Are you familiar with the Buick TV commercial where the millennial gal whispers “My grandpa used to have a Buick”? Her friend looks at the young hunk getting out of the car and says, “That’s not your grandpa.” Well, let’s look at today’s library in the same light. Today’s library is not your grandpa’s library, and today’s library branch manager wears many hats. In the libraries of 50 or 60 years ago, lots of female librarians of a certain age shushed the noisy patrons, especially teens giggling their way through assignments. Libraries served the reading community. Today’s libraries are community centers too – but technology and new itineraries have enormously changed their faces, not least at University City’s University Community Library, at 4155 Governor Drive. The branch was recently searching for a permanent manager after going through several interim staff. Sharon Thomerson, former manager, took an early retirement, leaving big shoes to fill. Come early November, in walks a Russian literature graduate from UCSD’s Revelle College, a gal who grew up in East County, graduated Valhalla High and met her future husband at UCSD. Melissa Martin has a hearty laugh and a great brain. “I always like to try new things,” she says with a smile. “You never know ’til you try.” Martin says today’s librarian is always busy with collections, staff, the public and showing patrons how to use online catalogs and computers, providing a community center for all ages. No shushing is going on. How did Martin go from Russian lit to head librarian? “My husband,” she says, “was stationed in the Coast Guard in Louisiana, and I got a job at a library. I loved it.” When they returned to San Diego, she enrolled in the San Jose State University “distance program” at the Fullerton campus, where she spent two years commuting from San Diego and got her MLIS (Master’s of Library and Information Science), all before her twelve-year old son was born. She worked at the Naval Anti-Submarine Warfare library in Point Loma and did an internship at UCSD’s Geisel Library, where she worked with wonderful people. From there, she went to the Central Library in downtown San Diego and stayed around 15 years. She worked in the science section for four and a half years and then joined the I CAN! Center, which provides services, programs, resources and professional assistance in a safe, comfortable environment for persons with disabilities. She oversaw library catalogs and had great praise for “an amazing staff.” She was then promoted to supervisor of the science section, wherein there was always a team effort. “Our jobs,” she says, “were to know whom to talk to in order to find out answers.” She felt she was always learning and helped prepare for the new library transition in 2013. Her first stint as a branch manager was at the Valencia Park/Malcolm X Branch Library, at 5148 Market St. southeast of downtown, which celebrated its 20th anniversary on Jan. 9. “There were many joys and challenges,” she says. “This complex community is very active and loves its library. The Valencia Park/Malcolm X Branch Library had a busy home help center and computers available for adults looking for jobs.” Now, Martin calls the University Community branch library her home away from home. She is busy preparing the library collection for transition to Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID), the latest technology for tracking library materials. RFID technology goes beyond security and tracking. It makes it easier and faster to charge and discharge books and other items. Other latest developments at the branch include a new adult volunteer who will be working two days a week, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., to help students from Kindergarten through 12. The Friends of University Community Branch Library provides funding for programs like concerts on the first Wednesday of each month. The computers are busy all day long with students and adults at the helm. Martin is happy to share the news that library operating hours have increased and that all San Diego public libraries will have extended Saturday hours. On Saturdays, the library is open from 9:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. This busy librarian is truly wearing many hats, and she welcomes volunteers to help with shelving and anything to support the library (people normally volunteer an hour a week). The University City branch has hired an outstanding manager. She is driving the new Buick, not your grandpa’s. Stop by and see for yourself.