New Mexico Tech freshman Candis Canaday works a shift at the Skeen Library. Canaday would like to be a librarian someday.
Cathy Cook | El Defensor Chieftain

Candis Canaday is a freshman at New Mexico Tech studying chemistry. She also works at the Skeen Library.

What made you want to study chemistry?

It has a lot of job opportunities and I want to be a librarian when I graduate so I was thinking that would be good, because I could also do a research librarian position in one of the labs.

What’s it been like working at the library?

It’s been good. I also worked at a public library in Albuquerque before this one and the positions are a little different, but here, I shelve books, shelf read and sit here at the desk and assist people who are coming in.

What’s the biggest difference between this library and the one in Albuquerque?

There’s not nearly as much shelving that needs to happen. At the library in Albuquerque, I could shelve for pretty much the entirety of my three-hour shift and not be done. Here, there’s a handful of books every day.

What makes you want to work in a library?

I just like that people have the opportunity to come in and get educated on whatever topic they want  and just find entertainment and books for free, they don’t have to worry about buying the books or anything like that.

Do you have a favorite library?

I’m going to have to say the Juan Tabo library, because I grew up in that area in Albuquerque and so that was my childhood library.

What’s your favorite class so far this semester?

That would be my chemistry class because we do a different lab every day and it’s just fun to see all the reactions and see what we can make.

What’s the coolest thing you’ve learned so far?

I don’t know coolest thing I’ve learned, but we turned a copper penny into a gold color with chemicals. Don’t ask me which chemicals they were, but that was cool to do.

What made you want to come to Tech?

I know that they had a great chemistry program and so when I decided to do chemistry, I was looking into their program and it sounded awesome, as well as, I had a couple friends coming here, so that also  helped the decision.

What do you do when you’re not working, or studying or in a lab? What do you do for fun?

Most weekends I’ve been back to Albuquerque, but here in Socorro, I’ve been trying to check out what you guys have to offer.

Have you found any cool spots yet?

I love the El Camino restaurant. They have good food.

What are you most looking forward to this semester?

Just getting my degree started and taking that step towards what I need for my future career.

Cathy Cook | El Defensor Chieftain Editor