Member Spotlight - Jolie Duncan

Intellectual Freedom Committee

March 10, 2025

This week's spotlight is on Jolie Duncan. Jolie is the information services manager at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library. She has served on the ILA Awards Committee, the 2022 Conference Program Committee, and is currently a member of the ILA Intellectual Freedom Committee. 

We asked Jolie to answer a few professional and amusing questions. Continue reading to find out more about Jolie. 

How did you get your start in libraries?

When I graduated from undergrad with a degree in Political Science, I was looking for jobs in the non-profit sector. After several years of temp work at a lot of different companies, I decided to look at Master’s Degree programs. My mom mentioned that a friend’s son was in library school. In typical library student fashion, I started researching and learning all about the different programs and thought it would be a good fit. I was always drawn to the aspect of instruction, research, and helping people. My favorite class in library school was instructional design and legal reference.  And of course, I love the books!

Best advice you've received since starting your career in libraries?

Advice resonates differently depending on where I am at in my career.  When I was just starting in libraries, I worked with really experienced librarians. They emphasized, that “we aren’t saving lives here”. It is okay to slow down and remove some of the pressure.

Later in my career, someone told me whenever you start a new job reach out to others in your surrounding area in similar positions and build those connections. The connections I’ve made have been really valuable throughout my career and allowed me to create a strong support system.

Any advice to newcomers working in libraries? 

You are going to encounter situations that you never learned about in library school. Remain calm and have confidence in yourself. You will interact with all kinds of people going through a variety of emotions and situations. Their reactions are not about you.

Also, take every opportunity to widen your skill set. My managers gave me opportunities early in my career and even if I felt intimidated, I said yes. Yes to presenting, yes to handling the difficult customer, yes to applying for a job I felt underqualified for. All of these experiences added to my confidence to handle hard situations in the future.

When and why did you become a member of ILA?

I became a member of ILA as soon as I was hired full time at a library. My library paid for membership and encouraged participation. I was lucky to be able to attend conferences and present early in my career. I’ve been to almost every ILA conference in the last 12 years.

How has being a member of ILA helped you professionally? 

First, it is a great source of information and resources. You can stay up to date on issues facing your industry at a more local level. They also offer great continuing education opportunities. In recent years, I’ve taken advantage of the noon networks and make sure to read the newsletters.

Once I became involved in committee work, I was really able to expand my network and have more of an impact on our profession. I’ve worked with a variety of great librarians from all over the state and it is really beneficial to learn from them.

What is your proudest professional achievement to date?

When COVID hit in February of 2020, I was on maternity with my second child. I returned to work in March to chaos. During that time, I had to lead a staff of 30 people who were scared and worried while parenting a newborn and 4 year old at home and no childcare.

Looking back on that time, I am really proud at how I was able to maintain a sense of calm with my staff, even if everything felt out of control. The greatest compliments I got was when several of my staff members told me that they were grateful for how calm and steadfast I stayed during that time. I am proud of that, but I never want to go back there again!

Hardcover, paperback, e-reader, audiobook, or all?

Hardcover or paperback. I will do an audiobook from time to time but I am more into podcasts.

Favorite authors?

I will read everything from Kevin Kwan, Mary Kay Andrews and Sophie Kinsella. They are comfort reads for me.

If you were stuck on a deserted island, what five books would you want with you to pass the time until being rescued?

  • The Covenant of Water  by Abraham Verghese
  • The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
  • The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
  • Hatchet by Gary Paulson (that has to have some survival tips right?)
  • The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Cat or Dog?

Dog. My 17 year old beagle Max passed away recently. We are taking a break for now until we are ready to welcome a new dog into our home!

Favorite film, podcast, or television show? 

  • Podcast: The Daily and Mobituaries
  • TV Show: Friday Night Lights, Band of Brothers and Crash Landing on You (a K-drama)
  • Film: Christmas Vacation and It’s a Wonderful Life

One person you would like to meet, dead or alive why?

Oprah Winfrey. I watched her every day after school and learned about so many important topics. I started reading the books she selected for Oprah’s Book Club at 12 years old. I think her story is so inspirational and the stories she brought mainstream attention were impactful.

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