It’s happened again. A beloved staff member of Gramley Library is off to pursue a new position with Wake Forest University. This past December, it was the lovely Clarice Gallagher who joined WFU’s ranks as the Communications Coordinator for Academic Excellence. This time, it is our beloved Maisie Campbell who departs from our midst. She has served as the Gramley Library’s Evening Service Specialist since January 2024. At WFU, she will be serving as the Law Library Service Desk Manager.
Maisie Campbell with a teary-eyed Gramley Goose. Photo Credit: Salem A&C Gramley Library Instagram.
To celebrate Campbell’s work at Salem and her new job, Gramley Library hosted a farewell party where students and staff alike could say a final goodbye, exchange words of good will, and celebrate her future endeavors. While enjoying the party, Library Director Denise Shorey shared, “We are very sorry to lose Maisie. She’s made a huge difference here, I can tell from the way that students have interacted with her and responded to her.” Campbell’s coworker and fellow Evening Library Specialist, Mariah Fleming, expressed her feelings on the matter as well. “I am sad that she is leaving, but I’m very excited for her.” Fleming has an interest herself in working at law libraries, which is unsurprising given her previous life as a staff attorney and family justice advocate in Children & Family Law. “I hope it goes well for her. It’s a very different kind of library, but I think she’ll do great.”
Students pose for a photo with Maisie. (From left to right) Avery Bissette, Ashley Halsey, Artem Watson, Ozella Haslam, Gramley Goose, Maisie Campell, Jasmin Solorzano, Haleigh Totten, and Gracie
Photo credit: Salem A&C Gramley Library Instagram.
After the party wound down and the library returned to its quiet and relatively mundane state, Campbell shared with me what was on her mind during her last day at Salem. “It is a little bittersweet, because of course I care very much about all the students here, and it was very heartwarming that everyone came to say goodbye.” According to Campbell, her favorite part about working at the library was “definitely the students…It’s a long shift, if you don’t have anything to break it up and bring a little joy to your life, and the students here have a lot of passions and are so excited to share that.” I can attest personally to this, having spent many a night ranting to her polite audience about Warrior Cats, gender, religion, the political and economic state of the world, recipes, and more. “I get to learn a little bit about everything,” she said. “It is my window into Salem life, and I really enjoy it.”
Campbell’s new position is an exciting stepping-stone for her career advancement. She has been in graduate school for two years now, working on a Master’s of Library Science. As a committed Winston-Salem resident, she explained that “I’ve been keeping an eye on opportunities at academic libraries and public libraries, so when I saw this one, I was like, maybe I can do that.”
Many of her responsibilities will be similar to her job at Salem; she will be overseeing the student workers at WFU’s law library as well. “I think this will be a great learning opportunity where I can step into a full-time role,” said Campbell.
When asked if she had any parting words for Salem, she said, “Just keep doing what you’re doing, and know that the library is always a resource, regardless of who’s there.”
The Library’s main whiteboard with “Farewell Maisie!” written on it, with hearts and fireworks around the text. We will miss you, Maisie! Photo From: Emma De Noble.
