Head librarian Joan McCarthy is busily typing on her computer when a student comes up to her to check out a book from the library. There is a class taking place to her left and students doing research for class projects to her right .

McCarthy has been working at the McLean High School library since the fall of 2006. She recently started her fourth year of being the head of the library department. She wasn’t always a librarian though.

Before McCarthy started working at McLean, she taught history and politics to high school students. She got her masters in education at Trinity College. She said she liked research ever since she was in elementary school, so one would think that being a librarian would be a good fit. However, she was a teacher for 21 years first.

McCarthy then went off to get her second masters degree in Library Sciences at The Catholic University of America and began teaching at McLean. She has always loved working with the students of McLean.

“Knowledge is power. It opens so many doors for young students, whether it’s personal knowledge or intellectual knowledge,” McCarthy said.

In her free time, perhaps not surprisingly, McCarthy enjoys reading. Her favorite types of non-fiction books are history and travel (two of her favorite things to learn about). She also loves a good mystery book every once in a while.

Joan McCarthy is not only a librarian, but she is also a teacher and advisor. Those who haven’t had the chance to meet her yet should stop by the library.