Interview with New Contributing Editor, Aimee Fifarek

Purpose–To introduce a new Contributing Editor, who will cover the Public Library Beat. She has scout‐like instincts offering new programs and means of delivering information and communicating with users. Thinking about constant improvement and needed changes, she also has to anticipate what the next decade and even stretching the future to 15 years out will demand of library resources to meet expectations in an era best described as “dealing with ambivalence and coping with change”. Design/methodology/approach–The article is in the form of an interview. Findings–High energy, huge commitment, service oriented, staying focused, remaining relevant come to mind in describing the subject of this interview. Adjectives and descriptors pour out like curious, collaborative, innovative, willing to try and big picture are apparent as the interview unveils itself. Practical implications–This interview with a Systems Librarian in a Public Library demystifies the images of public librarianship and demonstrates how forward thinking and progressive the staff there must be to constantly justify themselves as a recipient of public funds. With constant population shifts and responding to new information formats, the challenges are endless, yet the rewards seem to be many and personally significant. Likely outcomes include the great new coverage public libraries will get in future issues. Originality/Value–Shanes the news of a new editor.