Lakshmi Ariaratnam
Associate Faculty Reference & Instruction Librarian
Lakshmi came to the Butte College Library in August of 2000, after nineteen years as the physical sciences librarian at California State University, Chico. Prior to that, she worked at the Riverside City & County Public Library. She enjoys her interaction with students, faculty and co-workers too much to quit – so instead of retiring she continues to work part time.
Originally from Sri Lanka, Lakshmi taught chemistry and math in a high school in Colombo and worked as a research chemist before coming to California in 1969. She obtained her Masters degree in Library and Information Sciences from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. Since graduation, almost her entire professional career has been in California.
Outside of the library, Lakshmi keeps busy with a wide range of activities. She meditates at the Sky Creek Dharma Center located north of Chico. She introduced Marshall Rosenberg’s ‘Nonviolent Communication’ (CNVC) principles to the Butte College community and is in the process of developing an NVC reading and practice group. Contact her for more information on this.
In addition, she enjoys folk dancing and singing, travel, and has met with the same group of ladies in a book club (now more a potluck + video club) for over 20 years.
She is blessed with five children though she gave birth to only one. Her sons live in Ontario, (Canada), New York, Florida and Sacramento, and her daughter and son-in-law travel extensively for work and have her home in Chico as their permanent address.
Phone: (530) 879-4067
E-mail: AriaratnamLa@butte.edu
Office: 1st floor cubicles, LB