The Hayden Memorial Library is home to one portion of Citrus’ staff, the librarians.
Larry Handy has been working as an adjunct reference librarian at Citrus College for three months.
He juggles working at Citrus part-time and working full time at Azusa Pacific University as an Interlibrary Loan Coordinator for the past 27 years.
“He (Handy) is committed to learning and his work which is a great thing to have in a colleague and as a resource for Citrus students,” Sandra Krause, another Citrus adjunct librarian, said in an email.
At Citrus Handy works the reference desk, assists students with computer issues and helps answer questions about anything library database related.
“The work I do at Citrus might be on a lower scholarly level (He compares it to his job at APU) but it is honest-roll up your sleeves work,” Handy said.
At the library he helps a range of students, from older students, those juggling part-time jobs, families and those working towards associate degrees or transfer degrees.
“He has a wealth of experience working in libraries and is passionate about the field,” Elizabeth Cook, an instructional design librarian at Citrus, said.
Handy has a Bachelor’s degree in English and philosophy from APU, a Masters in Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Writing for Performing Arts from the University of California, Riverside. To add on, he also has a Masters in Library Science with an emphasis in Archives from Emporia State University.
“I hope to one day enroll in a PhD program that has something to do with Folklore,” Handy said.
Handy said libraries are about a lifelong of learning and he likes assisting people in learning outside the classroom.
“I can instruct without having to pass, fail, or grade a learner,” Handy said.
He is interested in folklore and part of folk culture is passing down information outside of class.
“Libraries are Folk,” Handy said.
He is a Citrus alum and attended in 1988.
“Back then the campus was fuller with students, though I think that changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Handy said.
In his free time when Handy’s not working at Citrus or APU, his hobbies fill his time.
Handy said he runs marathons and is currently training for his 26th marathon, The Los Angeles 40th marathon.
When he’s not running marathons, he’s writing books and being a published writer, as well as practicing Chinese Martial Arts.
“I hope to one day teach ‘Martial Arts for Healing, Health, Wisdom and Self Defense’ class and APU or maybe Citrus,” Handy said.
Handy is also a spoken word performer and has a music group named ‘Totem Maples’ that he performs poetry with.
“I call myself a Folklife Poet,” Handy said.
