Stephen Miller right at home at Little Falls Carnegie Library
Everyday People
LITTLE FALLS - Being a librarian is in Stephen Miller's blood.
Miller, branch manager at the Little Falls Carnegie Library since 2005, said it seems that he has been a librarian for 10,000 years.
"I've gone to libraries all my life," said Miller. "My mother took us to the library as children in my hometown of Howell, Mich. It's a rural town, much like Little Falls. When I came here, drove into town, the city is so intact and the library is gorgeous. This is a jewel of all libraries. Most Carnegie libraries were Greek revival built ... This one is a craftsman style building, unique for Carnegie libraries."
Miller, 57, of Browerville, could have talked all day about the Carnegie Library in Little Falls, the beauty of its architectural history and its seamless addition, but most of all about the contents of the library. The library has a teen room that looks more like a book store, with high tables and chairs and books displayed on wooden racks and shelves. There also is a children's area and adult section.
Stephen Miller, branch manager at the Little Falls Carnegie Library, Thursday posed in the adult book section at the library. Miller has been a librarian at the library since July 2005.
Brainerd Dispatch/Jennifer Stockinger
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Miller said going to the library as a child was a highlight for his family. He said the home he grew up in was always full of books. Miller said when he was in second or third grade, a substitute teacher asked the students what book they wanted to read. Miller said he was shy so he didn't tell the teacher what book he wanted to read. He said the teacher did not know him and picked out, "Steve the Steam Shovel."
"I was way beyond that book," said Miller. "It was one of those moments (that led me to this field.) I wanted to read 'Iliad,' one of the most epic poems ever written by Homer."
Miller said it was Mrs. Illinick, who worked at the Michigan library, who inspired him when he was in high school to become a librarian.
"She was always fascinated with stuff I was looking up," said Miller. "She showed me how to use the library and she took a satisfaction with helping me."
Stephen Miller
Favorite book: Lord of the Rings.
Favorite author: J.R.R. Tolkien.
First book your parents read to you: Fairy tales or Mother Goose.
If you were a crayon, what color would you be: White, because it makes the other colors brighter.
Favorite movie: The Searchers with John Wayne.
Current popular book at the library: For adult's, Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol; for children's, Rick Riordan's The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians.)
Oddest request from a customer at the library: A request that stunned me and encouraged me was from a boy who asked me how long it would take to dig through the earth. Well you know that is not possible, but for fun I thought what if the earth was all dirt, how long would it take? We went through a reference book on tools and found out how much dirt would fit on a shovel, measured around the boy to see how big the hole would have to be for him to dig through the earth and then we found out how thick the earth was. The kid was so intrigued and his father was there too and we all had fun figuring it out together ... I don't remember the answer, it was a long time ago.
Memorable incident at library: A girl, probably 10, came in with a sheet of questions to answer for her homework. She signed up for the Internet and started searching for the answers. I could see she was getting frustrated so I asked if she needed help. I spent five minutes showing her some reference books ... In about a half-hour's time she had completed her assignment, and she was totally stoked from using books. She said, 'This is totally cool! It's like a treasure hunt!' A few days later she came in with her mom. Her mom was beaming and the girl told me that she won a prize for having all the answers. It was a great moment.
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Various circumstances also led Miller into the library field. He was living in Austin, Texas, and he needed a job. There was an opening at the library to stack books on the shelves and he applied and landed the job. He was 20 at the time.
"In the first week I stopped while I was working and said to myself, 'I know how to do this.' I was having an epiphany while watching the people work in the different rooms. I know this job and I worked at this library for nine years and worked my way up to a reference assistant."
Miller worked at various libraries after that in Texas, California and Minnesota. Miller was working at the library in Anoka before taking his current position in Little Falls. He was looking for a management position.
Miller has a staff of six and runs the six-day operation at the library that is part of the Great River Regional Library. Miller reads for "Family Storytime" every Tuesday from 11-11:30 a.m. to children ages 2-7. There are various programs that run throughout the year and recent programs include: Learning how to dress up holiday letters using Word 2007 will be from 4-5 p.m. Wednesday; "Big Guy, Little Guy Build It" from 1-2 p.m. Saturday for children ages 3-7; "Adventure Hour," 3:30-4:30 p.m. Thursdays starting Oct. 22 for ages 8-12; and game day will be from 1-2:30 p.m. Nov. 14 for all ages.
Miller also hosts library programs at the senior center and at assisted living and nursing home facilities. He said the library also draws experts to the community to offer programs on various topics.
The average daily attendance at the library is 1,500 a week. Miller said one of the busiest times is the first few weeks of the summer reading program.
Miller said one of the biggest challenges at the library is having enough hours in the day to get things done. And funding is always an issue, but Miller said he is grateful to the Friends of the Carnegie Library group and the city for its contributions.
Miller and his wife, Jenna, have five children: Hannah, 9, Willow, 7, Leo, 5, Vera, 3, and Jasper, 1.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.