Searching for Materials in Rubenstein Library

Name: Elizabeth DunnPosition: Librarian, Duke Libraries Research ServicesYears at Duke: 26 

What I do at Duke: I answer a lot of questions from people on campus and all over the world about materials we have. They include people doing work for college, graduate programs or researching books or family genealogy. For example, I recently tried to find things related to discriminatory housing and real estate practices in Durham. I also present carefully selected print and manuscript sources to Duke classes so they will have an idea which of our resources might be useful in their research projects.  

If I had $5 million, I would: Give most of it away. I love supporting educational institutions, including Duke Libraries because I think we do amazing work. I am also a huge fan of NPR. In the past I’ve done work with Urban Ministries in Durham and would love to help them financially. I would also like to help Latino and other immigrants get oriented in Durham. There are so many good things you could do with $5 million!

My first ever job: Working in my father’s office in Huntsville, Alabama during summers in high school in the early 1970s. He was an obstetrician/gynecologist with a private practice. I got to answer the phone, make appointments and file lab reports. It taught me about medicine and the importance of confidentiality. I was 15 or 16, so it was eye opening in many ways.

If someone wanted to start a conversation with me they should ask me about: How to live a good life. I’m kind of an old hippie. As a teen I read a lot about Henry David Thoreau and Gandhi and  others who thought deeply about what it means to be moral and the value or lack of value of material goods. It seems to me that interpersonal relationships, a sense of community, meaningful work, and beauty (aesthetic and natural) are all key to happiness. 

The best advice I ever received: After agonizing for weeks over a very difficult life decision, I asked my psychiatrist husband, ‘What do you think I want to do?’ His response: ‘Which way would guilt push you? That would be the wrong way.’ I have shared that with many people facing difficult choices over more than 25 years, and it never fails to clarify their thinking, as it did mine. 

What I love about Duke: The campus is beautiful and I’m often reminded of that when I’m coming into work, preoccupied withwhat the day holds for me, and see the excited visitors snapping pictures of the Chapel. The intellectual atmosphere is also wonderful. I have access to the incredible library resources. In addition to using them in my work, I frequently use the book collections and subscription databases to pursue personal interests.

An interesting/memorable day at work for me:  My colleague Kate Collins and I helped Cokie Roberts with reproductions and information to help with her research for her recent book, Capital Dames.  It’s what we do all the time, but Cokie asked that Kate and I have special reserved seats at her speaking event. There we were with President Brodhead, Mike Schoenfeld and Deborah Jakubs and we were recognized by both Deborah and Cokie. It was so gracious and kind. We don’t do our work for recognition, but it was very gratifying.