This week, I interviewed Anthony Edwards, who works at night at the Dulaney-Browne Library as a circulation technician.
Anthony is a helpful and enthusiastic librarian that students adore, but his interests reach far beyond books. Outside of his job, Anthony especially enjoys hiking and playing his drums.
Q: Hey, Anthony! Can I ask you some questions for a newspaper feature article?
A: Oh, geez, everyone is going to think I’m weird. Sure thing!
Q: How did you start working at the library?
A: It was July 2014. I saw job on the website. I applied. Two weeks later, I had the job. I get to do two of my favorite things: work at night and people.
Q: What do you do before work every day?
A: I come to work at 3, so before that, I like to ride my bike, work in the garden, and play the drums for about an hour each day.
Q: Do you play drums in a band?
A: No, I play with my friend Matt. We can’t get hired because we’re too weird. We mostly play progressive jazz rock with dark sarcastic lyrics. Half of our songs are just making fun of people. Currently, we’re working on a rock opera about Oklahoma. It’s quite irreverent.
Q: What is your favorite book?
A: Anything by H.P Lovecraft. He was a horror writer in the early 1900s. One of my favorites, At the Mountains of Madness, is about arctic researchers who go to arctic circle and one by one get killed by a monster.
Q: If you had a week off with unlimited funds, what would you do?
A: I’d go to Death Valley and hike. I go twice a year – sometimes three times. Sometimes, I go by myself, but my girlfriend is coming with me on the next trip. On October 19, I’ll leave for six nights – five full days – of hiking. There are 684 places in the park that I want to get to. So farm I’ve done 194. The whole park takes up 5,219 square miles. I’m friends with 3 of the park rangers, and I’m hiking with one of them on my next trip! I’ve hiked when it’s 120°. No aches and pains whatsoever; it felt awesome.
Q: If you could build anything out of books, what would you build?
A: I’d make a 100 foot tall Joshua tree and put it in my backyard.
Q: If you could describe yourself in 3 words, what would they be?
A: Oh god, hang on…. Okay. Stubborn. Determined. Irreverent.
Q: If you could go into the past and tell yourself something, what would you say?
A: Go to Fossil Falls by Highway 395. It’s an ancient lakebed on the way to Death Valley. There are petroglyphs. I always look for petroglyphs when I go hiking.
Q: What advice do you have for students?
A: Do what you want. Don’t let anyone else tell you how to live your life, because they aren’t you. Question authority, and think for yourself.
Q: Are there any last thoughts you would like to add?
A: Frank Zappa rules. Everyone should listen to Frank Zappa. He released 78 albums before he died. I have all of them.
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