Page 10 - 2019_20 CRDL Winter

staff spotlight

Meet Tony Vincent, Faith Johnston Memorial Branch Manager

Tony Vincent is the Branch Manager at our Faith Johnston Me-
morial Branch. As Branch Manager, Tony assists patrons, main-
tains the building and grounds and tends to various small town
happenings. Read our interview with Tony to see what experi-
ences he brings with him to Chippewa River District Library.

What did you do before you came to the library?
I worked in a restaurant where I was a dishwasher, busboy,
and cook. When I was a student at Central Michigan University
I started working at the Park Library on campus in the govern-
ment documents department. I have worked in libraries ever
since.

When did you start at the library and what jobs
have you held here?
I started at the library around 2001 and have worked in a number of positions. I’ve been a page,
a computer page, a substitute librarian at every branch, assisted a number of other positions
and I am now the branch manager at the Faith Johnston Memorial Library branch in Rosebush.

What do you do in your current position?
I help patrons find materials, check out and check in books, shelve books, maintain the build-
ing and grounds, and a number of other duties as needed. I help a lot of people with reference
questions and finding information.

Because Rosebush is such a small town, I end up doing a lot of different things in the commu-
nity. I have helped people with their cars when they had trouble in front of the library and I have
assisted people from out of town who are doing genealogy research find the local cemeteries.
I really don’t know what will happen from day to day. Once I had to help chase a horse that ran
away from the library and another time I helped someone pull a kitten out of their engine block.
(The kitten was unharmed!)

What do you enjoy doing outside of the library?
My biggest hobby is probably music. I dabble on a few instruments and have sat in with a few
groups. I go to the local music festivals and workshops when I can. I have met a lot of interest-
ing people at those. I exercise quite a bit. I enjoy taking online classes and I enjoy reading a
lot. (Big surprise for someone who works in a library!) Otherwise, I spend time with friends and
family.

10 WINTER 2019 | 2020 www.crdl.org