Recent Library Addition Brings 28 Years Experience to Kensington

Since July 6, the Kensington Park Library has had a predominately new staff, including Michael Marx, but don't be mistaken because he's not a new kid on the block. Instead, he brings 28 years of experience in the Montgomery County Public library system.

Marx welcomes his new position at the Kensington Library and he said he finds the residents of Kensington to be well-read individuals. Many of families use the library's resources and the children's reading assignments he said. 

For research papers, Marx has noticed that students have a propensity to google everything. He recommends they consult a librarian to learn how to use the databases. 

"When we help educate people in grade school or graduate school, we're contributing to aide doing research in an effective manner," says Marx. 

Marx enjoys helping people complete research. Some of the research he's helped patrons with has piqued his own interests. He recalls learning about Tesla, the scientist whose ideas were referenced in the development of the cell phone, by helping someone else research the topic. 

Though most of Marx's job is enjoyable, he also has some worries about the library. He is particularly concerned about the budget cuts that have affected the library.  The county currently has 700,000 library card users, he said. But, unfortunately, the library has had to suspend some online subscription services and books. This affects the kids because the schools send them to the public libraries to do their research.

But Marx remains hopeful.  He said that he knows that Montgomery County citizens value their libraries.

People also value the librarian. Stacey Varner, Marx's library associate, enjoys working with him. She's known him for several years through their union, and said, "He's extremely professional, patient, and he gives excellent customer service."

"As a co-worker, he has an easygoing personality, and nothing bothers him," Varner said. She added that she has fun teasing him, and he doesn't seem to mind.  "He has a dry sense of humor," Varner said.

He grew up in the Langley Park area and received a B.A. in English from the University of Maryland, College Park. Upon graduating, he struggled to find a job, but managed to find a low level job at the Library of Congress. Here he realized he would need a degree in library science to become a librarian, and he attended Catholic University part-time in the evenings while he worked in the daytime to earn his degree.

Once Marx received his Master's Degree in Library Science, he began his journey as a librarian in Montgomery County. For the first nine years, he worked for the Bookmobile.

Then, he said, his most memorable years were at Long Branch Library where Marx was the children's librarian. At the time, his children were small, so he could relate to the requests from the kids. Now, he encounters grown-ups who told him that he used to read to them at Long Branch when they were children.

Marx worked the following 10 years at Twinbrook Library. He's seen a great shift in the number of foreign language books that are offered there, he said. Based on the U.S. Census data, the library determines the foreign languages in the highest demand. Currently, the Twinbrook Library carries a large selection of Chinese, Korean and Spanish books.

Even when Marx isn't working at the library, he still enjoys books. Some of his favorite books are political, espionage, biographies and older books. He enjoys going to used book stores such as the Friends of the Library and discover books.