The apple will not fall far from the tree after Joyce Watson retires from Dana Library on June 30 after 15 years of service. The longtime circulation desk supervisor expects to continue sharing her knowledge of libraries and information technology as a volunteer with the public libraries in Asbury Park and nearby Neptune, in addition to spending more time with family and church work.
“For me, retirement means continuing to expand my level of knowledge and ability to encourage students’ desires to learn beyond their wildest dreams in libraries,” Watson said recently.
Her first position with Rutgers University Libraries, in 2001, was with the Library of Science and Medicine in Piscataway before transferring to Dana. Passionate about working with students and technology–putting a world of knowledge at patrons’ fingertips–Joyce dug in as an adult learner to earn an MLIS at Rutgers between 2005 and 2009.
Watson, a native of New Smyrna in central Florida, arrived in New Jersey in 1966 and spent nearly a decade and a half doing factory work in the pharmaceutical industry in New Brunswick. Along the way, she earned a journalism degree from Rutgers University. “I liked writing and wanted to tell stories,” she said. “Then I wanted to roam.”
Her cross-country travels with daughter Tynyetta in tow over the next several years began in Florida and made their way to Atlanta, Houston, Denver, and Los Angeles, where she found work at colleges and universities. Her daughter made the trip as far as Los Angeles, where she has a long and successful career as a hair stylist and now resides with her family, including husband Joe, four sons, and two step-children. All combined, Joyce has nine grandchildren upon whom she can lavish her attention.
Combining her backgrounds in storytelling, libraries, and archives, Joyce was the onetime historian for Mount Zion A.M.E Church in New Brunswick and currently is archivist for St. Stephen’s A.M.E. Church in Asbury Park.
She cites former Dana Library director Lynn Mullins and current director Consuella Askew as “gems who encouraged me in all my endeavors.”
Join us as we wish Joyce happiness and further intellectual “endeavors” in her retirement!
The Libraries partnered with Student Affairs once again to bring Club Alex back to Alexander Library during Senior Days. This much-anticipated annual event, which sold out within minutes, saw hundreds of graduating seniors and their guests descend upon the library-turned-nightclub on the day following the conclusion of finals. Alexander was transformed with all the trappings one would expect of an actual club: mood lighting and pipe and drape walls helped set the tone in the reference room—which featured a DJ, dance floor, and bar—and an R&B lounge was installed on the ground floor for those who preferred a more intimate atmosphere. A photo booth allowed partygoers to capture the excitement of the evening, and a massive Pac-Man-themed light show was projected onto the atrium walls to the delight of all in attendance. The buzz on social media was considerable, with many students expressing their gratitude and enthusiasm—and perhaps even more alumni wishing that they had had the chance to party at the library when they were still at Rutgers! Club Alex is a great opportunity for us to create an impression of the Libraries that will last in students’ minds well beyond graduation, and we are grateful to be a partner in this event each year.
