Flor Macias recently stepped up into the position of Library Assistant III with new responsibilities in the North Las Vegas Campus Library Circulation Department. She has worked public libraries and academic libraries in positions such as page, student worker and classified employee. Flor came to CSN a few years ago and has been “movin’ on up” ever since!
Tell us something about yourself Flor!
I am pretty much a native of Las Vegas. My parents moved my siblings and me when I was still a toddler, and I am now raising my own family here as well. I attended UNLV and received my Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 2013. I had plans to attend law school, but decided to take a break from school and work to save a bit more for tuition. I had volunteered at my local library during high school and while working on my undergrad, I was a student worker at UNLV’s Lied Library, so taking a job with the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District was the perfect fit. While employed there I realized I genuinely enjoyed working with people in a library environment and decided to stay on that path. The majority of my work experience has been in libraries, but I have dabbled in a variety of job fields from working on local political campaigns to DJing.
Why did you decide to leave the public library to work in an academic library?
The opportunity for professional growth. I enjoyed my time at the public library, but I was beginning to get bored with just being a page. I looked for opportunities within in the public library system, but those can be hard to come by and can be rather competitive. When I became aware that CSN Libraries was hiring for a Library Assistant, I decided to apply for it and luckily got the position that has provided me with a sense of fulfillment.
How does your new position differ from the one you just left?
A lot more responsibility. As an Library Assistant II, I was indirectly supervising Circulation Desk operations, but now I will have a more direct role in running the Work Study program at the North Las Vegas Campus Library, from hiring new student employees and training to supervising their day-to-day job assignments.
What do you like best about working with students, staff, and faculty here at CSN?
The supportive community created by everyone. That community support can be difficult to find in the world at times, but I see it daily on our campus. The very best thing, though, is watching the payoff of the hard work and years the students put into their academics when they cross that commencement stage.
What activities do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work? If I am not at work, I am usually at home enjoying time with my family building costumes and props for my kids or myself to cosplay. The rest of the time, you will find me at a movie theater catching up on the latest releases.
