Sometimes you just know your true calling.
For Andrea Goldstein, Reference and Instruction Librarian at the Temple Ambler Library, it was always books.
When she was a child she didn’t go to the books, the books came to her.
“As a child in the 60’s, I always loved libraries but my community didn’t have a library branch, we had a bookmobile,” said Goldstein, who, after 44 years of dedicated service to Temple University, will be retiring on March 31. “You could sit on these little shelves they had and you could pick out your books. I love the smell of books — every once in a while I will run into an old book in our library that has that smell, and it just takes me right back to that bookmobile.”
In grade school, when required to choose a career for classroom assignments, “I had a few different ones, but in sixth grade, I had a librarian that I really liked,” Goldstein said.
“She was younger and could really relate with younger children. She had good programming, and I really liked it,” she said. “From sixth grade on I had an interest in becoming a librarian. I've always loved to work with children, and I thought I would be a children's librarian — I got my library science degree with that thought in mind.”
Goldstein’s path led her to work with students, but of a somewhat older variety. At the University of Pittsburgh, Goldstein said, she worked behind-the-scenes at the library as an undergraduate, “so when I was eventually hired at Temple, I knew what the atmosphere would be like.”
She began her career at Temple in 1981 at the then Tyler School of Art (now Tyler School of Art and Architecture) when it was located in Elkins Park. After earning her MS in Library Science at Drexel University she became part of the Main Campus team at Paley Library.
“I stayed behind the scenes there too in the cataloging department. It fit my personality because, admittedly, I’m shy,” she said. “But when the Art Librarian position opened up at Tyler, I decided to go for it; that’s how I ended up being a reference and instruction librarian. I loved the creativity at Tyler and the community — you got to know everyone, and everyone got to know you.”
When the Tyler School of Art and Architecture made its big move to Main Campus, Goldstein made a move of her own in 2009, joining the Ambler Campus Library staff.
“The library staff at Temple Ambler is truly what makes this library so special. I’ve learned so much from Sandi (Thompson, Ambler Campus Head Librarian). She is such a dedicated person in every respect that you can’t help but want to be that way as well,” she said. “Darryl (Sanford, Bibliographic Assistant III) is also so dedicated to the library, the campus and our students. I love this campus — what’s not to love — our campus community and its approach to supporting our students and faculty; I think that’s what makes it unique.”
Goldstein said she “loves the diversity of Temple and meeting so many different people from so many backgrounds.”
“Temple Ambler is like that in a smaller, closeknit community. We build strong bonds here and I’m going to miss that. After retirement, I want to volunteer in the Ambler Arboretum because I truly don’t want to leave the campus, and I love the gardens,” she said. “I’m going to miss our students — the Landscape Architecture and Horticulture students are so down to earth, so warm and so easy to work with. I’ve enjoyed every experience I’ve had here.”
It was at Temple Ambler, Goldstein said, that she fully stepped out from behind the scenes.
“Beyond what might be considered the usual things librarians would do, I’ve been able to be involved in developing programming and putting together monthly thematic displays,” she said. “Being involved in programming led me to managing the Library’s social media platforms, which was definitely a new experience for me — it was a new way to share information about the Library and what we can do to support the campus community.”
Goldstein said over the years she’s also had the opportunity to judge the Livingstone Undergraduate Research Awards, which annually offers students prizes for the best library research project in several categories.
“Reading those papers and learning about the research the students are doing is a true pleasure. I think people outside of Temple don’t realize the wonderful things that our students undertake while they are here,” said Goldstein, whose four children are all Temple Made. “I’ve been able to see what they are doing firsthand, which is a wonderful experience. Now, I really love being able to volunteer in face-to-face activities with our students because it's such a closeknit group that you have the opportunity to interact with almost every student.”
Most recently, Goldstein could be found as a dedicated volunteer at Temple’s award-winning Philadelphia Flower Show exhibit Reflections on Regeneration: An Artful Response to Our Changing Environment.
“I actually set my retirement date around the Flower Show because I love volunteering each year at Temple’s exhibit,” she said. “I love talking to the people who are visiting the exhibit, hearing what they have to say about the students’ work and their connections to Temple and Temple Ambler. I’m hoping they continue to let me volunteer even after I retire!”
As she moves on to the next part of her journey, she hopes that the Ambler Campus will continue to grow and thrive. For herself, “I have a little list.”
“I definitely want to volunteer with the Arboretum and I’ve already been making some inquiries about that. There are other volunteer groups, one at my synagogue in particular, that I’d like to be a part of,” she said. “I also have four children with children and a 98-year-old mother-in-law. I want to be there for them and help out in whatever way I can.”