A day in the life of graduate student Katherine Williams is anything but ordinary. A specialist working in the Library Annex, Williams does everything from driving a forklift to tracking down citations on a computer — and even catching spiders and other insects that could threaten the livelihood of books.

Some might find days filled with such uncertainty stressful, but Williams feels right at home.

"There's this quality of switching between mental and physical tasks that I really enjoy," she said. "It's not quite a white-collar job where you just sit at a desk, but it's also more than manual labor because there is a little bit of decision making and prioritizing that I have to do."

The work at the library suits Williams, who tried out a "real-world" job after earning her first graduate degree and quickly realized it wasn't for her. She says she found a career in the libraries "accidentally" after spending time as a student worker at the library of her alma mater, Arkansas Tech.

"The things I like working in an academic library is that it's always encouraging you to continue learning new things," she said. "Lifelong learning is a component of the career."

Williams is embodying the spirit of lifelong learning by continuing her education as a doctoral student in the Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies program, where she's conducting scholarship on how the concept of American exceptionalism is affected by the concepts of gender, particularly masculinity. The doctorate will help Williams advance her career with the libraries.

"When I graduated with my Master of Library Science degree and was on the job hunt, I had noticed a lot of job postings that colleges want their ideal candidates to have not just a library degree but have a bit of expertise in a particular discipline," she said. "A Ph.D. gives you that edge in academic librarianship because not only does it develop that expertise, but it shows you have a good handle on doing research. And it was a good opportunity to take advantage of with the tuition discount."

In the program, Williams has taken a variety of courses that have piqued her interest in culture and literature. She took a course on the graphic novel as a bildungsroman, which tasked her with creating a short graphic story of her own as the final project of the course. This spring, she's taking a literary theory course on gender, queer and ethnic studies.

"In this course, I'm exposed to writing that challenges many of my presumptions, all of which makes me a more dynamic thinker and writer," she said. "Overall, I've been pleasantly surprised by the creative freedom I have in these courses. It's been an adjustment to attend face-to-face classes, and sometimes it feels like I'm the dumbest student in the class — but I've always felt accepted by peers and instructors. Most, if not all, are just as weird as I am."

After graduation, Williams hopes to continue working in higher education, but the skills she's gained working in libraries can transfer to numerous industries.  

"Corporations may need someone who works in data management or digital content management, or they need people who are researchers," she says. "Or in entertainment, they'll need people who will go research a specific location. It's harder to find credible information nowadays, and librarians can determine what information is credible, how to navigate academic databases and those research type factors."

But even though she may have opportunities elsewhere, Williams will always feel drawn to the allure of libraries.  

"I like working in libraries," she said. "I like the routine. I'm around people who have big ideas all the time and who like to communicate those ideas to each other. It keeps me more mentally active."