Spend a Day with a Library Worker: Monitor Mentor Jody Jones

Written by Mackenzie Manley, Content Specialist, Downtown Main Library 

A library is run by people working in many different roles. They’re all helping community members in wide-ranging ways, from recommending books to connecting people to resources and more. Go inside the day-to-day lives of our staff with our series Spend a Day with a Library Worker.    

No day at the Norwood Branch is the same for Jody Jones, a Library Monitor Mentor. His workday depends on the needs of his community — meeting customers where they’re at when they walk through the branch’s doors.  

On more relaxed days, tasks might include receiving donations, keeping track of lost and found items, or surveilling the space for trash. Oftentimes, however, he says there is someone in need.  

“My strategy is to talk to people and see where they’re at. Often, it will be something tech related, but sometimes it’s materials. Sometimes, it’s life,” said Jody. “I figure it out from there: ‘What do you need? How can I help?’”  

While he isn’t always able to solve someone’s issue, Jody said that he’s usually able to help in some way, even if it’s small. That also comes with the understanding that each customer brings their outside-the-Library life in with them.  

“As long as you’re here [at the Library], we may not know the answer you’re looking for, but we’ll at least try to get there,” said Jody. “I feel like once people realize that they’re not being written off, as they may feel in the rest of the world, they start to soften. They start to let you in on some of the things going on. This place is really cool because when you really care about people, you get that returned.”  

Offering Tech Help Drop-Ins 

One way Jody serves the community is by offering tech help drop-ins. Having started as a Library Customer Advisor, when Jody moved to the Monitor Mentor position, he found that there was a need to fill a gap: Assisting customers struggling with technology woes. While the Library offers the option to make appointments with librarians, there is still more need.  

“The open tech help hours were great because that’s dedicated time and space every week for people to be able to stop in and receive some assistance,” said Jody. Whether that’s helping someone turn their phone on, learn how to text, or even backing up their personal music library, Jody is there to help guide customers of all ages to answers.  

“Monitor Mentor is relationship building,” said Jody. “It doesn’t matter the age of the individual — young, old, middle age. The Library is all about people and providing resources. My role really fulfills the people aspect.”  

Building Community Relationships 

Some Library Customers have become regulars, Jody said. In building those relationships, he gets to learn how to better provide individualized service. What makes his job fulfilling? Lighting up customers’ days.  

“The outside world is so incredibly difficult that when somebody can come to the Library and have the connotation of the Library be a positive — ‘I go there when I need a reset, when I need some peace, or when I need knowledge’— that’s everything to me,” said Jody, who also works as a musical artist outside of the Norwood Branch. His work at the Library helps give his art perspective on what truly matters: people. 

When asked about a moment that captures his job’s impact, Jody recalls helping a customer with a language barrier. The customer spoke Arabic and needed help acquiring documenting for immigration services. They communicated through apps and tools enabling Jody to get them the paperwork they needed.  

“One thing that we both had an understanding of was that the Library has your back. We are supporting you,” said Jody.  

Working with kids and teens is another aspect Jody loves about his work. After all, they’re the future, he said. Through his work, he hopes to show kids and teens coming to the Library that people care for them. He’s been able to see some customers go from being in their shells to greeting him with a “Hey, Jody!” as they walk in.  

“Operating on compassion allows people to feel like they matter, and that they’re tangible...I’m here for the people,” said Jody. “If I can allow you to feel like you matter, as you do, then I’m doing what I need to do.” 

Jody sums things up succinctly: “CHPL is where resources meet humanity.”  

Interested in working at the Library? Visit CHPL.org/jobs to view current job openings.