Jayanti Addleman is the librarian who leads the fiscal and strategic direction of the 18 branches of the Monterey County Free Libraries – from Bradley in the south to Pajaro in the north – and has since 2007. The system was established on August 6, 1912, the first branch in Greenfield. Addleman was born in New Delhi, India. Her father was a civilian attached to the Navy, so the family moved a lot – to Mumbai, to Kerala, to Tune – which made it harder to make friends, but taught her to keep her mind occupied. She attended English and Catholic schools. Fluent in Bengali and Hindi, she earned a degree in English in India, then when she moved to the States, in Library Sciences from San Jose State. She moved to Monterey County in 1987, began a family, and worked for a company writing “chapters” for Lexus Nexus and teaching database and online searches to libraries, which, back then, were her clients. Years later she got a job as the managing librarian of the Seaside library; two years after that, she was director of the system.
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Weekly: What is your history working in libraries?
Addelman: I’ve worked in public, in academic, in community college libraries. I was a volunteer librarian at Montessori School in Spreckels. I joined Salinas Public Library in 1987. I was a reference librarian, then I became head of information services. I love reference. I love the challenge of the hunt.
Where does the joy of the hunt come from?
I absolutely love math. I love any kind of logical searching, sequence, trying to find the pathway. The more difficult the search the more fun it is. It might sound strange for someone who loves working with people, but I’m very much in my head, an introvert.
Why did you want to work in the county libraries system?
It serves the poorest people in the county. There are language challenges. Distances. [People are] so far away from any information hub. Right now we’re focusing a lot on veterans. There are a lot of veterans coming back. Unemployment was a huge issue – let’s mobilize and serve those looking for jobs. Obamacare. In Greenfield, there’s a large Triqui community.
Do you have any overdue fine stories?
There was a young child in a foster home who was being moved nonstop. He loved his books but he kept losing them. He wanted to check books out. When he turned 18 he had huge overdue fines, but we said it was OK
How are you suited to lead the MCFL?
I’m very open to ideas and I’m very enthusiastic. My staff would say too enthusiastic. I never say no to a new idea. I’m not afraid of failure and I encourage the staff to not be afraid of it.
Why do Carmel, Monterey and Pacific Grove have independent libraries?
The Monterey Library is the oldest library in the state. It existed before the county [system]. Salinas Public Library, too. We were established by the Monterey County Act of 1911, which required the county provide libraries to communities that didn’t already have one. We used to serve Pacific Grove and Carmel, too.
Do people miss the card catalog?
Oh yes. Most of the places I worked we had it and had to phase it out. People now talk with great nostalgia about it.
How many library cards are issued?
Right now, we’re at 146,000.
The libraries are closed for the holidays. How can people keep using it?
You can go to our website [www.co.monterey.ca.us/library] and download e-books. You can download music through Freegal. You can stream movies through IndieFlix. It’s fun. We pay for it so the public doesn’t have to.
The Carmel Valley branch may have to move. What’s happening there?
Right now we’re talking to potential donors and buyers [of the building]. Our primary goal is uninterrupted service. We might have to rent and move quickly.
Describe your typical librarian.
Have you watched the [TNT show] The Librarians? There’s no one in our system who fits a type. We have a librarian who’s done two tours in Iraq. We have a bear hunter. Another raises Dobermanns. An ex-Army ranger. I’m surrounded by these really interesting people.
How do you see the role of the MCFL?
We’re the community center where you can get to know the community and build your life. That’s what we do best.