Reference librarian starts new chapter
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

ANSWER WIZARD—Nadia Dagher is hanging up the phone and retiring after answering more questions than she can count at the Thousand Oaks Library reference desk. She’s been with the library since before its official opening. She made decisions that led to the library’s success as one of the highest volume libraries of its size in the entire United States.

It might be hard for some to imagine a library without DVDs, books on tape and computers.

But in 1969, when Nadia Dagher graduated from the University of Oregon with a master’s degree in library science, libraries mostly provided just books, magazines and newspapers.

If that sounds hard to believe, try to comprehend this: The only way to find where these paper items were located was by using the now obsolete card catalog. The catalog was a piece of furniture with tiny drawers filled with note cards printed with titles, authors and something called the Dewey Decimal System. Highly trained librarians like Dagher knew how to use this system better than Harry Potter knows magic.

Last month, the division manager over adults’ and children’s services and collection management retired after more than 30 years of library service.

“She is a wealth of wisdom and has helped our library grow into one of the highest volume libraries in the nation,” said Jana Covell, an associate analyst with the city of Thousand Oaks.

Dagher began serving Thousand Oaks library patrons when the city only had a tiny branch run by Ventura County in a small building that still stands on Wilbur Road. In November 1981 she moved into the current Thousand Oaks Library building on Janss Road, before the facility actually opened. Workers were still putting the final touches on it as the community greatly anticipated its opening, Dagher said.

“When it first opened, people really loved it, and the community’s big support has continued,” she said. “Thousand Oaks has educated, heavy library users who appreciate the resources available for them.”

Since 1982, the Thousand Oaks Library, now called the Grant R. Brimhall Library after the former city manager, has one of the nation’s highest volumes of materials checked out annually. That amount includes the circulation of 277,816 pieces of material and 596,179 in-person visits in 2005.

“Nadia has been involved in the development of the Thousand Oaks Library since the very beginning. She’s been an integral part in the development of policy, procedures and collections over the years,” said Nancy Sevier, library deputy director.

While working at the library Dagher answered more questions than she can count, she said. She was behind the counter or on the other end of the phone as children asked what they should do for their science fair projects or parents wondered what books would be appropriate for their children to read.

One frustration for librarians has always been an overwhelming number of students seeking the same book at the same time for a school assignment, she said.

“I wish teachers would give more options,” she said.

Many of the questions adults asked Dagher were in reaction to what was on TV or in the news. Seniors often inquired about health issues, she said.

“Librarians are the best at finding information. We don’t know the answers to everything, but we know how to find it,” Dagher said.

No one should ever hesitate to seek information from a librarian, she said.

“There are no odd questions. If someone doesn’t know the answer, it is (still) a perfectly legitimate question,” she said.

The computers that replaced card catalogs have made a big impact on the library system in many ways. They quickly and easily provide massive amounts of information and have become a valuable tool.

Now patrons are also able to use the library at home to ask librarians questions through email or place books on hold, Dagher said.

An international reference librarian network puts a reference librarian on the phone around the clock, she said. People can call the Grant R. Brimhall Library to get answers night or day.

“They might be talking to a librarian in Australia or Maryland, but they will get someone who will respond,” she said.

Dagher said she has loved her job so much she is considering volunteering at the library during her retirement.

“At one time or another she has supervised every department in the library,” said Steve Brogden, library director. “She’s been one of our strongest supervisors and most valued employees.”