Catherine Urban
The best advice I ever heard is: “Do not dream of possession of what you do not have: rather reflect on the greatest blessings in what you do have, and on their account remind yourself how much they would have been missed if they were not there.”—Marcus Aurelius. His Greek may have been bad, but his ideas are pretty good!
My three most recommended books are: What a cruel question to ask a librarian! There are so many good books out there. But if I had to narrow it down, I would recommend any children’s book by Roald Dahl. They’re wonderfully fun and snarky. Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackery is my favorite classic; it’s surprisingly funny and heart-wrenching, not stuffy at all. When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chodron is a great source of comfort when I’m feeling stressed.
To me, success means: taking pride in what you do and living your life without taking advantage of others.
People who know me might be surprised that: I had a pretty hot temper when I was a kid. If my brother or sister aggravated me, I wouldn’t back down tamely! I once slugged my brother in the arm in the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Paris. I’ve calmed down since then, or at least can restrain myself from physical violence.
My biggest pet peeve is: people who think being a librarian just means you sit around reading all day. I wish! I acquire books, oversee my department and do cataloging work—my days are packed, and everyone else at the library works hard as well.
Everyone in Amarillo needs to experience: Palo Duro Canyon is a wonderful place. It’s so beautiful. If you’re lucky and it’s the right time of year, you can spot deer and turkeys in the wild.
If I could change any one local thing it would be: I enjoy biking, so I’d like to see more bike lanes on the roads.
This city is amazing at: giving people who have fled violence and oppression a new start. By accepting many refugees over the years, Amarillo has provided them opportunities for stability and safety.
My favorite place in Amarillo is: Even if I didn’t work for the library, any one of the five branches is a great place to be. I also enjoy the parks and the good restaurants in town.
A local organization I love right now: The Amarillo Symphony and the Harrington String Quartet; they bring wonderful live music performances to the city.
