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.”
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.