August 17, 2003 - Middleton Library: Rebecca VanDan decided to become a librarian after starting a library in Ngiwal, Palau when I worked in the Peace Corps
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August 17, 2003 - Middleton Library: Rebecca VanDan decided to become a librarian after starting a library in Ngiwal, Palau when I worked in the Peace Corps
Rebecca VanDan decided to become a librarian after starting a library in Ngiwal, Palau when I worked in the Peace Corps
Rebecca VanDan decided to become a librarian after starting a library in Ngiwal, Palau when I worked in the Peace Corps
This month we asked some questions of our Young Adult Services Librarian, Rebecca VanDan:
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
I'm from Alden, Illinois. It has a population of 200.
WHAT WAS YOUR HOMETOWN LIBRARY LIKE?
We didn't have a library in Alden, but we did go regularly to the Woodstock Library--which, to be members of, cost us $65 annually! The Woodstock library has expanded a lot recently, but when I was growing up it was pretty unappealing. There was no section for teens and it had a bleak, institutional feel to it. (That didn't keep me from spending most of my waking hours there, however!)
WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO BE A LIBRARIAN?
I decided to become a librarian after starting a library in Ngiwal, Palau when I worked in the Peace Corps. There were no bookstores in Palau, so I wrote grants and letters to everyone I could think of for book donations. The hardest part was convincing the boat drivers to take my boxes of books from the capital where the post office was to the village. The village kids were very enthusiastic, however! They offered to paint, build bookshelves, put cards in books….I was worried when I came back to the United States that library work wouldn't be as wonderful as my experience in Palau.
YOU JUST BOUGHT A NEW HOME--HOW DO YOU LIKE IT?
I love it! It is a vermilion brick house located in Cooksville (population 80). It was built in 1856 and it looks like it stepped out of a fairy tale. It's a lot of work, but, luckily, I've had a lot of help fixing it up.
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Story Source: Middleton Library
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Palau; Libraries
PCOL7287
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Hi kelbid, I was just browsing the web and found
your name so I thougt you were the one who leaved with my mom and dad. I just want to say Hi, how are you? oh I said Kelbid because everybody knows you by that name. By the way, my name is Nixon Yobech. congradulation on your new library!
hi kelbid..this rechelle takataro..i don't know if you still remember me but i was one of your student back in 1996..that time i was still 7th grade and you were the Librarian in Ngiwal Elementary School..you used to read us library books..hehe..i hope you still remember me..i'm originally from NGIWAL..i hope you can e-mail back to meeh..!
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By Kelbid Yobech (24-196-137-74.static.mad.wi.charter.com - 24.196.137.74) on Wednesday, June 02, 2004 - 10:16 am: Edit Post |
Hey Guys! My brother just sent me this link--I didn't know they had copied that old interview--how weird! Hey Rechelle, what is your email address now? Talked to Merublau fairly recently--she sounds good & sent me a picture of her daughter. What's news with you? Where are you now? Hi Nixon--say hi to Mirair & Yobech & McRay, Ben-Has, Benina & everyone!
Hi..Names is Tyler..just thought i drop a line to say hello to Kelbid and thank her for her sacrifice and her time in Ngiwal. From Ngiwal too..Went to school there while you were there..now I am in the Army deployed in Iraq..anyway, thank you for your time and take care..
Hey Kelbid, I hope you still remember me. This is Manda. It's funny how we still remember those times that you use to drew pictures of us and read to us everyday. I want to thank you for your time Kelbid, your cool!!! Take care & God Bless!!!!!!!
hey kelbid I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Koror in 1968-70 at Maris Stella school and worked with the library at the school. I saw your entry when I typed in Yobech Palau. I was looking for signs of my family in Ngermid, Satzki Yobech.
Beth
HI KELBID!!!!!!!!! HOW ARE YOU?...YOU PROBABLY DON'T REMEMBER ME BUT I USED TO GO TO SCHOOL AT NGIWAL..I REMEMBER YOU AS A LIBRARIAN. ANYWAYS GOD BLESS U AND E-MAIL BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;) WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!!
LUV;LORETTA.LEEROY
HI KELBID!!!!!!!!! HOW ARE YOU?...YOU PROBABLY DON'T REMEMBER ME BUT I USED TO GO TO SCHOOL AT NGIWAL..I REMEMBER YOU AS A LIBRARIAN. ANYWAYS GOD BLESS U AND E-MAIL BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;) WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!!
LUV;LORETTA.LEEROY
hi! im going to start a library in a small town in the province of aceh which was hit by the tsunami. im glad to have found this site. hope you can give me some ideas?