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Lines & Links
Your Connection to Reading, Learning, and Growing since 1963 | SUMMER 2022
You have worked in libraries for two decades. What is your library story? Why do you love libraries and how did you wind up in this field? Surprisingly, I don’t have a library origin story. My mom always took us to the library as kids, but I never thought about it as a career. I worked several jobs after college: insurance regulation, legal research, and construction law office, before deciding to go back to graduate school. One of my favorite professors at John Carroll University suggested I go to graduate school for Library Science. He described it as a vocation and worthy purpose in life. Luckily, I had enough trust in him to take his advice blindly and applied for the MLIS program at KSU that same week. During and after graduate school, I had positions in special and academic libraries. When I started working as a substitute at Cuyahoga County Public Library, I knew I had found my place in public libraries. I loved the interaction with the public and the element of surprise with each reference question. As I grew in my career, I came to truly value the public library as an essential institution in our communities. My favorite library quote is “There is no problem that a library card can’t solve” by Eleanor Brown. You served as the Interim Director since August 2021. How was the transition? The transition from Interim to Director has been surprising at times but also very smooth. We have a great staff at GCPL. Everyone does an excellent job providing library services to the community or supporting day-to-day operations. The staff have been supportive and helpful every step of the way. Since the onset of the pandemic, the world has changed a great deal and at a fast pace. What are some of the most important things that you learned through the challenges of the past couple of years and how can they help you to lead GCPL forward?
IN THIS ISSUE Seed Library Patio Fun Family Fun Night at the Drive-in
I think being flexible and adapting to the changing needs of the patron in real time is one of the biggest challenges we face, but also the most important lesson we have learned over the past two years. For example, if anyone would have told me three years ago that the library would be
"...the staff continues to be GCPL's most valuable resource." distributing take home medical tests to the public, I would have thought they were crazy. But the Ohio Department of Health asked libraries to assist with the service because we have the experience and expertise in delivering items directly to the public. At times, the demand created staffing and workflow challenges, but it was a valuable service for the community and the patron response was overwhelmingly positive. Probably the most important lesson, which was actually just a reminder, is that the staff continues to be GCPL’s most valuable resource. They have been creative, hardworking, and flexible through every change and challenge. They continue to operate as a team, collaborating on difficult projects, while treating each other and the community with respect and kindness. As a library Director, it is a given that you read a lot. Can you tell us a few other library resources that you use in your daily life? I use Hoopla to listen to music while I drive between Branches. The selection and availability is amazing. I also frequently use Brainfuse: Skillsurfer and Flashbulb when I am helping my 13 year-old with homework. The flashcard and practice tests are a regular part of our study routine. Last month, I took an inLearning class on the Foundations of Data Analytics, which was very useful as we review usage statistics for 2021. Great Courses is on heavy rotation at our house as well. We recently watched the “Everyday Guide to Beer” which covered 8,000 years of beer history and how to pair beer with foods, which is something I never even considered before watching the lectures. Continued on pg. 2