Nicole Steeves

What do you see as your origin story, aka what brought you to this point in life?

My first “serious” job after college was in software development, which was not something I expected as an English major and theatre minor at a liberal arts college. The owners of the software company passionately believed in the value of the humanities to make better technology because that education focuses on writing, critical thinking and empathy. So, I learned on the job and became a technologist. That work, in turn, led me to librarianship because my favorite part of the work was knowledge management, organization and retrieval of information. That inspired me to go to library school and ever since then, I have provided technical communication strategies in many different kinds of library spaces.

Did you always imagine being in your current career?

Absolutely not! My younger self would be shocked to find out that I am anything but a French teacher, which was the plan right through the start of my undergrad. She would definitely appreciate being a librarian, having always been a voracious reader, but being the IT Director at one of the largest library systems in the country would be a real mindbender especially since IT careers didn't exist in my Gen X youth. Even so, I can see the path that went from having my nose always in a book to breaking apart problems until they were solvable.

Looking back, are there any mistakes, missteps, or learnings you are willing to share in this piece?

I wish I could have better understood that even your best work will not make everyone like or appreciate you, for reasons good, bad and everything in between. Straight-A, gold star kids get so much external validation that does not manifest in the same way in the professional world. It took me a long time to sort out when the opinions of others were important, when to put them aside and how to do both of those with any elegance. One of the best parts of working in a field like librarianship is investing time and thought in defining what drives our work. So, this long into my career, I have learned to evaluate my work by how well it supports the mission instead of waiting for a reward from someone else.

What keeps you going professionally?

It's the mission. Libraries are the great leveler of the playing field, making information accessible to every single person, no matter their status or wealth or demographic identity. No matter how hard a day or month or year might be, I sleep well knowing that my work is supporting democracy. It's really special. I also can't overstate how meaningful it is to work with so many people who share these values and are working just as hard in their area of librarianship to bring the mission to life.

What do you find refuels you personally?

My most important relationships are with my husband and children, so spending time with them replenishes my soul. They're funny, smart and we love to explore everything that Chicago has to offer. Being with them in the city we love is magical. Also, it helps when the Cubs are doing well.

What do you see the Nicole of the future, say five years from now, doing?

Professionally, I hope to have an even larger platform for helping people navigate technology. Technology is an emotional landmine for so many and it can be a source of shame and embarrassment when someone isn't able to master some aspect of tech. I have always been good at helping people grasp how technology can help them, how to use it and how to properly understand it in its use. I'd love in five years for that message to resound throughout Chicago and beyond, so that everyone knows they can come to the library to be supported in their relationship with tech.

Are there any strong influences in your life you would call out?

Lucinda Fox and Jon Mancini took a chance on me when they hired an English major to work at a software company. I'll always be grateful for the high standards they held us to and for introducing me to my husband (and hosting our wedding!). I also have a lot of love for Michael Peters, who led the Literature and Language department at CPL when I was a librarian. Michael had a lot of faith in me and opened every door to new opportunities and relationships. I treasure his mentorship.

Anything I did not think to ask that is important in your story?

I don't do any of this alone. I have a partner in life who supports my ambition and keeps me grounded in the important things: family and home. My team at CPL is unparalleled in their library IT expertise and their professionalism and commitment make my work possible. CPL's leadership continues to expand my horizons and understanding of what we can do for Chicagoans. Knowing how I contribute to a larger ecosystem, personal or professional, throws into sharp relief how much I need others and then I wouldn't be anywhere without them.