Donald Witt

-- Story by Christine Carrillo, photo by Kent Treptow

HE IS

Expanding the role of a traditional librarian by helping the

public maneuver through the technology world instead of the literary

one.

NOTHING TRADITIONAL ABOUT IT

Donald Witt is a librarian for the Orange County Public Library.

Only he’s not your traditional librarian, never has been. Since he

started his work for the county’s library system two years ago, he

has specialized in technology services.

The difference between his role as a librarian at the Technology

Branch in Costa Mesa and a librarian at the other branches throughout

Orange County, is the computer.

“It’s the emphasis on online services and computer services, the

Internet and the World Wide Web,” Witt said. “Our goal here, our

mandate, is to provide everything we can for our users online.”

The branch, which has only a limited collection of

technology-related books and magazines, children’s and adult’s

paperbacks, bestsellers and a complete collection of local and

regional newspapers, offers a variety of computer-based services.

A WIDE, WIDE WORLD

Surrounded by a number of high-speed bandwidth computer work

stations providing Internet access, online public library catalogs

and Microsoft Office work stations, Witt has an opportunity to

provide services many other librarians can’t.

“I don’t think I could quantify it in one moment,” he said. “I’m

here working in this kind of job because I like all the different,

colorful people that you meet during the day and this whole idea of

having the world at your fingertips and the challenge of finding it

and giving it to the people is very gratifying.”

ENJOYING THE CHALLENGES

Working closely with the public, one of the duties of a

traditional librarian, is a job that Witt continues to perform and

continues to consider a challenge.

“The people are the major challenge here,” he said. “I like to

think I have, that we all have, a real service attitude. You have to

be a real people person and be really flexible ....You have to be

able to change your demeanor very rapidly.”

While Witt enjoys the challenge of adapting to the diverse public

he serves, he also enjoys the challenge of having to search the Web

himself to help his patrons. For Witt, his role and the role of the

technology branch is a role of service.

“I’d like to think this is a branch that’s evolving, not just

static,” he said. “Our objective is not to maximize profit, it’s to

maximize service.”