Today’s interview is with Rose Likins, a field study student from the Master of Library and Information Science Program at the University of Maryland, who is assisting in the Public Services Division at the Law Library of Congress.
Describe your background.
As the oldest of five children in an Air Force family, I had the great fortune of living all over the United States, growing up before my father retired and settled in the Tidewater region of Virginia. My father’s large Irish Catholic family around Pittsburgh provided a warm home base for us between postings and for holidays. My mother was Hawaiian and we loved the three years we lived on Oahu near her family. I am married and have two adult sons.
Photograph courtesy of Debbie Keysor
What is your academic/professional history?
I received my BA from the then Mary Washington College (now University of Mary Washington) in Fredericksburg, Virginia. I did a double major in International Affairs and Spanish. I joined the Foreign Service one month after graduation and spent 32 years with the State Department as a career diplomat. It was an honor to represent the United States in such diverse places as the city of Monterrey, in Mexico, Paraguay, Bulgaria, El Salvador and Peru. I served as a U.S. Ambassador to both El Salvador and Peru. I started my Master’s degree in Library Science at the University of Maryland in the summer of 2015 and expect to graduate in May, 2017.
How would you describe your job to other people?
I am doing a field study to meet the academic requirements of my MLS program at Maryland. I am supporting the Law Library by creating and editing metadata records for two different databases. Once completed, these projects will enable Library of Congress patrons to more easily search and locate the materials included in these databases. I also respond to reference questions submitted online through the “Ask a Librarian” service.
Why did you want to work at the Law Library of Congress?
Libraries have always been my haven. The Library of Congress is the ultimate library. I chose the Law Library to explore the career options available in special libraries and because I am interested in the law generally.
What’s something most of your co-workers do not know about you?
I am an avid knitter with an international stash of fiber! Peru was particularly good to my collection.
