome Outreach Team! (and I get to do a bunch of other fun stuff!) Oh, and Zotero workshops! I’ve usually either just led a Zotero workshop or am on my way to lead a Zotero workshop!

What is a typical day in your work life?

There are no typical days as an Instruction and Outreach Librarian at ZSR! (and that’s one of my favorite parts of the job!)

What is your favorite book/podcast/movie?

I don’t have favorites, but I am reading an incredible book right now, “Trinity” by Zelda Lockhart, who will be part of the Sam Gladding Writing Experience January 29th-Feb 2nd. I also recently read “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus and could not put it down! Oh, and I’m in the middle of Halle Hill’s book of short stories, “Good Women” and it’s excellent!

I have so many podcasts I enjoy! Lately “The Rabbit Hole Detectives,” “The Ezra Klein Show” and “US Modernist Radio” are at the top of my listening list!

I’m a huge fan of shows like “Vera,” “Annika,” and “Unforgotten” as well as animated shows like “Bob’s Burgers”

And everyone in ZSR knows I’m a HUGE fan of “Yacht Rock”

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

There are too many to list just one!

What is one word that best describes your ZSR experience?

Serendipity!

How did you start working in libraries?

Completely by accident! I worked part-time in the Scales Fines Arts Center on campus in the Slide Library for three years after I graduated. After applying for eight different full-time jobs at Wake, I finally landed a job as a technology trainer in the Information Technology Center in ZSR back in 1994. Roz Tedford and I started on the same day, and I’ve been fortunate to be her “partner in crime” and “trusty sidekick” whenever possible!

What is something we can’t know by looking at you?

I’ve jumped out of an airplane! (Just once, when I was much younger! I may have even had hair back then!)

Is there something you want to tell us about yourself?

After Fuchs’ dystrophy and two cornea transplants, my vision is less than ideal. I wear both scleral contact lenses and glasses, so if I ever don’t acknowledge you at a distance, please don’t be offended, I’m probably just focused on not falling down the stairs!

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

“Comparison is the thief of joy!” -Theodore Roosevelt