A journey with libraries

Celebrating Black History Month: Sandra Bozarth

By California State University, Bakersfield

February 2^nd, 2021

“I am proud to serve as the interim dean of libraries, maintaining and progressing the library based on student needs have always been a priority and will continue to be,” said Sandra Bozarth.

While Bozarth didn’t necessarily set out for a path in higher education, she has always had a connection to libraries, though not always in the best ways.

“I planned to be a high school English teacher and then while at community college I discovered the field of library science as I was browsing through college catalogs,” said Sandra Bozarth. “It was then that I decided I wanted to look into a master’s degree in library and information science and possibly work in a prison library.”

“Looking back on my history with libraries, I didn’t always have the best experiences in them,” Bozarth added.

She remembers going to the Porterville Public Library with her mom as a child, checking out stacks of books that they would read together. She enjoyed browsing the aisles and the smells of books, newspaper and dust.

When she was in fourth grade and at a new school and new library, she remembered listening to the librarian explain the process for finding a book and feeling a little confused, wondering why there was so much detail and the process to finding what one was looking for.

“I was accustomed to roaming around, finding books that looked interesting, then checking them out. Who was this Dewey person and why did he need to tell me how to find books?” she wondered.

“While in middle school, I somehow obtained a job working in the library, finally free to roam…kind of,” said Bozarth. “This is where I figured out Dewey was my friend, but I had to work and that left little time to browse.”

Throughout high school, the library was only for an elite group – those with a pass or proof that they needed to be there, such as detention, a research paper or honors.

During her time at community college, she was finally allotted the time to explore the library like she’d been hoping for. It was there that she was able to get a better grasp on the Dewey Decimal System and eventually, Library of Congress, and “became fond of the library again.”

“I was still intimidated, under the impression those elite, smart students were the only ones who should be asking questions and taking valuable time with the librarians,” said Bozarth.

It was there that she stumbled on a course catalog that described library and information science. She was sold.

She graduated from the Porterville Community College, then moved to Fresno to attend Fresno State, where she received her bachelor’s degree in English. She then went on to San Jose State University to pursue her master’s degree in library and information science.

“I wanted to work in libraries where everyone felt welcomed and not intimidated, belittled or pushed aside because they didn’t know Dewey or Library of Congress,” said Bozarth.

That’s what initially drew her to prison libraries.

It was during the time of working on her degrees that she decided to work and volunteer in different types of library to get firsthand experience.

It was “helping those with library services who might not normally visit a library, if they weren’t in that ‘situation.’”

“I also really like the controlled environment, knowing who your users are, what their needs are and how you can most help them succeed. That all intrigued and challenged me.”

It was around the same time that September 11, 2001 occurred that Bozarth graduated with her master’s, so she and her husband moved to Bakersfield to be closer to family, where they started a family of their own.

“Although I wasn’t born here, I consider Bakersfield my home and have now lived here longer than anywhere else in my life,” said Bozarth.

For several years, she worked in both men’s and women’s jail libraries and a law library. She was offered a part-time librarian position at a prison and a full-time librarian position at the Kern County Public Library. She ultimately went with the position at the county library.

Bozarth had never worked in an academic library setting, other than observing at the San Jose State University library for a class requirement, but she wanted to give it a try.

“While completing paperwork to volunteer in the Stiern Library, a part-time lecture position came about at the Walter W. Stiern Library so I was asked if I wanted to apply. I did, and here I am now, 17 years later,” said Bozarth.

Bozarth has held many titles and roles at CSUB, including assistant librarian, senior assistant, working up the ladder to associate librarian, elected as library chair and now interim dean of libraries.

“I think that the most important thing about Sandra is that she truly cares about our students, faculty, and staff and this is reflected through her actions as a librarian. She has and will always be one of my role models. I am truly grateful to have her as a colleague,” said Chris Livingston, archives, special collections and digital storage librarian of the Walter W. Stiern Library.

Bozarth added, “it has all been a journey I would not change. I have met many people while at CSUB that are now considered family.”

“I have the honor of working with a great group of people in the library and that is ultimately what will make this next year the most successful, all of us working together with the same goals in mind,” said Bozarth.

“Sandra is one of the most well-respected librarians I’ve ever known. From my perspective, she goes the extra mile to support faculty, staff, students and community patrons to obtain library resources at CSU Bakersfield -- Walter W Stiern library. It is with great pride to say, I’m confident as the interim dean, she will continue to do a great job,” said Sherry A. Bennett, Walter W. Stiern Library services manager.

As the nation begins to celebrate Black History Month, the Walter W. Stiern Library will also acknowledge the strides and highlights that have been made to get to this point through a virtual exhibit.

As a person of color herself, Bozarth, challenges those who feel that they “already know enough about Black History, or think they don’t need to engage, I hope they challenge themselves to learn more and then share that knowledge with others.”

What does it mean to Bozarth to celebrate?

“It is a reminder of how much I don’t know about Black History and that I need to continue learning more, along with others. It is also a reminder that we all need to do better at engaging and education ourselves about the history of others as well,” she said.

“It makes me think, ‘why one month?’ I personally seek out at least one individual to learn about each month, in regard to firsts. I love learning about those who are the first to accomplish something, that is history,” Bozarth added.

“In 2021, we witnessed the first ever female of color as Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris, and now the first ever female of color as Interim Library Dean at CSUB Sandra Bozarth — Walter W. Stiern Library…a new change is happening,” added Sherry