Felicia Willis Interview

Project:  PGCMLS Oral History Project
Chapter: Felicia Willis Interview
Date: Dec 12, 2023
Participants: 
Interviewer: Hannah Erickson. 
Interviewee: Felicia Willis 

• 00:00 Hannah: Today is December 12th, 2023, at the Hyattsville Branch Library of the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System. My name is Hannah Erickson, Librarian II, and I'm here with Felicia Willis, Circulation Supervisor III, Beltsville Branch. We are recording an interview with Felicia as part of the PGCMLS Oral History Project.
• 00:25 Hannah: Hi Felicia, could you introduce yourself?
• 00:30 Felicia: Hi. Yes, my name is Felicia Willis. I'm the Circulation Supervisor III at the Beltsville Branch.
• 00:37 Hannah:  Thanks. We're really glad to have you here with us today. Could you tell us, how did you first come to work at PGCMLS?
• 00:45 Felicia: Well, when I was in high school, they had a summer youth program. And so I was saying, hey, let me try to make some money. So I applied for it and I was accepted. And that's how I started.
• 01:00 Hannah:  So some of this overlaps a little bit with what you just answered, but could you tell us about your early experience working in libraries? What position or positions have you held in the past?

• 01:11 Felicia:  Well, I always thought that libraries was a safe place for children. I would shelve books, work at the desk, and talk to customers. I only worked three days a week. Customers always wanted to know what books I read, and they would come back asking me because I always wanted to know and they would come back asking me because I always read the urban and juicy books. Then that's when I met some beautiful, helpful, friendly, and pleasant ladies. And after that, I formed a special bond with them. I started off as a page working part-time. Then a position came up for a building and groundskeeper and I applied for that. Next, I applied for a Circulation Assistant. And then after that, I applied for a Circulation Assistant II. Last but not least, I applied for the Circulation Supervisor. But little that you all know that you don't know is that Mr. Edward Talbert was a Tuskegee Airman who worked for the Hyattsville Branch who actually hired me.

• 2:10 Hannah: Oh wow, I had no idea.
• 2:11 Felicia:  Yes, yes. I just enjoyed, you know, I just enjoyed working here when I was younger. It was really a place where you meet a lot of fantastic people, not just people that you meet as customers, but also the staff.

• 2:29 Hannah:  Have you worked at a variety of different branches? I know you're at the Beltsville branch now and have been there for a while.

• 2:36 Felicia:  Can you repeat that?
• 2:37 Hannah:  Sorry, have you worked at a number of different branches or?
• 2:41 Felicia: Yes, I started off at the Fairmount Heights branch. Then I went to the Bladensburg branch. Then I went to Hyattsville and then last, Beltsville.
• 2:51 Hannah:  So you've been around the library?
• 2:52 Felicia:  Yes, yes.
• 2:53 Hannah: A lot of different communities.
• 2:55 Felicia: Yes.
• 2:56 Hannah:  How long have you been at the Beltsville Branch?
• 2:58 Felicia: 35 years.
• 2:59 Hannah:  Oh wow. Can you tell us what it means for you to work in a public library?

• 3:07 Felicia:  I enjoy helping library customers by telling them all about the new books, the programs and homework help for kids because nowadays this homework parents can't help, so we do have homework help at the library. The interaction with the public can be very clarifying. I let the customers know that the library has a lot of free resources and I want the community to know that this is a place to be. The library has it going on because everything is free with the library. So I enjoy it so I want my customers to enjoy it as well.

• 3:39 Hannah  In your perspective, what makes the PGCMLS libraries different from other libraries?

• 3:49 Felicia:  Well, Hannah, I've been to libraries in many different countries and counties and PGCMLS makes a difference in our communities. We have a lot of free online resources and other libraries around the world. They don't have what we have. This is why we're always getting people who apply for library cards online that their county doesn't offer what we offer but PGCMLS offer everything for free. And when I went to the Bahamas and when I went to Miami, they do not have what we have. So I'm really appreciative to what the PGCMLS has to offer to our community.
•  04:26 Hannah: I do think that that's probably a hobby of most library workers. When you go someplace, whether you're on vacation or business, you're checking out the libraries in other places and just mentally comparing them to the one you work at.  You can’t help yourself. I know I do.

• 04:41 Felicia:  Absolutely.

• 04:45 Hannah: If someone is interested in working in a public library, what would you say to encourage them to start a career in public libraries?
• 04:54 Felicia: I would say go for it. It's an excellent place to work. It's easy and it has great benefits. And you get to meet a lot of interesting people. Throughout my career, I've met doctors, lawyers, school teachers, priests, you name it, you meet it because everybody needs the library at some time or ever in their life. So I think it's the best place ever for anybody who wants to start a career here at the library system. It's an awesome place. And again, you meet gratifying customers as well as staff members.

• 05:31 Hannah: Switching tacks a bit, what is the most challenging aspect to working in circulation?

• 05:39 Felicia: Well, Hannah, when customers come to the library and they find out that they owe money for materials, nobody wants to pay even for a lost or damaged item. Also, the staff also wants to avoid dealing with it also. But they always call the supervisor and the supervisor always handles the situation. And I always tell my staff, if the ball is in your court, you deal with it. But with the ball put in my court, I'm gonna deal with it. I'm gonna do what's best for the customer. But I think that's the most challenging thing because a lot of times people don't like conflict and they don't like to deal with it. But as a supervisor, you have to deal with all aspects of your job.

