Interview With RWA’s 2007 Librarian of the Year:
Valerie Luna
(From the July 2007 RWR)
1) Congratulations, Valerie. RWA authors will want to add your romance-friendly library to their mailing lists. Where can they send you congratulations or promotional items, and to whose attention?
They can mail things to me at: Spotswood Public Library, 548 Main St., Spotswood, New Jersey 08884, attention: Valerie Luna. You have my e-mail address, if anyone needs it.
2) Please tell us briefly about your professional journey and how long you’ve been in your current position.
I was always a reader who enjoyed libraries! I started out as volunteer. In 1982, I started working in my home town library, Milltown Public Library. This is a wonderful small-town library. Then in 1985, I started working at East Brunswick Public Library. This is a fantastic, large library. These were both part-time positions. In April 1995, Spotswood Public Library had a full-time position. It was just too good to pass up! And here we are 12 years later. I do not have a MLS. I have had the help of many wonderful librarians through the years. All my learning has been hands on. I maintain our romance paperback collection. I do a monthly book display and always try to get romance on it. I have had the pleasure of hosting some our local N.J. romance authors. I also belong to the wonderful East Brunswick Borders Romance Readers group for many years. What a fantastic group of romance readers. The group reads all the genres of romance. They are a big help. I hear what everyone is reading. What’s hot and what’s not. We read and discuss a historical and a contemporary romance every month. We’ve also had the pleasure of romance authors in our area coming to our meetings.
3) How and when did you discover romantic fiction?
I started reading romance in my 20s. My mom and grandma read romance. Grandma just loved the romance magazines. So in the family tradition, I read romance. They both have passed on. I miss discussing what I’m reading with them. I wish they were here to share this with me. So thanks Mom and Grandma for sharing the romance of turning the page.
4) How popular would you say romance fiction is at your library?
I would say romance is very popular at the Spotswood Library. It’s a small library but with a big heart. Romantic suspense has become very popular. Our readers are thirsty for those charming vampires! Our younger readers just adore chick-lit. For myself, I love those knights in shining armor, those daring buccaneers, and the great cowboys of our American West.
5) What changes, if any, have you made to the romance section of your library?
I have made two changes in our shelving of romance paperbacks:
1) When reading the shelves I found many wonderful paperbacks never went out. Beautiful covers and wonderful stories. So why? They were getting lost in the shuffle. So I set a top shelf aside to put all the new arrivals. I added a very pretty sign with butterflies. It reads “before we flutter bye to the shelves.” So now our romance readers know to look at that shelf first. It also helps when trying to find a new author.
2) From the time I started at Spotswood, the Harlequin Historicals were shelved by themselves. They had a very limited readership. Four people on a reserve list and that was pretty much it. They are so good, but it was like they were not there. So I tried shelving them with all the other romance paperbacks—now they go out. They are enjoyed by our readers. It’s a whole new world for these wonderful books!
6) What does it mean to be chosen as RWA’s Librarian of the Year?
I am so honored to be the recipient of the 2007 RWA Librarian of the Year Award. To be nominated by Terri Brisbin herself. Wow! I am truly blessed. I am able to read and have the pleasure of sharing this joy with others. Then, to receive this wonderful award for doing something I love. Now I ask you—does it get any better than this!??!!
