Greta Gutierrez is a librarian and manager at the Midland Library branch located in east Portland. She spoke with us for this month’s constituent spotlight to reflect on her work at two branches of our library system, how she became a librarian, and how she sees our libraries adapting to serve their community for decades to come, both figuratively and literally with capital bond dollars being put to use to renovate and expand many great branches and build a new east county flagship library. Greta finds great fulfillment in working with people, meeting them where they are, and seeing how best to assist. As a research librarian, Greta beams when she gets a chance to help someone learn more about their favorite hobby or interest, whether that be disc golf, micro-brewing, knitting, or cosplay–she’s seen it all! Greta is immensely proud to work at Midland (my local branch!), serve its diverse and multi-generational patrons, and be adaptive to the changes in our world today. Librarians are truly a treasure to our community. Thank you, Greta, for your service and for talking with us! 

Check out our interview with Greta Gutierrez: 

How long have you lived in Multnomah County? How do you find community here in Portland?

I moved to Portland from Houston, Texas in October 2006, so over 15 years. Like many other people in Portland and Multnomah County, I found community and connection through my driving interests and hobbies. I had young kids when I moved here, so we connected with other families through sports, dance recitals, and storytime at the library. We also met our community through organizations that serve children with disabilities and help parents understand what resources are available for their child; my daughter has Down syndrome.
Working in libraries is such a huge part of who I am. I enjoy getting to know the people who visit our libraries regularly. Folks come to their library no matter what profession or background they hold. And we, librarians, aim to help them find texts on any hobby: knitting, cosplay, music, craft beer, etc. It is thrilling to partner with people as they pursue their interests through research, learning, and programs. People actively seek it out here!

Why did you become a librarian? What is your favorite part about being a librarian?

I became a librarian by convenience and accident thanks to a role model and professor in Library Sciences at University of Texas. I got a liberal arts degree in History at UT. When it came time to consider grad school, my mentor suggested that library sciences was a great opportunity for me. It seemed like a great career to pursue because it involved research and helping people. I got a degree as a fact and research librarian, with a focus on science and business. 

Once I got to libraries, everything became about the people. For some, it's about the books; for me, it's about the people. I meet people, hear about their stories and then we work together to get them the information they need. I've been a librarian since 1994. Meeting people and understanding people, learning from them, and helping connect them with things is what keeps me coming back to work.

You were first at Central Library and then transferred to Midland Library. What differences have you noticed between the two branches? 

Central Library is steeped in tradition and the grandeur of the architecture. It is the largest and has the most books. It's what people think of when they think of libraries. Like in a Thomas Hardy novel, it is a character itself. Central Library serves many people seeking community services, including assistance from an on-site resource counselor. Some library patrons might not have other places to go during the day. I am very proud of the work I did at Central to provide time and respite, anonymity, the ability to use the internet, even just peace and quiet for our patrons.

At Midland, the biggest difference is the diversity and vibrancy of those who visit the library. Mid-Multnomah County is a thriving, multigenerational, and diverse community that can feel like it doesn’t have a main spot to gather. With its large clock tower, Midland is recognizable on a street (SE 122nd Ave) that so many people pass by on car or bus. Many Midland Library staff are from the communities they serve, so Midland has collections, services and programs in multiple languages. This is a place where the staff resembles its patrons. Everyone who works here is so committed to being there and working with the community. Mid-county reminds me of the diversity of my hometown, Houston. It is a gift to serve this community.

Libraries are now a resource for providing Internet connectivity, cooling and warming spaces, and access to information. How are libraries changing to meet the needs of our communities? How do you see them changing further in the years ahead? 

It may not feel this way when people walk in, but we have been in a constant state of change ever since people started gathering information through the internet. How we access, store, and utilize tech has become drastically different from 1994 to now. It is really mind-boggling. As a librarian, I ask myself: how are we relevant to our community, now and in the future? And, what do we need to focus on? We are focusing on people before anything else. We’ve changed how we listen and engage - instead of thinking that we know what everyone needs - in order to tell us how to best serve. Our core values are to promote equity and center race. These values drive our work to connect mid-county residents with information and support.

At Midland, we are very excited to be one of the first libraries to receive voter-approved library bond funds to expand and redesign the branch. The redesign will include renovations on the inside to provide community space, flex spaces, the ability to showcase creativity & community art, and teen spaces— all of which are important to the future of libraries. There are so many smart, dedicated people working on this, on behalf of our community.

How did our County libraries step in to help fill in the gaps left by the pandemic? 

We always want to leap into service to fill gaps. Here are a few things we did across the library system in response to the pandemic and other needs in our community:

  • Opened our branches to be cooling shelters during the 2021 extreme heat event.
  • Served as Emergency Operations personnel at the start of the pandemic, distributing resources, translating communications, and more.  
  • Offered virtual services to answer patron questions via email. While libraries aren’t the same as calling 211, staff are a familiar face for people to go to with questions. We also conducted proactive outreach to our communities, especially non-English speaking communities and the aging population, to help connect them with resources, help, or shelter. 
  • Mailed books to people when in-person pickups were not an option. We recognized that many people felt isolated during the pandemic and found books a way to stay connected.
  • For youth and families, we offered virtual storytime. Although I didn’t play a huge role in this, Library Connect makes sure every student in the school district has a library card, so they can connect to online services/online help tutoring. 

What book would you recommend to the readers? 

I get my best recommendations from library employees and users. I rarely will recommend fiction, since my background is in research. Right now, my focus is gardening and planning hikes. One of my all time favorites is Oregon Trips and Trails, by William L. Sullivan. He writes all kinds of nature and hiking books about Oregon. This book was our go-to to find hikes to do with small children. He’s a role model to me in showing the natural beauty of the state where we live. We are within an hour to two hours of such beautiful places.

I’d also recommend Mira Jacob’s book, Good Talk, which was selected for the Everybody Reads 2022 Book selection.