Faculty of the Week: Laura Clark Wood

By:  ASHLEY JANE, HANNAH PARK, and ROXANE PARK

Tucked away in an alcove on the first floor of the Class of 1945 Library, you will find a 15 foot recessed bookshelf stacked with manuscripts which have sat untouched for decades. Stretching toward the even higher ceilings and framed by warm cascading light, this bookshelf is the grand centerpiece of Director of the Academy Library Laura Clark Wood’s office. 

Like the hidden nature of her office, Wood’s role focuses on the behind- the-scenes operations of the Library. “I am less likely to be the person you meet if you went to ask for help,” Wood explained. “I’m helping the staff figure out how to do what we need to do, [...] and [establish] our priorities as a team [in order to] best meet the needs of the faculty and the students here.” 

Wood also oversees the Academy Library’s collaborations with other departments on campus. “Within the community, [my role is] making sure that the Library stays relevant––[concentrating on] how we build relationships with other departments to make sure we’re meeting their needs and looking for opportunities to create new events, partnerships or programs for students.”

Dean of Faculty Eimer Page affirmed Wood’s ability and expertise in her role. “Ms. Wood brings to us an ideal combination of experience at world-class educational institutions and a deep interest in collaboration with academic departments,” Page said. “She is equipped with exactly the skills we need to bring the Library to its full potential within our campus.”

Wood found her love for books early. Growing up in a rather homogenous town in North Shore, Massachusetts, she frequently turned to reading as “a way to have new experiences and understand other people and other perspectives,” an interest which later blossomed into her love for research and longstanding librarian career.

“I love to do research, and I love to help other people [with] research that results in their writing,” Wood shared. “Libraries are a big part of [the research] process, so I became more and more interested in libraries as a way for me to be a part of the educational world.”

According to Associate Director of the Library Beth Rohloff, Wood’s experience in research is wide-ranging. “[Ms. Wood has served] in leadership roles at Harvard, Tufts, and Emory, so she has a unique perspective in knowing what type of research students are doing at the college level and what services and collections are at their disposal,” Rohloff explained.

With her extensive experience working at the university level, the Academy appealed to Wood as a tight-knit high school institution. “I wanted to continue being in a place where educational excellence is really at the heart of what we do, but to do it in a smaller community where there was a greater commitment to building the community and students as whole people,” Wood said.

“At the university level, it can get very intense and be very much about advanced research and people launching to do other things. There’s something about the high school years where you’re really focused on being here for this time period,” Wood continued.

Just two weeks into the term, Wood is already excited to help connect the Exeter community to the Library. “Some students think of the Library as a very intense place,” she reflected, “because it’s where they do hard work and a very academic place. Other people think of the Library as more of a place to hang out or to just have a spot that they can go to regularly.” 

To benefit all visitors to the Library, Wood is launching a new initiative of Library affirmations. “We will be putting up little statements, that is our message from the Library staff to students, to say ‘it’s going to be okay,’ and ‘you’ve got this,’ and ‘we’re on your side,’ and ‘we believe in you,’” Wood said. “We want you to see the Library as an ally in your studies here.”

When not planning Library operations or cozying up with her own book to enjoy, Wood loves to repurpose old items and dabbles in woodworking. “I like to build things, and I like to do things with my hands,” Wood shared. “I have very little woodworking knowledge, but I’ve realized that you can just try things and they don’t necessarily work out perfectly, but you can have a lot of fun doing it.”

Wood recounted her most recent woodworking exploit. “This past weekend, I finished making a bench using the headboard and footboard of a bed. It was mostly to reuse something that I got at an auction for $5,” Wood said. “I took the footboard and cut it in half. I had to get lumber to build the seat part, then I painted it, and now it looks like a real piece of furniture.” 

In her free time, Wood also loves to be outdoors. One of the things that she is most excited about, having recently moved to New Hampshire with her wife and son, is all of the hiking opportunities that the state has to offer. “During the pandemic, I did a lot of shorter hikes in Massachusetts because it was local, outside, and safe,” Wood shared. “Now, I’m really interested in seeing various parks and mountains on walks and hikes around the area. I’m also ambitious to tackle some of the 4,000 footers!”

Wood’s kindness and enthusiastic work ethic has already shined in her short time at the Academy and is evident to her co-workers. “I appreciate that Ms. Wood has enthusiastically jumped right into meeting and connecting with members of the Exeter Community,” Rohloff said. “She has a keen interest in learning as much as she can about our students, teachers, and community members to ensure that the Library is providing the proper support needed.”

Fellow Library staff member Melinda Dolan praised Wood and her drive to make a “welcoming and open” Library community. “She is an extremely articulate, thoughtful and kind person interested in having the Library be the hub of the Academy campus.” Dolan described. “I’m most excited about [her] new interpretations of what a Library can and should be on a campus such as ours and how she will implement those necessary changes.”

One thing Wood hopes that students keep in mind is to “read for pleasure, [and] not just for academics” during their time at the Academy. “Whether it’s newspapers, graphic novels, historical fiction, or [...] anything, I would like [reading] to stay a part of your life, not just a chore that you have to do,” Wood emphasized.

“I encourage students, whether as a member of a club, class, or on your own, to reach out to Ms. Wood if there is something you have wondered about in terms of the Library or have an idea about how the Library can better support your Exeter experience,” Rohloff said. “She wants to hear from you! I also encourage you to speak to anyone from the Library staff as Ms. Wood has made a point of getting to know each and every one of us.”

“She’s a very kind person and would want you to feel free to approach her with any ideas that you might have for the Library,” Dolan added.