The Library’s Helpful Sage of the Stacks (from the NY Times)

By SAM ROBERTS
Published: December 31, 2007

Interesting article about David Smith, supervising librarian of the Allen Room and the Wertheim Study at the Humanities and Social Sciences Library on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street.  He is also known as the “librarian to the stars.”

…“I was a very shy, retiring reference librarian,” he recalled. Then a decade or so ago Mr. Smith’s natural curiosity and gregariousness merged into a much more public persona. “Something just changed in me. I reached puberty at 45. I have gotten good at schmoozing.”

“I expedite the use of the library,” Mr. Smith said over lunch at the Algonquin Hotel, explaining just what it is he does. “I’ve been called a connector. I’m in a position to save people time. I know where to find things.” Like the other dozen or so librarians at the reference desk of the library’s landmark Fifth Avenue building, Mr. Smith provides information free. Separately the library also offers N.Y.P.L. Express, a fee-based research and document-delivery service….  See entire story at:  http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/31/arts/31rese.html