Meet Jane Chirgwin

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jane Chirgwin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jane, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

I am finding that experience helps counter imposter syndrome. Questioning your capability never really goes away, but it can be countered by years of having done the thing without anyone throwing you out or telling you that what you are doing is wrong. Also, looking around and seeing the truly unqualified in positions of power, while disquieting, shows that you can’t be as bad as that.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a library Director for a small urban library, a crafter (Jane’s Folly on Etsy), and a blogger. I am currently trying out a new craft a month and blogging my experiences each week.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Curiosity and the willingness to fail have helped me continue to grow and learn. As a librarian, almost any new thing you learn can be applied to the job, whether it is creating a website, learning about psychological development, or how to crochet. If something makes you curious, jump into learning about it, evaluate the source of information, and count failures as completed steps on the learning process.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

Running an underfunded library where I am the only full time person, trying to improve literacy and lifelong learning in the community, while being compared to libraries with much bigger budgets, staff, and community involvement.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://JanesFolly.org