About Me

Super Library Girl!

I currently work in the Outreach Department of a 6-branch public library system, and recently began working on my MLIS degree. This is my second career, and the path that brought me here was fairly convoluted.

My first love was science; as a kid I was always exploring the outdoors and doing "experiments." In high school I took every science course offered, and I never even considered majoring in anything besides biology in college, though I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to do with it. I took additional courses to get certified to teach, went on to get a MS in Microbiology, and worked in research for 5 years, but became very dissatisfied with it.

I was a stay-at-home mom for several years, during which time I had a home-based cake business, volunteered at the preschool and elementary schools my children attended, and even helped coach a state championship track team. When I was ready to go back to work, I decided I didn't want to teach and just wanted to work part-time, so I began applying to libraries. After all, I had customer service experience, loved to read, loved the order and structure, am an information junkie, and libraries are related to education, so it seemed like a natural fit.

Because of my science and research background, you might think I'd be interested in being a reference librarian in a science or medical library. However, I found my true calling while working as a page in the Children's Department of the public library: to be a Youth Service librarian. After 2 years I was promoted to my current position, providing early literacy services to approximately 600-700 preschoolers in area daycares each month, as well as occasionally presenting or assisting with school-age and family programs. I also work the service desk one afternoon a week because I really enjoy the customer service and interacting with all the patrons.

I think what I love about working in the library the most, besides helping people find the materials and information they need, is the variety. No two days are exactly the same. One day may be super busy with school group visits, the next may be slow and a good time to get caught up on program preparation, shelf-reading, organizing, writing bibliographies, collection development, etc. Other days you may have lots of requests for reader's advisory, and the next it might be a mixture of account issues and reference questions. Or an even mixture of all of the above!

After I finish my degree I'd like a position as a Youth Service librarian where I can do a little bit of everything: customer service, reference, reader's advisory, collection development, outreach, and programming for all ages. Preschool storytime is my favorite, but I also love getting my "teacher fix" putting my science and education background to good use in STEAM programming for school-aged kids.