19 August, 2023
Out on the Town is HCAM's limited series produced by HCAM Journalist Intern Sidhi Dhanda. View this Out On The Town episode here.
Danielle Cook, Hopkinton’s newly promoted Reference and Technology Supervisor, calls her decision to become a librarian a “split second decision.”
It began when she came across a job posting for an archivist position at a nearby university. Cook could envision herself enjoying that line of work for the rest of her life.
“When my husband came home that night, I said guess what honey I’m going to grad school,” Cook said.
Although she initially thought she would become an academic librarian, her path led her to public libraries. As irony would have it, growing up, Cook was adamant to everybody who saw her read and predicted that she would be a librarian that she was not going to be one.
Cook started working in the Hopkinton Public Library in 2019 as a part-time Technology Librarian. She transitioned into the role of Adult Services Librarian and, more recently, the Reference and Technology Supervisor, marking her second promotion within the library.
In her different roles, Cook has witnessed how libraries have changed.
“The methods that we use to provide services have changed, but the services themselves haven’t changed,” Cook said.
Hopkinton Library has seen an uptick in people using audiobooks or accessing electronic databases, but people are still checking out what remains synonymous with libraries—books, Cook explained.
Although books are integral to libraries, patrons can access more than just that. Cook is the driving force behind the “Library of Things” program. This initiative allows community members to borrow a wide array of items, from musical instruments and craft supplies to small home maintenance tools. The Library of Things recently added a child carrier for hikes, a ukulele, and an electronic keyboard to its collection. To be able to help patrons, Cook has learned some skills related to the majority of items in the Library of Things.
“You know at the end of the day that’s what Librarians are for—to help you learn stuff,” Cook said.
In addition to the Library of Things initiative, Cook runs Hopkinton 101, a community fair that brings together various community organizations to showcase what they do and how they contribute to the town.
The event serves as a convenient way for Hopkinton residents to get acquainted with the numerous local organizations and provides an opportunity for these programs to recruit new members or volunteers.
Beyond her role at the library, Cook is a craft enthusiast who enjoys knitting, crocheting, and embroidery. Of course, Cook often crafts while listening to an audiobook.
“If I’m doing something with my hands that’s not actively engaging my mind, I’m also listening to a book,” Cook said.