• 06:20 Hannah:  Can you tell us about a special memory or anecdote of your work over the years?
• 06:27 Felicia:  Yes, a customer of mine is by the name Ms. Chloe. Her husband had dropped off her books in the book drop and one of the books had $350 dollars as a bookmark. She was going on a trip and her husband had took the wrong books. So that day I got the book drop and I saw the money in the book and I was like, oh my goodness. So I immediately looked up the customer, called her and let her know. Little did I know she was at the door already before we opened. And I was like, are you looking for something? And she's like, yes, but she never said what it was. And I was like, I handed her $350. I said, would this be it? And she was like, I love you. She said, because anybody else would probably kept the money. But you know, I was always taught at a young age, never steal, never take nothing that's not yours. And after that, she bought me a fruit tray and she bought me lunch for two days.

• 07:23 Hannah:  No, that’s. You would miss that as an expensive bookmark.

• 07:28 Felicia: Absolutely, absolutely.
• 07:29 Hannah: I bet she really appreciated you being honest?
• 07:32 Felicia: Yes, yes, yes. You get your blessings by doing the right thing. And that's what my parents always taught us. And it didn't matter. I mean, I worked, so why would I take something from somebody else, you know?

• 07:44 Hannah:  Yeah, sounds like you made her day. Can you, with a word or a short sentence or phrase, describe the PGCMLS libraries?

• 07:56 Felicia:  It's the most incredible place that I've ever worked. This is actually my first job. You know, again, I started out young and I've had no qualms about it. I enjoy what I do, I'm passionate. And I just think, you know, everybody will feel like I feel. It's a great place to work.

• 08:19 Hannah: In your opinion, what makes public libraries important in our community?
• 08:24 Felicia:  Well, libraries are the only public places where people can find trusted information, communities, and connections to borrow books and laptops. They provide countless resources such as educational materials, training, and courses. You know, LinkedIn courses has a lot of things on there that you can use in everyday life. And so it's a place where you can go and get information and it's correct. Especially if you're getting something for your children that's in school and if a parent is not too sure what to do, this is where they come, to the library.

• 08:58 Hannah: Yeah, I'm a big fan of LinkedIn learning as well. I love showing it to customers. 
• 09:01 Felicia:Yes. 
• 09:02 Hannah: I'm usually pleasantly surprised that the topics that people learn about

• 09:07 Felicia: Well, it helped me through the pandemic so it was really good.
• 09:11 Hannah: Same. Same. What's a common misconception about library work?
• 09:18 Felicia: A lot of time, people think that we're volunteers. They don't think we actually get paid for what we do. And on the other hand, they think that we don't do nothing else but read all day, but that's far from the truth. We do a lot of outreach and programming, training, teaching, and you know, going to various meetings throughout the whole state of Maryland, but they have not a clue what we actually do.

• 09:44 Hannah: I think that's very true. So, if someone wants to be a circulation supervisor, what would be your advice to be successful at the job?

• 09:54 Felicia:  Know your craft. Study your craft. A leader accept responsibility and follow through with that responsibility. It is being knowledgeable what it takes to be a supervisor. A supervisor should do whatever it takes to be organized, communicative, and on top of their work, whether it's checking lists, notes, training, or webinars to help that person. Be a team player. Always ask questions if you don't know something and you don't know something, you don't know things all the time. Have- buddy up with some colleagues and find out if what you're doing is right. If not, ask them their opinion. That's what I think a supervisor should be, and you have to enjoy what you do. And if you don't enjoy it,then you shouldn't be a supervisor because you're dealing with people, different personalities, everybody is different. Just be a team player and do your best. Again, always get advice from another supervisor, and that's what I did. I have to say that Ms. Lottie Keyes and Ms. Carol Alcone were supervisors here at the Hyattsville branch, and they was phenomenal. They taught me to know the ins and out of my job, and that's what I tried to do for the past 35 years.

• 11:01 Hannah: Those were your, what did you say those were your?

• 11:04 Felicia: My first two, yes, and my first two supervisor in the circulation assistant position.

• 11:13 Hannah: Is there anything that we didn't ask you about today that you wanted to share, some relevant experience we didn't get to?

• 11:21 Felicia:  Yes, Hannah. My anniversary is April the 19th. I started back in 1982, which will be totaling 42 years next year. I have worked for the PGCMLS, and I'm a dynamic supervisor. This has nothing to do with being an enforcer or dictator, but more with knowing the entire operation, taking pride in my work, and ensuring my team is trained and working together. Anyone who knows me, knows that I take my job very seriously, but never too serious to laugh throughout the day, especially if I have some chocolate, and care for my customers who made my job worth it. I have genuinely enjoyed serving my customers and working with some phenomenal colleagues. Also working with a group of talented circulation supervisors has been a pleasure. The next phase of my life will be full of growth and other opportunities. Thank you for listening to me when seeking guidance, inspiration, encouragement, and most importantly, for being a part of my journey. If I could give you any words of encouragement today, I would tell you, always be open to change. This system has changed tremendously. Our library system will change as I look to the future and think that the forthcoming is [unknown]plan. I also leave you with this, coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success. So embrace it, love what you do, and do it with a smile. I thank the PGCMLS library system for the 42 incredible years. There's no better place than this library system.

• 12:52 Hannah:  Thank you so much for coming to talk with us today. Speaking for myself, I know that you've been an important part of my time at the library system, and it's been a privilege to work with you, and we'll be sorry to see you go, but I hope you'll enjoy your well-earned retirement.

• 13:11 Felicia:  Thank you. 
• 13:11 Hannah: Hope you won't be a stranger.
•  12:12 Felicia: No, I definitely won't. I have grandkids, so I'll be back. Thank you so much for this interview, Hannah.