About Me

Super Library Girl!

I have have worked in libraries for over 11 years now, currently serving as the children's services librarian at a medium-sized, somewhat rural library.

Prior to that I worked in a nearby large public library system for 7 years in a variety of support and paraprofessional positions: as a page in the the children's department of the urban main library, an early literacy outreach specialist, and a paraprofessional in a very busy suburban branch serving a very diverse community. It was here that I had the opportunity to work with and learn from several excellent children's librarians and gain invaluable experience with programming, customer service, reader's advisory, collection maintenance, and more. 

I liked working at the library so much that I decided to go back to school to get an MLIS and become a full-fledged children's librarian. I really enjoy working not only with children, but with families as well, helping instill a love of reading and connecting people with the materials and services they need. I like doing a little bit of everything: customer service, reference, reader's advisory, collection development, and of course, programming.


Storytime

I am an information junkie, a voracious reader, and I've always enjoyed working with kids, so it would seem that being a children's librarian would be an obvious choice, wouldn't it? However, it took me awhile to come to this realization. Initially I went into science education, and I've been a teacher, a biomedical researcher, and a stay-at-home mom. While a SAHM, I had a cake business on the side and volunteered within the school system in various capacities. When I decided to go back to work part-time, I ended up as a page in the children's department at the public library, and the rest is history. Better late than never!

Elliot the Eurasion Eagle Owl

I do have cats and wear reading glasses, but only occasionally wear cardigans and never a bun. I can find Waldo, I would never let the Pigeon drive the bus, and I know who the monster is at the end of the book. I've never watched Dr. Who, or Downton Abbey, and I'm not a fan of The Walking Dead, but I am a Trekkie-by-marriage, loved The Big Bang Theory, and I could watch Matilda and The Wedding Singer over and over. I read all kinds of books in many genres (lately I've been drawn to historical fiction and biographies) and enjoy most of them, but unlike seemingly everyone else, I do not really have a favorite book or author.

In addition to my cats, I am (finally) an empty-nester with two grown kids, a son who just enlisted in the military, and a daughter who is a bona fide NASA rocket scientist and helicopter pilot. I started this blog as a creative outlet and to document and record the programs I've done and my developing skills back when I was just starting out in libraries, and the focus has changed and evolved along with my career to include all aspects of youth librarianship. Though I started it primarily as a creative outlet for myself, if I can get some feedback or inspire others along the way, so much the better!

I am open to and interested in professional opportunities and collaborations, such as research, writing, reviewing, presenting, training, teaching, committees, advisory boards, etc. You can contact me by email at AdventuresInStorytime@gmail.com, and check out some of my book reviews for middle-grade and up on Goodreads.

*The thoughts and opinions presented on this blog are mine alone, and do not represent any current or past employer. In addition, the issues discussed in commentary and research articles address challenges in the library youth services field as a whole, and do not necessarily represent my specific position or employers, past or present.*