Meet Zach Burton, Patron Access Coordinator at the Mississippi Library Commission (MLC)! Zach helps maintain and circulate the Talking Book Services' digital book collection. He also maintains, circulates, and repairs MLC's National Library Service (NLS) digital book players. Zach holds a bachelor's degree in Anthropology and is currently enrolled at the University of Southern Mississippi as he finishes a master's degree in Library and Information Science with an Archival Certification.
Zach began working at MLC in September of 2022. He says, "I love being able to provide a service to the visually impaired community of our state; it is an incredibly rewarding line of work. Furthermore, I’ve greatly enjoyed working with all of my coworkers since I’ve begun here at MLC and look forward to the continued experience."
When asked his thoughts on libraries, Zach replies, "I like libraries for a plethora of reasons. Most simply, I love books and I love learning. More than that though, I believe the institutions of libraries and archives serve as some of the greatest bastions of intellectual freedom within a modern democracy. Within a library, we all have the freedom to explore any set of ideas which interest us, without being limited by economic restraints."
Zach loves to read, but claims that it’s too hard to pick a favorite book. (We understand; we have the same problem!) Two of his recent favorites are East of Eden by John Steinbeck, which he calls an undeniable classic, and Thomas Merton’s New Seeds of Contemplation, which he says is one of the most important books he's ever read. He also has a recommendation for sci-fi fans: he just completed Gene Wolfe’s The Book of The Long Sun and labels it a literary masterpiece.
When Zach isn't busy working or reading, he spends most of his time with his partner and their dog. He also manages to fit in time hiking and playing bass, drums, and guitar in a few bands, all while juggling his stack of graduate work.
