Date: Fri 10-Jul-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

snapshot-Beryl-Harrison

Full Text:

SNAPSHOT: Baryl Harrison

Occupation: I have been the reference librarian and associate director of the

Cyrenius Booth Library since 1990. Something new arises all the time here, the

changes in technology, the variety of questions from people who want

information. Librarians at heart believe that nothing can replace the printed

word, but it is important to understand technology and how it works. In the

fall, we plan to do more technology programs for people.

Family: I have been married to Jack for 34 years. We have two boys, Derek, who

married his sweetheart, Clare, a year and a half ago on New Year's Eve; and

Trent, the assistant manager at Eastern Mountain Sports in Manhattan.

Biggest Change in Town: The library reflects the biggest change in Newtown.

It's bigger and better, but still warm and friendly.

Hobbies: I am completely engrossed in my garden. Gardening gives both a sense

of immediate accomplishment as when one pulls up all the weeds, and a feeling

of long term satisfaction as when one makes a plot of earth grow and look

good. I'm in the garden for at least a couple of hours after work each night.

Pets: I have a menagerie and tend to accumulate animals. Sean, 11, and Bonnie,

4, two border collies, keep company with Augie, 3, a border collie mix.

One winter I rescued some feral cats from the library dumpster, and they lived

in my laundry room until they found their way into the heating system. They

meowed at different vents until my son captured them. Now they are permanent

guests in my second floor guest room.

Movies: Jeremiah Johnson with Robert Redford, a film set in the 1800s pitting

man against nature, lingers in the memory. I sometimes feel that man surviving

in the wilderness is like me in my garden. Besides, the cinematography was

beautiful.

Books: Growing up, I went through libraries. I read dog books, horse books,

and practically every series there was, Nancy Drew, The Dana Sisters, The

Bobsey Twins, that sort of thing. I've read different books at different

periods of my life, My Friend Flicka by Mary O'Hara as a child, and quick

fiction as an adult. I just finished Nathan's Run by John Gilstrap, a

convoluted story about a boy placed in a juvenile detention center by an uncle

greedy for his money.

Organizations: I entered several vegetables and flowers in the flower show for

the Newtown Garden Club, including asparagus and snow peas as well as Galahad,

a pale blue delphiniun, and Black Knight, a delphiniun as close to black as

possible in a flower. I also entered carnation gold yarrow and Wesser River, a

yarrow of variegated oranges and pinks.

Philosophy: Help others, people, animals, even plants.