Karen Garrabrant, 25 Years

Tell us about your career at Emory.

Karen works as a senior library specialist within Woodruff Library.

I have worked in essentially the same department my entire time at Emory, though it has gone through many name changes and seen significant automation over the years.

What are some of your favorite memories of your time at Emory?

Being part of a community of diverse, smart, and thoughtful people, especially during times of crisis, has been the biggest blessing. I watched the events of September 11th unfold in real time alongside my colleagues. We checked in on one another during the COVID pandemic. Weathering difficult times with the same group of people over the years is rare, and I truly value that sense of continuity and support.

What are some of the most significant changes you have witnessed over the course of your career?

The move toward automation, going paperless, and streamlining tasks has been incredible to witness. With sustainability initiatives in place, we continue moving forward. I also never imagined that a large portion of my work could be done remotely. Now it just makes sense because so much of it is online and paperless. It saves time and allows me to focus more deeply on the important aspects of my job.

Karen posing next to a raven at Oakland Cemetery. In her free time, she performs poetry across Atlanta.

Is there anything you miss from back in the day?

I used to handle more rare book materials for the Rose Library, which was a special part of my job. I will never forget opening boxes of propaganda created under Nazi Germany while Deborah Lipstadt was confronting Holocaust deniers. I still feel echoes of that history today when I am moving carts of books from the Elton John collection. As a poet, I have also been fascinated by the rough drafts of major poets. I also enjoy telling people that we have Dracula in the building.

What do you hope for the future of Emory?

I hope we continue to strengthen our collaborations with the historically Black colleges.