Skidmore Spotlight: Sandra Brown

Scribner Library Interlibrary Loan Coordinator Sandie Brown enjoys a good mystery.

Brown coordinates the day-to-day functions of the Interlibrary Loan Department, which helps Skidmore researchers borrow materials from other institutions. Last academic year, more than 20,000 requests were processed, including some challenging requests.

“Each day brings so many unexpected surprises and mysteries to solve. I feel like a detective; sometimes we have very little information to go on,” said Brown, who has worked at Scribner Library since 1990 and in her current role since 2010. “It is not unusual for us to request articles from Britain, Italy or Germany. There are times when it is almost impossible to locate a rare book that libraries are willing to lend. There is a lot of gratification when we successfully locate those difficult requests.”

Brown said she especially appreciates working with dedicated colleagues and students. 

“I really enjoy Alumni Weekend! It is wonderful to see the students who have worked for us through the years and hear where life has taken them,” she said.

When Brown isn’t searching for materials through the interlibrary database WorldCat, she can be found reading — both at Cape Cod, where she travels with family each year, and among the library stacks on her break.

“I spend time on my lunch reading each day. It is my way to decompress and feel refreshed for the afternoon.”