Betsy Busa: Library Mom

Betsy Busa is the Circulation Associate and Student Worker Coordinator at Rolvaag Memorial Library. What does that entail? Quite a lot, in fact! One of Betsy's responsibilities is to try to see that the Rolvaag collection is kept in order —and that's a lot of work. It's all the little things Betsy does in circulation that helps to enable our patrons to find the items they need, in the places where they ought to be, and in the shape they ought to be in. Betsy believes that being able to find an item is paramount in libraries, saying, “if patrons can't find it, then we might as well not even own it.”

Betsy, an Ole grad, has been working at St. Olaf for 31 years. Before Betsy came back to work at the library in 1975, she spent three years in the Peace Corps, and worked in public schools in the Philipines, teaching ESL students. Libraries were a lot different in 1975. For one thing, everything was on paper. Patrons had paper cards, people had to sign them, and they were stored amongst mountains of files. Betsy recalls the gradual move to a computer system, and she admits to being a bit skeptical at first. But over the years, Betsy grew to appreciate how automated systems “speeded things up, and provided improved access to the collection.”

When it comes to the future of libraries, Betsy has a no-nonsense outlook, and believes “you can't eliminate the basics.” Giving great service to patrons and making sure they can find what they need will always be essential. Indeed, considering Betsy's passion for service, it's no wonder both students and staff affectionately call her their “Library Mom.”