Tina Kopel recently celebrated her 55th anniversary at Kingsborough Community College, marking a career that has shaped both the College’s library and the lives of many students and colleagues. At the annual “Years of Service” ceremony, Kopel was honored with a special award designed after the campus’s Shimoda sculpture.

Currently the assistant to the chief librarian at the Robert J. Kibbee Library, she began her career at Kingsborough on the recommendation of her father’s cousin, who had worked at Long Island University with KCC’s future first president, Joel I. Hartstein. “When I first started working at Kingsborough, the library was housed in a barrack, which had previously been used as a maritime training station during World War II,” she said. At that time, there was a strict dress code for women—either a dress or a pantsuit—and the only technology available was a typewriter. She witnessed the campus transform from a merchant marine training station into a full college campus, including the construction of the permanent library building.

Her first day was memorable. “I was late because no one told me that the barrack, which originally housed the library, had burned down and had been relocated to another building. My supervisor was very worried as to what had happened to me, since Human Resources had notified him that I was on my way to meet with him,” Kopel said.

Starting at the library circulation desk, she supervised support staff and trained more than 20 work-study shelvers. Her responsibilities expanded when she was promoted to work directly with the chief librarian. Over the years, Kopel has collected stories and memories, from being mistaken for a student to being thanked by former work-study students, sometimes decades later. One student returned 20 years after graduating to let her know she had achieved her dream of becoming a medical professional so she could help her community.

Kopel credits much of her professional growth to Prof. John Clune, the first chief librarian she worked with. Early in her career, she was hesitant to install library exhibits, but Clune encouraged her to try. “He persisted, so eventually I conceded, and with much trepidation, I installed my first Black History and Woman’s History Month exhibits. They were successful, which gave me the encouragement to continue with the exhibit installations, which I continue to do to this day,” she said.

Clune also convinced Kopel to take over the archival collection and encouraged her to run for College Council. “I did not want to run for this office since I felt I did not have a chance of winning,” she recalled. “Prof. Clune said, ‘If you do not run, you will definitely lose, so what do you have to lose if you run?’ I took his advice and won by a landslide three times in a row. I will never forget him and was the last person to speak with him before his death.”

A little-known fact about Kopel: Her cousin is actor Fisher Stevens, best known for “Short Circuit” 1 and 2, his award-winning role in “Succession” and for co-producing the Oscar-winning documentary “The Cove.”

For Kopel, Kingsborough is more than just a job. “My colleagues are more than coworkers. They have always been there for me, and I consider them more like family than just fellow workers,” she said.

What keeps her motivated is the chance to help students, whether through tutoring or listening. “No man is an island. Everyone needs help at one time or another, and I feel very blessed when I can be that person,” she said. Her advice to new staff: “Make sure you work in a department where you feel you can make a difference, and when you go home, you leave with a feeling of accomplishment.”