Photo by Jessica D'Avanza

When Tracey Lauder first heard about a job opening at Dimond Library in the Administration Office, it was love at first sight. "My heart started pounding -- that job is me!" She wanted the job so bad that during her interview she opened her mouth to speak and nothing came out.

She landed the job and can now see and feel the rewards of it every day. "I arrive to work around 7:30 a.m. and many times there are kids waiting to come in the door, it is very gratifying," Lauder says. Watching students work in groups or studying quietly, sometimes even sleeping on the couches is a very satisfying moment for Lauder. She likes knowing the students are using and enjoying the space. "The biggest complaint about the library is that we're not open enough hours, that is very satisfying," says Lauder. Another aspect of Lauder's job is to help solve problems and answer questions from faculty and staff. Knowing the library faculty and staff can depend on the Administration Office is a quality that makes Lauder proud of her office.

There are eighty library faculty and staff, not to mention about 100 work-study students. The need for the UNH faculty, staff and students to depend on the Administration Office is great. The library has several different departments ranging from Loan to Special Collections and Archives, along with branch libraries across campus. All of these departments have a range of questions fired at the Administration Office on a daily basis. "An average day runs the gamut from minor issues like coffee spills (please use spill proof cups in the Library!) and alarm doors going off, to answering an Excel question for a colleague, to alerting the University Librarian about an unexpected expenditure that will have a significant budget impact," Lauder explains. "I have been asked to figure out how to encourage people to smoke twenty feet from the building while gathering data and designing a report to show the Dean's and Provost how periodical inflation will impact the library's collection budget over the next few fiscal years."

A Bentley College graduate in Liberal Arts, Lauder was exposed to the business world while at school. "Once I hit statistics I knew business was not for me, but it is a good fit for this position," Lauder says. Using her business skills learned in college has greatly contributed to her position today. Lauder has been in her current position at the library for three years. "I'm a library person, I always have been a fan," she says.

Upon moving to Dover, New Hampshire Lauder tried a couple of different jobs, but knew her heart was in academia. She bought a ten room Victorian style house in Dover and has been redecorating it room by room. Her style is streamline Victorian and she purchases many of the furniture and decorations for the rooms at auctions and local antique stores. "As a kid, I was always interested in historical architecture. When I saw the house, something spoke to me," Lauder remarks. Living in Dover has allowed her to find many relaxing places for kayaking. One of her most enjoyed spots to kayak is Salmon Falls River. Along with kayaking, Lauder hikes, snowshoes, and practices yoga. As far as Dover and the surrounding New Hampshire region go for Lauder, she says "It's heaven on Earth." Where else can you go hiking, swimming in the ocean and boating on a lake all in one day? Besides working in the library, you may just find Lauder 'scooting' about Dover or Durham on her Honda Elite motor scooter. But remember, "It's NOT a moped!" Lauder says.

Tracey's Victorian Home

Tracey's Cat - "Bubba"