Member Spotlight - Chris Houchens
June 23, 2025
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This week's ILA member spotlight shines on Chris Houchens. Chris is the director of the Charleston Carnegie Public Library in Charleston, Illinois. He serves as a director-at-large on the ILA Executive Board, and a member of the ILA Finance Committee.
We asked Chris to answer a few professional and amusing questions. Continue reading to find out more about Chris.
A little background on Chris
Hi, everybody! I’m Chris Houchens, and I am the Director of the Charleston Carnegie Public Library. I started here in 2017, and before that, I was an MLIS student at the University of Illinois where I worked as a supervisor for the Residence Hall Library System.
I also hold a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in English from Eastern Illinois University. I also worked at the Charleston Library as a clerk while I was an undergrad student at EIU. I prefer the Mighty Nein, but I like VM and BH too. If you understand that sentence, we can be best friends. If you don’t, we can still be friends…just not best.
How did you get your start in libraries?
I grew up in a library. My mother worked at the Minooka Branch of the Three Rivers Public Library District, which was a block away from our house. Plus, it was on the way when walking home from school, so I spent a lot of time at that library. Professionally, I found myself drawn to libraries because I wanted to work in an organization that was dedicated to helping people, and that is what libraries do.
Best advice you've received since starting your career in libraries?
Write it down.
Seriously, write everything down. Carry a notebook around with you. You never know when you’ll have an idea, or be given a name for someone you want to talk to, or remember you forgot to file some report, and you must do it the moment you get back to your office. Write it all down.
Any advice to newcomers working in libraries?
Take the time to enjoy the work. To appreciate what a library is and what a library can be, and don’t forget to have fun. Libraries hold a lot of responsibility to their communities, and we do a lot of important work, but don’t forget that working at a library should be fun.
When and why did you become a member of ILA?
I became a member of ILA in 2018. I was recruited to join the Advocacy Committee, and I said yes because I wanted to be involved in the larger spectrum of our profession.
How has being a member of ILA helped you professionally?
ILA has been able to help me network with so many great librarians across the state, and it helps keep me up to date with what is going on and what can be done to support libraries at the state and national level.
What is your proudest professional achievement to date?
I am most proud of how our library responded to navigating an unprecedented global pandemic while prioritizing staff and community safety. I am grateful to work with an amazing Library Board that fully supported our efforts to ensure our staff was as safe as possible while we had to figure out what a public library was and how a public library can safely operate in such anomalous times.
Hardcover, paperback, e-reader, audiobook, or all?
I’ll dabble in all forms, but when push comes to shove, I’ll take a hardcover.
Favorite authors?
I’m on a real Matt Dinniman kick right now. The Dungeon Crawler Carl series is a lot of fun. Frank Herbert—I’ll revisit Dune every year or two. Also, Lincoln Child and Douglas Preston; the Pendergast series is so good.
If you were stuck on a deserted island, what five books would you want with you to pass the time until being rescued?
- Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
- Dune by Frank Herbert
- The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson (I’ve never read it but I want to, but the size and scope of this book and series is intimidating. A deserted island stay seems like a good time to start.)
- Grave Peril by Jim Butcher (I started the Dresden Files series last summer and this is the next one I’m on.)
- A Dictionary (I’ll be the most verbose survivor ever.)
Cat or Dog?
Dog—even though I grew up with cats—the answer is dog.
Favorite film, podcast, or television show?
This one is hard to answer. I really like movies and have a lot of favorites. With that said, I’ll just cheat and say anything with The Muppets. I love the Muppets. Have you all seen The Muppets Mayhem on Disney+? It’s a great show. Give it a shot.
One person you would like to meet, dead or alive why?
LeVar Burton. Why? Does it really need an explanation? He’s awesome. He has had such a profound impact on so many people. Whether it is Roots or Star Trek or Reading Rainbow. LeVar Burton is in the pantheon of good celebrities doing good things, and for clarification, that pantheon includes (but is not limited to) Mr. Rogers, Steve Irwin, Bob Ross, and Bill Nye.
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