MCC Proud: Meet Rick Squires

January 8, 2025

Rick Squires is a Collection Development Librarian at Monroe Community College (MCC). He is in his 30^th year at MCC and set to retire later this month.

“I’ve haunted libraries since I was a kid, and when I grew tired of my legal editing job, the lure of library school beckoned,” he said. “It was what I was meant to do.”

Outside of MCC, Rick can be found in movie theaters or in front of the TV watching horror films. Actor Vincent Price is a special favorite, on and off the big screen. “His varied interests in film, art, cooking, and social issues inspired me to explore my many interests,” said Squires.

Squires met Vincent Price in 1980 and later established the website VincentPriceExhibit.com in 1999. Because of his website, Squires was contacted by Fox/MGM about appearing in some of the ‘extra features’ on a box set of Price’s films. He was also invited to participate in Vincentennial, the 100^th anniversary of Price’s birth in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri in 2011.

“It was a two-week festival, during which I introduced a couple of his films and had the good fortune to meet director Roger Corman,” said Squires.

His interest didn’t stop there. Squires even published a book about horror writer H. P. Lovecraft’s Rochester family and gave tours of Mt. Hope Cemetery.

In addition to being a member of the New York Library Association (NYLA), Squires is also involved with a couple of film organizations – with his favorite being the Buster Keaton Society.

When asked what suggestions he would give current or prospective students, Squires said, “Explore everything that interests you. In exploring your interests, you really discover who you are. MCC is a great place to do that, with its wonderful faculty, varied programs, and – of course – fantastic library!”

Squires graduated from MCC in 1977, continued at SUNY Brockport, and received his MLA from the University at Buffalo.

Congratulations on your impending retirement Rick! Thank you for your many years of service to MCC! Enjoy travelling with your wife and spending time with your kids and grandkids.

Fun Facts about Rick:

If you had to eat the same meal at least once a day, what would it be? New England clam chowder from Mike’s Clam Shack in Wells, Maine.
Favorite Movie? This changes from time to time, but right now it’s the 1995 Johnny Depp film Dead Man. I’ve watched it 10 times over the past 3 months.
Favorite Sports Team? The Rochester Red Wings, of course!
Biggest Fear? The current world situation, especially for my grandchildren.
Is there anything about you that people are surprised to learn? Five years ago, my wife and I hosted a friend who once appeared on the original Star Trek series, as well as having voiced the cat, Sgt. Tibs, in Disney’s 101 Dalmatians.
If you could attend a dinner with any celebrity, living or dead, who would you choose? No surprise there. Vincent Price.
Do you prefer staying up late or waking up early in the morning? I have always been a night owl. I’m looking forward to returning to that status when I retire!
Share the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you. To be yourself. It always sounds so easy. But to do so you need to believe in yourself completely.
What destination do you hope to visit one day? Scotland, without question.
What activities do you participate in over the weekend? Watching movies, having family over, and relaxing.

Rick Squires