Meet Your Lane Library Staff: Boglarka Huddleston

What do you do at the library?

I am the manager of the Research & Instruction team at Lane. My team supports the education and research initiatives of Stanford Medicine. I also oversee the liaison program, and research data and literature review support services. 

What did you do before coming to Lane Library?

I was the Health Sciences & Assessment Librarian at Texas Christian University for over 8 years, and before that I worked at the University of Texas at Arlington as Instruction & Information Literacy Librarian. Librarianship is a second career for me – I was an LPC (licensed professional counselor) for 15 years. Burnout got to me and when I was looking for ideas of what to do in the second part of my life, my mentor suggested I look into becoming a librarian. Best decision I ever made. 

What are you most excited about in your new role?

I am excited about developing into the best manager I can be for my team and supporting them in  professional development efforts, and reaching short- and long-term goals. I also love that this position allows me to continue to actively participate in research consultations and instruction because those two activities are my favourite parts of being a librarian. They keep my brain and skills sharp.

How long have you worked at Lane?

As of July 31, 2023, it’s been 26 exciting, fun- and learning-filled days.

What do you do in your spare time?

We relocated from Texas for my job, so we have been learning to live the California-way. The weather here is amazing, so I spend a lot of time outdoors: going to the beach, biking, walking with the dog, etc. I love cooking and baking, because feeding people makes me happy. And the obligatory answer from a librarian: I love reading and alphabetizing things 😀.

Do you prefer . . .

Coffee or tea? Coffee. And more coffee. Yes, I am all about the fall flavours – pumpkin spice latte FTW!

Cats or dogs? Dogs. I have an Australian Shepherd, his name is Tank and he is 11ish years old. I found him half-dead on the side of the road 9 years ago and feel lucky that he decided to adopt us as his forever hoomans.

Candy or cake? Cake. Top 3: red velvet, chocolate, lemon, strawberry, mango cheesecake. Can we count tiramisu as cake? I have eaten cake for breakfast and I am not ashamed to admit it. 

Salty or sweet? Both, they complement each other. However, watching maple syrup crawl towards bacon gives me the heebie jeebies. 

Print or digital books? Mostly print. I stare at computers way too much already, so my eyes appreciate the break. That said, I like the convenience of digital when traveling. 

Nonfiction or fiction? Fiction, especially Nordic Noir – the colder and darker, the better. I do like nonfiction, but I am not good about knowing what I would enjoy reading – so I always welcome recommendations. 

Summer or winter? Since I am not in Texas anymore, it is definitely summer.