Amy Lu's View

“Luedtke has been with the Hennepin County Library system for more than two decades”

Description of me from a local television interview

I’m proud that I’ve been a librarian with Hennepin County Library for over twenty years (my 21st anniversary is in September) and I feel extremely fortunate to have the job I do.

Still, it was a little disconcerting when I was recently interviewed on a local Twin Cities television station to hear the announcer state “Luedtke has been with the Hennepin County Library system for more than two decades” in a voiceover (https://www.kare11.com/article/news/education/hennepin-county-libraries-ready-to-pick-up-bigger-role-as-distance-learning-approaches-in-fall/89-6debc869-4468-4014-a9b6-22073f9c5106).

My brother suggested the Amy “2 Decades” Luedtke moniker in a text and asked if Amy “4 score” Luedtke is in the future. (Not unless I make some major lifestyle changes and/or there are technological breakthroughs).

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Compelling as the public attention focused on my age/experience and the merriment it caused my sibling is, it was actually NOT the point of the interview.

The point was all the amazing online and virtual resources our library system has for students, educators, and caregivers and the amazing staff who work at libraries across our county to serve them.

Thankfully, I think I did an okay job sharing this message in a relatively articulate manner that wasn’t too strange and off-putting.

I love attention (as everyone knows), so I had a fun time doing the interview. Yes, I was extremely nervous but that’s always part of the excitement of a “performance.” The reporter and camera man were nice and supportive and I had our Communications Director there for much appreciated moral support (yes, meeting my co-worker for the first time in person because of COVID).

Yes, I wish I had managed to look a little more chic and glamorous but I didn’t have a whole lot of time to prepare. I did like the dress I was wearing and it was fun to have my first opportunity to wear the “professional” dress that Chad got me before lockdown hit, and the interviewer recognized it was an Everlane brand (TBTL podcast shoutout) dress! However it was a little bunchy because I was sitting down.

My hair was a mess which I could blame on lockdown but that’s really just how I handle my hair.

Actually it was a good thing I was notified about the interview rather last minute so I didn’t have too much time to obsess about it. My biggest emotional/spiritual/psychological turmoil came from driving in downtown Minneapolis. Mistakes were made. Let’s just leave it at that. No one was injured and my spectacular failure in driving downtown put things in perspective–no one was likely to die from my interview.

But I’ll say it again–all my vain obsessing aside, the interview wasn’t really about me at all but our wonderful library resources and staff and how they can help our public. And since I have been immersed in this wonder for more than 2 decades, I was hopefully able to share the story that I honestly am proud of.

Still, I’m immensely appreciative of the people who saw the story and gave me positive feedback and support (and I don’t believe in a statue of limitations on praise).

Just don’t ask me what the Dewey Decimal classification number is for narcissim.