D'Arcy the Children's Librarian

Popular children's librarian D'Arcy Stainton thought he would become an engineer. He even worked in road construction and a geotechnical laboratory once, but the solitude quickly helped him realize that he wanted to work with people.

A degree in English and History followed, and a new career direction was taking shape: D'Arcy came to UBC to the Master's of Library Science program. Before graduating, he envisioned himself as an academic librarian in a University or a College somewhere. That all changed when he took the Children's Services Course - he knew he had found his calling!

Vancouver Public Library hired D'Arcy as a children's librarian in 1994, and he has since worked at Mount Pleasant, Britannia, Joe Fortes, Renfrew and Strathcona branches. (To ensure renewal and avoid burn out, librarians are rotated between branches every few years.)

A large part of D'Arcy's work consists of outreach programs, and of the amazing 400 or so events that he provides every year, a majority are at Health Units, Daycares, Family Places etc. - out of the eyes of the general public. Add to that the 50% of his time working at the reference desk as a general librarian, and you start to see a picture of a busy and creative career where no two days are ever the same.

We at Polliwog think that a big part of D'Arcy's popularity stems from the directness, joy and immediacy of his communication. So it might come as a surprise that he considers himself shy. He comes from a musical family and even played the trumpet once in a symphony orchestra. But he only picked up the guitar when he became a librarian - and taught himself to play!

D'Arcy loves his job and it shows. His storytimes draw huge crowds (so much so that he has to use a microphone) and children sit happy and attentive as he strikes up a song with his guitar, reads a book, or tells a story with the aid of a hairy hand puppet! D'Arcy parents three children on the East Side and knows firsthand how demanding an audience of children can be. So, one of the most enjoyable and rewarding moments for him is when the children come up to him after storytime to say Hi.

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