I am a fan of helping people…books…fairy gardens…and (of course) coffee…

Those who know me, know that I am a big fan of crafting, creativity and stories. I also have a firm belief that with enough coffee, anything is possible. With most of my work experience in customer service roles, coupled with my love of education, books and stories, it seems pretty sensible that my next step would be towards a role in a library. I am also a mom and watching my child grow and develop a love for reading has been a very inspiring experience. Seeing a light in my child’s eyes when making connections between books, learning and her life experiences has been both a privilege and an honor.

Why libraries? I practically grew up in my hometown library. (I can still remember how it felt to be in the library, how the books smelled and the people who were always there to help.) I am the daughter of two loving, working-class parents that value education and reading. My father taught me the importance of education to better oneself and my mother is a writer and former teacher. I have stayed with my current employer for over 20 years because the cornerstone of any position there was to help people. I want to continue to help people, but have decided that a focus on helping kids find books that they’ll love forever will be a great way to spend the next 20 years. Through books we can collaborate, travel and of course we can learn. Books are opportunities, gateways and pathways. The opportunities to grow are only limited by ourselves.

I decided about four years ago to start looking into pursuing my Master’s Degree in Library Science. I determined the best course would be to first look into ALA accredited programs and came across the online Masters of Information program through Rutgers University. (Rutgers has been accredited with the ALA since 1954 and the program is top rated and nationally recognized.) I absolutely loved this program. One of my favorite courses was my course on K - 12 International Books. I am a strong believer in various perspectives and diversity in learning and literature. Taking a world tour through the pages of books was an amazing experience. The artistry and complexity of stories and images with various ideas that allow children to see themselves and to make connections with their own experiences is a very powerful thing. That these stories come from around the world help us to see that in some ways we are not so different, in others ways we are — things to celebrate, challenges to work to resolve, problems to tackle.

Regardless of where I land, I am most looking forward to collaborating with others. After years of working for a very small company (you can count the employees on two hands and have a few fingers left over) and being a department of one, I am excited about the exchange of ideas with a common goal of helping others. (Even if being a librarian meant being a department of one again, it would still afford me the opportunity to collaborate with others - since that is the very nature of a librarian’s work.) Libraries are such an important part of the community. Regardless of the type of library, maker-space, learning commons, or hub - it has the capacity to bring innovation, inspiration and joy to those that use it. I really want to be a part of that. Now that I’ve completed my degree I am taking other certifications and courses to stay on tope of skills and trends in librarianship. Learning never stops, and this journey of mine has only just begun. (With coffee in hand…) I am ready for the next steps.