Instruction/Reference Librarian

“Sanctuary for Introverts”

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is the Steel City, home to major steel production and also the birthplace of one Chani Butler. Butler grew up there with her mom and younger sister after her father passed away when she was 11. Despite the difficulty of losing a parent at such a young age, Butler and her family managed to make her childhood one “full of wonder and nature and exploring the creeks and the hills.” Her deep-seeded love of reading became an integral part of her life and interests.

“I have always loved telling stories, even before I could read. I would line up my toys and tell stories about them. So, I always wanted to be a writer when I grew up,” Butler said.

Butler is a published author of five books of poetry, currently working on another. As a 2011 graduate of Agnes Scott College with a B.A. in English and Creative Writing, Butler took some time to explore what her next steps should be. She worked as a cashier, writing on her own time, but she was ultimately unfulfilled in her day job. Then, a friend of hers connected her with a contact who could tell her about working in a library and the careers available in library sciences. That led to Butler working for Cobb County Library part-time as a Library Technician followed by a library clerk and then as a full-time Instruction/Reference Librarian at Life University (Life U). She achieved her Master of Library & Information Science from Valdosta State University in 2022.

“I don’t know if you’ve ever had a moment where something just clicked for you, and it was like, this is where I’m supposed to be and what I’m supposed to be doing. That’s how library science was for me. It just fit,” Butler said.

Nowadays, Butler is a regular fixture at the front desk and all about the Drs. Sid E. & Nell K. Williams Library. She enjoys being able to connect students with the many valuable resources that the library offers. There are rows and rows of books, of course, but also countless digital resources, such as library databases, e-books, audiobooks and more. The Audio/Visual department (AV) is the hub for necessary technology use and anatomical models for chiropractic or scientific study. There are also research assistance services available, which is a big part of Butler’s role. She may have assisted you in the past to find the right source for a research project, how to structure a search or even how to create a clean citation list.

Talking to Butler, it’s easy to see how excited she is about all the goings-on at the library and how it helps students be the best version of themselves. For example, the library has had a little makeover recently, with some sweet furniture upgrades. If you haven’t already, take some time to sit in a study pod, as it is a nice, semi-enclosed space in which to cut down the noise and focus. And there are a few other surprising benefits that come out of the library as well, such as the Food4LIFE food pantry and new charging station for device charging.

Lastly, there are many fun and enriching events going on periodically at the library, such as the Pause for PAWs event that invites the CAREing Paws animal therapy group to bring Archie the therapy dog and sometimes other friends in so students can relax. The librarians are also hoping to start a silent book club, which is when community members gather together to read their own books quietly, have some yummy snacks and socialize afterwards if they so choose. Butler hopes this will serve as a respite for the introverted members of the Life U community.

Overall, Butler has found something of her family and her place here at Life U, amongst the bookish, academic atmosphere.

“A lot of businesses will say, you know, we’re like a family, but I do really feel that family and community here at Life. We have a really good, shared ethos that centers around Lasting Purpose,” Butler said.

“That’s something that I really believe in. Finding your why, you know, is one of those buzzwords. Like finding that deeper meaning in everything you do from your career to your home life. And I think that the culture at Life U really facilitates a purpose-driven life.”