Profile of library volunteer Skybear Aguilar

Libraries are constantly changing. Where once books were the main event now you have computers and DVDs taking up the majority of space. For film buff and student intern Sky Bear Aguilar, 18, the ability to enjoy books and the cinema was a perfect fit.

“To me, I just think that it’s wonderful for any place to lend out something that has the capability to make you really feel something,” he said.

Aguilar worked at the library for one semester from February to June 2014 as an intern.

A typical day included putting away books and DVDs, adding items to the catalog, making labels for new items, and helping patrons at the front desk. On occasion he would bring books to the Longhouse and clean DVDs that were scratched.

He describes the cleaning as “one of the most tedious things I have ever done” and that his “soul died a little every time I saw a scratched DVD because it showed me that people are animals.”

Aguilar’s love of film may be one of the reasons that he found it hard to view ruined media. The young man plans on attending the Art Institute of Seattle in the fall to pursue his dream of becoming a feature film director.

According to Holly King, his supervisor at the library, Aguilar’s interest in movies was an asset to the library’s collection of flicks.

“He went through our DVD collection and would critique us and tell us what we were missing,” she said.

According to Aguilar it’s important for the library to carry films as well as books because both mediums are a means of expressing one’s self.

“Both are entertainment. Both are literature,” he said. “Both have the capability to inspire, create, be destructive or change the world.”

Overall, King said having interns at the library helps to enrich the lives of island high schoolers. For many students, an internship serves as their first job and also allows them a deeper look into how a public library works.

“They get an introduction to the library from the inside,” said King. “It’s an interesting experience.”

Through the years she has watched her library interns head off to higher education and some even went on to work in the library system.

The only attributes King looks for in an intern is an interest in the job. Students can apply for an internship at the library.

Aguilar describes King as the best boss in the entire world.

When asked why he thinks libraries are important, he responded with, “They have an entire world of knowledge available to anyone and everyone. How could that possibly be considered to be unimportant?”

Aguilar’s recommendations

Movies

• “The Professional” (Also known as “Leon: The Professional,” or just “Leon.”)

• “On the Waterfront”

• “The Adventures of Robin Hood”

• “The Godfather”

• “True Lies”

• “Kill Bill”

• “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly”

• “Hellboy”

• “Singin’ in the Rain”

• “The Sting”