The Book Goddess

I graduated from the University of Florida with a B.A. In English and a really great liberal arts education, for which I will be forever grateful. I wanted to go to library school then, but people kept trying to talk me out of it. Instead, I went to Air Force Officer Training School and became an administration officer in an aircraft maintenance squadron. After I left the Air Force, I made use of the G.I. Bill and got an M.ED. in Guidance and Counseling at Florida Atlantic University. Then I worked on a Ph.D. in English at the University of Miami but left before completing it.

I was also a bookseller for eight years. I really liked the bookstore environment, but I knew I could do more for people as a librarian, and I also needed to earn a better salary.

So in 1986 I headed to FSU’s then School of Library and Information Studies. I had a wonderful educational experience there and came away extremely well-prepared to be a public librarian. All my previous job experience and education was extremely useful, too, to say nothing of my lifelong passion for books.

In 1987, I took a job as Reference Librarian at the West Palm Beach Public Library. I have spent my entire professional career here, and it has turned out to be a wonderful choice. Over the years, I’ve supervised every department in the Library except Youth Services. I’m now the Collection Development Coordinator, and I think I have the best job in the Library.

Over the past couple of years, I’ve had the privilege of being part of the “Mildly Delirious Libraries” presentation at various professional conferences, including PLA, the PLA Spring Symposium, ALA, the Canadian Library Association, and FLA.

I have been accused of being promiscuous in my reading tastes. My favorite recreational reading is mysteries, but as far as I’m concerned, the whole library is a treasure trove.

Tina Maura Albee
The Book Goddess