Goggles and flippers in the library

“Some days I have so much fun in the library. Who would have thought? I have worked in the library of the VUB since February 1998. The craziest thing I have ever experienced was when a student walked into the library wearing goggles and flippers. He was carrying a beach ball and asked: “Sir, what is the shortest way to the sea?” Upon which I answered: “You should go with the competition cause that’s already enough wetness.” This way, I have already seen a lot of craziness from the students, but I always laugh about it. The atmosphere is always cozy with such young people around me. The organization of the library has changed in a very positive way. Back in the day there was a triumvirate where all the decisions were made regarding the library, but now it has changed to a staff meeting where multiple people can decide about the daily affairs with regards to the library. There were also plans to carry out some physical reforms in the library, namely a front and back desk, but that still hasn’t happened. The VUB has changed physically because when I first started working here, I could see the buildings named F and G. Those changes are all positive of course, but the one thing that has always stayed with me is the fact that people on the street recognize me as “the man from the library”. I chose not to be in the group photo hanging in the hallway, but I am still recognized by a lot of students.”

On the occasion of the VUB’s 50th anniversary, prof. dr. Martina Temmerman asked the students in her introductory course on journalism genres to make portraits of people on the VUB campus. The ‘snapshots’ resulting from the project Humans of the VUB offer a lovely cross section of life on our university campus in 2019/20.