Debbie Lang, who works in Special Collections and Acquisitions at Eastern New Mexico University's Golden Library, is pursuing a master's degree in library science with an emphasis in special collections and archives at the University of North Texas (UNT).

The Greyhound Grad, who earned a bachelor's degree in university studies with an emphasis in criminal justice and psychology from ENMU in 2006, expects to graduate from UNT with a master's degree and an Archival Certificate in May 2019.

She says her experience studying at UNT has been "amazing. My first semester I had an instructor that has become a mentor and friend to me. She has helped guide me in decisions and helped me to find solutions when problems arise."

Debbie explains that "Preservation," a course she is currently taking, is her "most useful and interesting class.

"This class is teaching the right way to handle damaged books, so they don't become more damaged. I'm learning how to attempt to save items that have been damaged and all the processes involved in that, how to catch books that may need to be repaired in the future, how leather is made, how paper is made, the best paper for archival use and many more things."

The most challenging part of her graduate program has been "making time for everything. There is a lot of work in a master's program, a lot of reading and some projects that have to be completed. I'm married, have four children and work fulltime, so making sure I have time to get everything completed can be a bit of a challenge."

The most rewarding part of pursuing her master's degree has been "learning new things to help improve myself as an employee of the library, learning all I can about the preservation of the special items that we have in Special Collections so we can continue to have these items for many more years.

"The only other more rewarding thing about doing this degree right now is that I am showing my kids that if you have a dream go for it, that at any age you can do anything you set your mind and heart to do," she said.

Debbie started working in the Golden Library's cataloging department while she was pursuing her bachelor's degree and continued to work there while she took some graduate courses at ENMU.

"I loved working in the Golden Library as a student," she explained. "I enjoyed the atmosphere of the library, and the library staff are wonderful people to work with. I loved working there so much that I decided I really wanted to be a librarian. The library setting works great for me because I am hard of hearing so it's quiet in the library and that helps out a bunch."

She started her full-time position at the Golden Library in 2007. In Acquisitions, Debbie orders books, works with the budget in the library system, pays invoices and supervises student workers. In Special Collections, she creates display windows (in the old library building, which is currently being renovated into the Golden Student Success Center), helps patrons when they come in, does archival research for patrons, catalogs books and supervises student workers.

"I do anything that needs to be done, and I love it," she said. "Special Collections and Gene Bundy [Special Collections librarian] are the main reasons that I am pursuing my library science degree."

She credits Gene Bundy and Melveta Walker, director of the Golden Library, for playing a "big part in my decision for my career path as a librarian. They have both encouraged me and let me know that they believe that I am good at my job and only want to help me be better and succeed in my goal to obtain my master's degree in library science."

When asked about her goals for her position at the Golden Library, Debbie responded that she wants to "do my job to the best of my ability and help others find what they need. I want to make Special Collections a place that people want to come back to again and again."

Debbie's favorite part of her job is working in Special Collections because she loves the "atmosphere, the books and the people that I get to help. I enjoy working with the authors that come to the Jack Williamson Lectureship each year; they are some really amazing people. Jack was a great man that everyone seemed to love to be around. Honoring and remembering him and hearing stories about him is something that this small town girl loves."

The Greyhound Grad was born at Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis, New Mexico, and has lived in the Clovis/Portales area all of her life. She currently lives in the "small, but wonderful" community of Arch, New Mexico. Her mother, Rose McClain, worked for the Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) [Debbie notes that the name has changed many times] and at Walmart in the fabric department until she retired. Rose, who "loved to sew, loved material and loved her family with all of her heart," passed away in November 2015 from cancer. Debbie has three older brothers, four older sisters and one younger brother.

Debbie is married to Jay Lang. The celebrated their 15-year wedding anniversary on March 1, 2018. They have four children: JW, Tiffani, Triston and Emily. She added that on Jan. 16, 2018, she became a "Nana to my first grandson Ashton. He is adorable and stole a piece of my heart the minute I met him."

The family lives on a farm. Their dog Gizmo, a Shih Tzu who is turning six this year, is a "sweet, loving, protective dog; my life wouldn't be the same without the little guy." They also have two outside Blue Healers, Mini and Haas.

"My heart is full with the love I have for my family and, yes, my pets are family too. I think that my family is one of my greatest accomplishments," said the UNT graduate student, who volunteers for Meals on Wheels during "Library Month."

Debbie previously worked at the Portales Walmart the first year it opened and held temp jobs through a temp agency. She stayed home with her children when they were little and started taking classes. She studied in the middle of the night or when they were taking naps.

The Greyhound Grad's role model is her mother. "My mom was and always will be my greatest influence and role model. She showed me that anything was possible. She was a strong, beautiful, kind and loving woman, who I miss daily.

"She always pushed me to be better than I was the day before, she taught me to believe in myself, she showed me the meaning of being a mother, she always found strength even when she was ready to give up, and she never did. She loved with all her heart and soul. I only hope that I can be half the person she was."

Debbie's favorite hobbies include reading [local writer Darynda Jones is one of her favorite authors], going to the lake and spending time with her family who is "everything" to her.