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By Michael Gardner '25
Suzanne Meunier is a metadata librarian at the Henry Whittemore Library. She is retiring in January 2025, and I got a chance to interview Suzanne about her career at Framingham State University.
What is your name and where are you from?
Suzanne Meunier and I’m originally from CT, but I’ve been living in MA since the early 80’s.
Where and when did you go to college and what was your major/minor? When did you graduate?
I went to undergrad at Keene State and graduated with a BA in Art ('81) and then got my MLS at Simmons College. I graduated in 1991. I recently received a PLCGS in American Studies from the International Institute of Genealogical Studies.
Where did you work before Framingham State University? Why did you choose FSU?
My first experience was in the Fine Arts Department at Boston Public Library as a library assistant. That job and the lovely librarians there made me decide to pursue librarianship as a career. I worked on a preservation grant at Yale when I graduated and then moved back to MA. From that point I worked at Woburn Public Library, the Gordon McKay Library at Harvard and finally Framingham State University. I chose FSU because I enjoyed working at an academic library and my experience fit the position. I had young children at the time, so the location close by in Framingham and the part-time hours were a great fit for me.
What were your main duties at the library?
I’ve been working in the Tech Services department since I started here. We do all of the cataloging, processing and data entry of materials that come in to the library. We’ve processed all kinds of materials including books, games, CD’s, laptops, iPads, puppets, bags of rocks and Legos. Our goal is to make these materials findable for our students and faculty.
How long have you worked at FSU?
I’ve been here 25 years this October.
What have your biggest challenges been?
I’d say COVID was one of the biggest challenges we all faced together. The staff did an amazing job keeping the library functioning. Some of us had to come to campus to do our jobs when the rest of the campus was empty. It was challenging, but we pulled together and worked as a team to keep materials circulating for our patrons.
How has the library changed over the years?
There have been a lot of physical changes to the building over the years to improve accessibility and make it a more comfortable and user-friendly place for the students and faculty. My office used to be where the coffee shop is now! Technology/the internet/social media/AI are the biggest changes over the 25 year period I’ve been at Framingham State.
Why do you think the library is such an important part of the campus community?
There is an awesome staff here available to help out and make your academic career as successful as possible. It’s a great place to study, meet as a group, have a cup of coffee and attend class.
What has been your favorite library-sponsored event?
Cocoa by the Fire is an annual event we put on for students before finals and it’s always a great way to provide some sustenance and stress relief. We also had a collecting event for veterans and it was very moving to hear their stories and be able to preserve that history for them and the greater community.
What will you miss the most about the library?
There is a lot of longevity in the staff and I will miss my colleagues. Twenty five years is a long time to work with people. We’ve experienced a lot together!
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