Bright and bubbly Rita Keene is one the first people you encounter when you come through the doors of Taylor Memorial Library. Usually found at the front desk, she has a wealth of information on any topic and if it’s not at her fingertips, she will happily find it for you. Rita is the User Experience Manager at TML, where she has hung her hat since her undergrad days at Centenary. 

We caught up with her recently to dispel the myth of the stereotypical librarian.

You have an interesting title, Library User Experience Manger. Tell us more about that.

Yes, my title is UX for short. I manage the user’s experience! Essentially, my job is to make sure everyone can find the information they need as easily as possible.

Beyond the “user experience,” what do you do as the UX?

I manage seven or eight students in the work-study program, and it is a blast every year! Getting to know our students, watching them thrive during their time at CU, and seeing them finish their degree is always heartwarming. 

The book displays in the lobby are entirely up to them. The students change them for monthly observances or weekly celebrations. 

February is Black History Month, March is Women’s History, and we recently had Transgender Awareness Week. It’s an excellent opportunity to highlight our physical collection and draw attention to books people might not know we have. Noelle, a sophomore, put up a fantastic display for Dinosaur Day. Even I didn’t realize we had so many books on dinosaurs!

You are a 2020 graduate of Centenary and you have always been associated with the TML. Tell us about that journey.

I began my college career at Sussex County Community College but soon found myself looking for a new experience. I was first drawn to Centenary for the education program because that was the path I was on. 

Once I began working at TML as a work-study, I thought about the person who drew me to education in the first place: my elementary school librarian. I realized that if I changed course slightly and became an English major, I could have it all—helping and interacting with students in an educational setting and working in a library!

Who were some of your memorable professors as an undergrad here at Centenary? And courses?

Klara Lutsky, Sharon Decker, and Patrick Maley. I absolutely adored these professors. They were dedicated to the students, brilliant in their field, and every time I found myself in their classrooms, I fell in love with literature all over again.

One of my top favorite courses was Major Author with Professor Robert Battistini. We covered Toni Morrison’s work, and the way Professor Battistini structured that class was so rewarding. We entered Morrison’s world, that’s how in-depth the discussions were. I’ve been obsessed with Morrison ever since. I own all her books!

Wow; a Covid graduation in 2020. What was that like?

Complicated! It was a little heartbreaking, too. I was the first person in my family to go to college, and I was going to be the first to walk and receive my diploma.

I remember submitting my final assignment as an undergraduate. It was for Professor Battinstini’s Theory & Literature class. I was outside on a picnic blanket, laptop in front of me, and I realized that once I hit ‘Submit,’ I’d be done. Under the sunshine, with the grass beneath me—that was my graduation. It was humble, and humbling, but I had to accept that just because there wouldn’t be a big ceremony with streamers and air horns and folding chairs doesn’t mean I didn’t accomplish my goals.

And then you found yourself working professionally at TML. Tell us how that happened?

One day I opened a handwritten letter from Colleen  Bain–who retired as University Archivist in 2023–telling me TML was looking for a library assistant. Colleen wasn’t there for my interview, but on my first official day at TML, she was the first person to greet me. It meant the world to me, especially since my time as a work-study was cut short by Covid and I graduated in 2020, so I never really got to say goodbye to anyone.

Colleen worked primarily in the Archive, which always fascinated me as a student. It might be the coolest part of the library. In the time that we worked together, she became my mentor, friend, and idol. She’s an incredibly brilliant woman who truly cares about this institution and preserving the history here. I try to emulate her Centenary pride every day.

Describe your best day at the library.

Arriving at work and chatting with my lovely coworkers. Going out to the Circulation Desk and seeing the work-study students. Helping and conversing with the campus community; that’s my best day at the library.

How has the library changed during your tenure here?

There was a café right in the lobby when I was a student. Greene’s Beans had a pop-up spot there, and it brought incredible traffic to the library. Professors would stop by between classes and run into students and chat or assist with assignments. Staff would walk through for a quick coffee and end up talking to librarians. These routines continued until the café closed down. The biggest difference is the foot traffic. We have our regular patrons still and great turnout for events!

On the other hand, now we have all this new artwork! Susan Van Alstyne, our library director, collaborated with  Professor Joe Coco, professor of art history, to display his paintings. So every month we have new art that brings conversation and inspiration to the library.

Can you describe a library’s importance to a college community in today’s digital world?

A library is so much more than books! Speaking of the campus community specifically, the library and the librarian’s sole purpose is to support the students, staff, and faculty. We are here to assist in any way we can, and we try to work together to engage in what this community needs. It’s a spot where all are welcome and encouraged to visit, whether it is to ask for an article, study, print, or simply sit down for a minute or 10 and be left alone.

The library is a welcoming spot that doesn’t ask anything of you. It’s rare to find yourself in a space where you don’t have to spend money, give something of yourself, and when you go to a library, you’re in a space curated to uplift and support you. In our digital world it’s important to remember that.

Is there something you are particularly proud of as UX at TML?

Reviving the yearbook is one of my proudest accomplishments here at CU. By rolling out a print edition of The Hack in 2024, a tradition that dates back to 1904, I feel I’ve contributed to the history of Centenary, and that’s incredibly rewarding. I want to stress the importance of physical material as well. You can scroll back and forth through the digital version of the yearbook but take out the print edition 10 or 20 years from now, set it out on the table, and flip through pictures from the time you spent on campus. There is literally a tangible difference.

Are you considering continuing your education? If so, in what area?

I would love to get my Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS). It’s the next step toward becoming a librarian. Honestly, though, I cherish the freedom and availability to students that being a UX affords me.

What types of books do you like to read?

All kinds. I am really drawn to nonfiction that relates to gender studies. I also love romance, fantasy, and mystery novels. Right now I have three favorite books; “Broken Harper” by Tana French, “Name of the Wind” by Patrick Rothfuss, and “Sula” by Toni Morrison.

How about when you are not busy being a UX? What do you like to do in your spare time?

You can usually find me reading, thrifting, or spending time with my favorite people in cute towns exploring the food, shops, and entertainment!

Thanks so much, Rita! Is there anything you would like to add?

It is such a privilege to be featured in The Cyclone Chronicle! Having spent a lot of time in the Archive and seeing the past print editions of the campus newspaper, it’s an honor to be a part of the culture you’re bringing back to campus.