THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 1, 1995 TAG: 9509290155
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Close Up
LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
Librarian Renee Ferebee never loses sleep over missing books or overdue notices.
That's because Ferebee works in a library where books can't be checked out.
She's the public law librarian in the city's Circuit Court building at 601 Crawford St.
Although few residents realize it, the Portsmouth Law Library is open to the general public as well as to lawyers and judges researching legal issues.
About 80 percent of its patrons have some ties to the legal profession, while lay people make up the other 20 percent, Ferebee said.
The library is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Ferebee, a 1976 graduate of I.C. Norcom High School, works part time and is available to assist patrons until 1 p.m. daily.
She cannot give legal advice or interpret legal materials, but Ferebee can help you sort through the myriad of opinions, statutes and regulations contained in the library's collection.
``In a public library, you're giving advice and you're trying to tell people, `This is what you do.' Here, you don't give advice. You only try to help them find a book to help themselves,'' she said.
The Portsmouth native started at the law library in May after her husband retired from the U.S. Air Force last year. At the time Ferebee took the reins, the law library had been without a librarian for nearly a year.
``It was a challenge, but it made the days go faster,'' she said with a laugh.
Initially, Ferebee's most daunting task was updating law books, supplements and publications, which are constantly changing.
Although she doesn't have a degree in library science, Ferebee has worked most of her adult life in the field, receiving her first break at 18 in the library at DePaul Medical Center School of Nursing.
``At the time, I wanted to be a commercial artist,'' said Ferebee.
``Library work wasn't my chosen field, but I enjoyed books and I enjoyed people. . . and that's where most of my experience ended up.''
Ferebee hasn't yet given up on her dream of one day becoming an artist. Now that she's back home to stay, Ferebee may return to Norfolk State, where she started working toward a degree in fine arts nearly 20 years ago.
``Right now I'm trying to decide if I want to go back and finish out my major and maybe minor in counseling or psychology,'' said Ferebee, who is interested in pursuing a career in art therapy to help people who have difficulty expressing themselves.
Name: Mildred Renee Ferebee
Nickname: Nee'
Neighborhood: North Truxton
Number of years in Portsmouth: 23 years total
Birthplace: Portsmouth
Birthday: Oct. 19
Occupation: Law librarian
What job other than your own would you like? Artist or counselor
Marital status: Married
Children: None
Fondest childhood memory: Driving to the country in the fall of the year with my parents
First concert: Shirley Cesar in 1972, Portsmouth
What song or book title best describes your life? ``I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings''
If you won the lottery, what's the very first thing you'd buy? I would buy something for my husband, whatever he wanted.
If you could trade places for just one day with anyone in the world, who would it be and why? I wouldn't trade places with anyone because everyone has problems; they many not show them outwardly, but the problems are there.
Biggest accomplishment: Surviving as an Air Force wife
Most embarrassing moment: Any time I forget names when making introductions
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I would like to be more compassionate.
Perfect way to spend the day: My husband and myself trying a new restaurant or visiting an area of Portsmouth or the surrounding areas
I can't resist: Yard sales or shopping
Favorite Portsmouth restaurant: Terri's
Favorite Portsmouth hangout: Portside and the Seawall
Biggest problem facing Portsmouth: Keeping people, businesses and families from moving away
If you had three wishes for Portsmouth, what would they be?
Portsmouth would be the beautiful city it was when I was a child
New companies and businesses would make Portsmouth their home
Portsmouth would not have any crime problems
Other than its small-town atmosphere, what do you like about living in Portsmouth? The availability of things to do for little or no money ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
by CNB