My name is Kiran Badyal and I work as a library assistant at the Eleanor E. Murphy Branch in Huntsville. I greatly enjoy my work and particularly like helping patrons with their questions and research. My husband and I recently traveled to London on vacation. We spent time enjoying the customary tourist sights like the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey. We also visited the remarkable British Library. It was fascinating experience that I would like to share with our patrons.

When you think about working in a library, you might picture a typical day filled with books and reading. While we are technically surrounded by books, the public library is really about people. Whether it’s connecting someone to their next great read or helping with a job application, the meaningful interactions are why I love coming to work every day. 

So when it’s time for a vacation, I like to get out in the wilderness. I recently spent a week hiking and camping in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Fall Creek Falls State Park, and South Cumberland State Park. I found some great trail guides here at the library that helped me plan the hikes.