This winter, get to know the staff responsible for keeping the Johns Hopkins Sheridan Libraries and University Museums running. Today’s feature: Eoin Kennedy!
Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Eoin Kennedy, I’m a Library Assistant at the Libraries Service Center in Clarksville, Maryland. My job is a little different than a regular library assistant because I work at Johns Hopkins’ offsite storage facility, where nearly all of the Libraries’ collections are stored! We only have a five-person team, so everybody does a little bit of everything—I pull books that are needed for requests, I scan articles for Interlibrary Loan, package and ship books for schools and libraries around the world, process new books into the trays we use for high-density storage, and more! I love that I work in so many different disciplines within the Libraries.
Tell us a little about your background.
I was introduced to the Baltimore area when I went to the Maryland Institute College of Art to obtain my Bachelor of Fine Arts in photography. I decided to move careers into library sciences, and I worked as a library page for a few months at a public library system. I always knew I wanted to move back to Baltimore, and I started with Johns Hopkins in January 2023. Best decision ever!
What is something people might be surprised to know about you?
I plan to move to Sydney, Australia after I finish my Master of Library and Information Sciences degree! I’ve always wanted to travel the world, and I’d love to work with teens in a public library someday.
What’s the best part about working at the Sheridan Libraries and Museums?
Everybody at the Libraries is dedicated to our patrons, whether they are circulation staff, archivists, exhibition curators, library assistants, and more! We love to help our users with anything they need, and are constantly evaluating how we can make the Libraries better!
What is your favorite hobby?
I love to make handmade cards! My friend Ralph Tyndall is a huge hit on TikTok (go check him out @ralphtyndalldesigns!) and I love to make cards for people’s birthdays and special occasions. I also love participating in the Libraries’ annual Read it and Eat it Edible Book festival hosted by our very own Heidi Herr! Next year I plan on an Alice in Wonderland-themed entry (don’t tell anyone!).
Imagine you are a ghost. What 3 objects would someone need to conjure you? Why?
The first item you would need is a bag of lollies from Sticky Australia. This is a group of candy makers in Sydney that started going live in March 2020 due to the lockdown and their business nearly closing. I am their number one fan, so a bag of lollies would definitely get me! The second object would be my cat, Kohu’ole, a mini panther with approximately one brain cell. Yes, I know if I’m a ghost there’s no way my cat would still be alive, but this is all about wishful thinking! The third object would be the first romantasy novel published after I died because I can’t resist them!
What show have you binge-watched recently?
I binge-watched Amazon Prime’s “My Lady Jane” in one sitting! It’s just eight episodes, but I was totally enraptured. A historical retelling with fantasy elements and a romance all in one? Sign me up! Amazon Prime, shame on you for not renewing it for a second season!
What’s the best concert you’ve ever seen? What made it special?
The best concert I’ve ever seen was one I just went to—Mitski at Merriweather Post Pavilion. Mitski is known for being an amazing singer/songwriter who makes her shows essentially performance art. Her shows are a story to watch unfold on stage, and the Pavilion is a beautiful open-air venue.
What are your three genie wishes? (No wishing for more wishes!)
Wish 1: All cats live forever (see answer to ghost question).
Wish 2: Everybody who gets behind the steering wheel of a car has common sense and doesn’t drive like a maniac (I would settle for just Maryland drivers if there’s a geographical limit).
Wish 3: For it not to inevitably rain during Artscape
Favorite thing to show visitors to Baltimore?
The Papermoon Diner on West 29th Street is the best place to go for the weirdest collection of art and tchotchkes you’ve ever seen. The entire place, outside and in, is one giant found art piece. They also have really good milkshakes and sandwiches!