UMass librarian shares his journey
Jennifer Reed, Collegian Correspondent
Issue date: 11/20/07 Section: News
James R. Kelly, the little-known humanities bibliographer at the University of Massachusetts, works on campus choosing books for students and faculty in subjects including English, communication, journalism and history.
Kelly works in room 1967 of the W.E.B. Du Bois Library to make sure faculty and students have the books and periodicals they need for their research and classwork.
Kelly majored in English at the State University of New York Brockport. During this time, he made three lifelong friends, whose pictures sit in a frame on his bookshelf. He spent one year in Sherwood Forest, England, studying abroad.
"It was the best year of my life, but don't tell my wife," said Kelly.
After graduation, Kelly was accepted to the University of Chicago graduate school to study 20th-century prose fiction. Only five out of 75 students graduated from the program. Kelly stayed in the program only one year, not realizing how competitive it was.
In 1973, Kelly moved back to Rochester, New York, where he worked as a law clerk. He also met the woman who would become his first wife. She suggested Kelly become a librarian.
"You like books," she said. "Ever consider being a librarian?"
Kelly took her advice and enrolled in the library school at SUNY Geneseo in the fall of 1973, earning his MLS degree in 1974.
Kelly had several jobs over the next 15 years. He worked at a Roman Catholic Seminary in Rochester for four years and the College of William and Mary from 1978 to 1980.
Kelly and his wife moved to Texas in 1980, where he enrolled in the Library Science Ph.D Program at the University of Texas. He then spent his last year in Texas as a proofreader for the Texas Legislative Council.
"Strangest job I've ever had … dull, ultimately," he said.
In 1983, his marriage broke up and Kelly moved to Washington D.C., where he catalogued for the University of Maryland. He worked there for five years, all the while trying to become a reference librarian.
Kelly works in room 1967 of the W.E.B. Du Bois Library to make sure faculty and students have the books and periodicals they need for their research and classwork.
Kelly majored in English at the State University of New York Brockport. During this time, he made three lifelong friends, whose pictures sit in a frame on his bookshelf. He spent one year in Sherwood Forest, England, studying abroad.
"It was the best year of my life, but don't tell my wife," said Kelly.
After graduation, Kelly was accepted to the University of Chicago graduate school to study 20th-century prose fiction. Only five out of 75 students graduated from the program. Kelly stayed in the program only one year, not realizing how competitive it was.
In 1973, Kelly moved back to Rochester, New York, where he worked as a law clerk. He also met the woman who would become his first wife. She suggested Kelly become a librarian.
"You like books," she said. "Ever consider being a librarian?"
Kelly took her advice and enrolled in the library school at SUNY Geneseo in the fall of 1973, earning his MLS degree in 1974.
Kelly had several jobs over the next 15 years. He worked at a Roman Catholic Seminary in Rochester for four years and the College of William and Mary from 1978 to 1980.
Kelly and his wife moved to Texas in 1980, where he enrolled in the Library Science Ph.D Program at the University of Texas. He then spent his last year in Texas as a proofreader for the Texas Legislative Council.
"Strangest job I've ever had … dull, ultimately," he said.
In 1983, his marriage broke up and Kelly moved to Washington D.C., where he catalogued for the University of Maryland. He worked there for five years, all the while trying to become a reference librarian.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
madeleine charney
posted 11/20/07 @ 10:37 AM EST
Thank you for helping illuminate the story of a librarian (and Jim Kelly is a crackerjack example!!!). Often our work is not clearly understood by those on the "outside. (Continued…)
Barbara Stewart
posted 11/27/07 @ 2:40 PM EST
Thanks for the great article on my friend and colleague, Jim Kelly. However, I must beg to differ on your choice of the term "little-known" to describe him. (Continued…)
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