Five on Friday

Featuring Kathy Boyens, director of library and resource center

1. What do you enjoy most about your job?
Working with just great people (Olivet faculty and staff are the best in the world!), helping students and learning something new every day. Library work can be challenging because of the many changes - due especially to constantly changing technology - but at least you can never complain about being bored!

2. What's one book you've read recently that you would recommend to others?
Actually, there are two. One is a children's or young adult novel called Wednesday Wars, written by Gary Schmidt, an author and professor at Calvin College who visited Olivet in late March. Not only is the story engaging, but many of the characters demonstrate a great deal of moral courage. The other recommendation is a book of short stories (not all are so short!) by Pulitzer Prize-winning Jhumpa Lahiri called Unaccustomed Earth. While she describes lives caught between cultures of India and the U.S., her stories about families and relationships resonate with readers of any cultural background.

3. What are your thoughts about the Kindle?
Very cool - I'm enjoying mine tremendously. It's convenient and easy to read, but also dangerous, because it's so easy to download more e-books with just one click on Amazon!

4. Outside of work you serve as music director at your church. Why are you involved in this ministry?
It must just be ingrained in me. My father was a pastor and my mother was the church organist and children's choir director for many years. It's truly a spiritual experience to be able to lead a congregation in worshiping God through music.

5. What advice would you give the Class of 2010?
Be true to who you really are and, at the same time, be open to new ideas and new experiences. In trying something new, you learn more about yourself and others - and you may just uncover a hidden talent or passion!