Witty banter punctuated the conversation between Josie Brockmann and Devon Smith as they hosted the Longmont Public Library’s “Are You Smarter Than a Librarian” online trivia night Jan. 11.
For example, Smith, adult services librarian, joked during a fourth round centered on participants’ knowledge of toys, that her “toys were dirt, sticks, tumbleweed and dead cockroaches.” While things were a bit punchier due to the nature of the programming, they shared such dialogue it a common mark of their working relationship and of their friendship. That was clear as technical issues interrupted a Zoom interview and jokes about a séance and “The Exorcist” made their way into the conversation.
Teresa Meyers, marketing coordinator for the library, said Smith is known for her humor. “I love and really value that Devon brings humor to everything she does,” she said.
Both Meyers and Pennie Howard-Burris, head of Adult Services, said Smith wears her heart on her sleeve. Additionally, Meyers said, “Devon’s specialty is readers’ advisory — that woman can find a book you’ll absolutely love, I don’t care who you are.”
Meyers and Howard-Burris said Brockmann, the library’s head of adult programming, is very creative and always willing to try something new. For example, when asked to do a podcast, not knowing much about it, she dove right in without hesitation.
“Josie has a manner of pulling you along with her enthusiasm for an idea,” Meyers said, “She’s not only creative, but really in touch with what usually resonates with our community.”
Their dedication to the community is clear when they describe what they love about hosting trivia nights.
“You know, you can only get their faces in the little window, and if they're smiling, that makes me feel really good and if they have somebody with them, like their kids, spouses, etc., that makes me happy to see,” Brockmann said.
Smith said she loves “giving somebody something to do on a Monday night during a pandemic as a fun way to bring the library into people's homes.”
She said she especially likes that the trivia nights, which continue Monday, March 8, April 5 and May 3, offer an opportunity for fun and companionship to those who are “isolated, at home alone, and who haven't had a real human interaction maybe in a while.”
While she loves that aspect of presenting trivia nights, she tends toward more of the behind-the-scenes work.
“I do have to say, probably my favorite part is in creating the questions,” she said.
In true librarian fashion, Smith relishes the learning piece. “I learned a lot. I mean, you know, majority of that stuff I didn't know,” she said.
Brockmann and Smith work collaboratively in all they do, Meyers said.
“They both really enjoy our patrons and enjoy getting ideas from our patrons,” she said.
Smith said she feels lucky to work at the library and with its patrons.
“I feel really sorry for people who have jobs that they hate. I definitely went into a profession that I enjoy a lot. I've always loved the libraries,” she said. “I grew up going to the library; that comes from parents who both read and valued education, freedom of thought, blah, blah. And so, I feel very at home in libraries. I don't feel like I'm getting up in the morning hating my job and forcing myself to go in.”
Her love of what she does and where she does it has been reinforced during the coronavirus pandemic.
“The city of Longmont itself is a wonderful entity to work for. They've really taken care of us during this pandemic. I never was in fear of being furloughed or losing my job. They were very open and transparent,” Smith said. “I just love the organization that I work for, the people that I work with are fantastic, probably the best group of people that I've had in my 20-plus years of working and I love being able to provide information for our patrons there.” She makes the commute, by choice, from Fort Collins to Longmont.
Brockmann, too, said she loves working for the library and how it opens doors to the world for its visitors.
“I appreciate what the library stands for. Its openness to all people. Just the freedom to use it without having to buy something or pay for something. I like being a part of that,” she said. “I like giving people access to the information that we have. I think libraries are full of people who are curious about the world and themselves and others and I like being part of that. I like helping people fulfill their curiosity and expand it. I like interacting with people and making them happy and putting a smile on their faces. Sometimes they treat us like we're superheroes.”
While they take some different approaches to trivia than their other work, Brockmann said, “We’d make great trivia partners.” When they put questions together, Smith heads toward trivia books and tries to mix questions on popular topics such as pop culture and entertainment and geography with sometimes harder, but not overly difficult items in other genres. The library staff gets a chance to check things out before questions go live.
Community members who would like to get to know these two dedicated, collaborative and fun librarians while testing their knowledge can do so at the next “Are You Smarter Than a Librarian” trivia night from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday. For more information and to register, click here.
