A Catalog of Memories

This four-drawer library card catalog dates from the middle of the 20th century. -SCOTT SIMMONS / FLORIDA WEEKLY It was January 1984, and I needed a job. I had recently left my family and friends in Fort Myers to start a communication degree program at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. Compared to some of the other state universities, FAU was tiny, with about 10,000 students at the time. But to me, many of the facilities seemed to be enormous, particularly the five-story Wimberly Library, where I spent many happy hours reading newspapers and magazines in the periodicals room. After being in school for a couple of weeks, I learned about positions available at the library. I went to see Jan Brace, the director s secretary, in her office on the fifth floor. Have you worked before? she asked. Yes, I replied. In a restaurant, not in a library. However, I know Dewey Decimal and the Library of Congress filing systems. Oh, good, she said, cutting me off. Then you have worked