Librarian transferred, recounts memories

Trevor Jones

Librarian transferred, recounts memories

The Scripps Ranch community bid farewell to its head librarian, Trevor Jones, of
Scripps Miramar Ranch Library last month. Jones, who had been the branch manager since June 2014, was transferred to College Rolando Library near San Diego State University.

“I could not have asked for a better library to work in,” Jones said. “The staff is amazing. They showed me the ropes around the library when I first started, and they have done a lot for me and the library over the years.”

With a background working at the New York Public Library and the North University branch in University City, San Diego, Jones said he loved being directly involved with library patrons and the Scripps Ranch community. He read to children during story time hours, talked to patrons about different kinds of books and personally reached out to seniors and families in the neighborhood to see what their needs were. This is beyond the typical job description of a librarian.

“I’ve worked with adults but never with kids,” Jones said. “Over the years, I ended up doing quite a few story times by the windows about once a month. I have an absolute blast with the kids like reading books and singing songs.”

These events gave Jones a “Mr. Rogers” feeling.

“I have one of the greatest jobs in the world,” he said.

Jones had invested in several programs that kept the Scripps Miramar Ranch Library more social among its patrons and staff than previous years, such as holding different art, history, reading and exercise classes. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, Jones was still active on social media to continue his engagement with the community. For example, he highlighted five books to read during the Halloween season on the library’s Facebook page with a touch of near-Shakespearean acting on camera to set the holiday mood.

In fact, Jones had set up an annual “Haunted Library” every October with the teen counsel and library staff that ran from 5 p.m. to as late as 10:30 p.m. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the library did not hold the event this year; however, Jones is looking forward to a Haunted Library at the College Rolando location next year.

Jones also provided captions to every black and white photo around the library that provides a snapshot of Scripps Ranch’s history. He and some of the library staff conducted tours to explain each photo’s story and meaning, particularly those that relate to the Scripps and Meanley families.

“I set the bar pretty high,” Jones said. “I expect my successor to maintain the level of these events.”

The Scripps Miramar Ranch Library has been closed since March 2020, but Jones hopes the events he had created will resume and bring people back inside once it is safe to do so.

“Currently, the library is open for pick-up service,” Jones said. “People can place a book hold six days a week.”

He encourages library patrons and the local community to support the Scripps Ranch Friends of the Library, a nonprofit group that helps keep the library running.

“They do all the fundraising for the SRL. If people want to do more with the library, start with Friends,” Jones suggested. “They are the folks who make things happen, and it takes a village mentality to do this.”

For more information, visit srfol.org. Follow story time and other events at facebook.com/ScrippsMiramarRanchLibrary.