I am always exploring new ways to continue my education and expand my professional skills.
Memberships & Committee Work
American Library Association, 2015 – present
- Member, Ethnic & Multicultural Information Exchange RT
- Member, Games & Gaming RT
- Member, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender RT
- Member, Graphic Novel and Comics RT
Association for Library Services to Children, 2016 – present
- 2020 ALSC Notable Children’s Recordings Chair
- 2019-2021 ALSC Education Committee Member
- 2018-2019 ALSC Notable Children’s Recordings Committee Member
Helped create 2018 ALSC Notable Children’s Recordings List
Helped create 2019 ALSC Notable Children’s Recordings List
Ohio Library Council, 2016 – present
- Children’s Services Division Action Council Member, January 2019 – 2021
- Member, Children’s Services Division and Young Adult Services Division 2016 – present
Public Library Association, 2018 – present
Young Adult Library Services Association, 2016 – present
Professional Development & Continuing Education
Grant Writing and Crowdfunding for Public Libraries, March-April 2019: I completed the University of Michigan’s online course Grant Writing and Crowdfunding for Public Libraries, part of their Public Library Management professional certificate program.
Supercharged Storytimes, January-March 2019: I completed the online Supercharged Storytimes self-paced course through WebJuncton in early 2019 along with an in-person learning circle with my peers at Westerville Public Library.
Ohio Digital Media Training by the State Library of Ohio, November 2016: I attended an all-day Media Mentorship training sponsored by the State Library of Ohio at Worthington Libraries in November 2016. Throughout 2017, I trained my fellow youth librarians on the concepts I learned and implemented media mentor techniques throughout my department through programming and reference services.
ALSC Mentoring Program, Class of 2016 (Mentee): As a mentee in the ALSC mentor program, I met virtually with my mentor, Megan Egbert once a month. We set specific program goals that involved reviewing the responsibilities of each ALSC committee, interviewing various youth librarians about their jobs, and creating a shared list of resources for continued education.
Certifications
Certified Public Librarian, Ohio Library Council, 2017 – present
Publications
60 Ready to Use Coding Projects
I am contributing three sections to the upcoming book edited by Ellyssa Valenti and published by the American Library Association, expected to publish in 2019.
Bookmarks Column
I contribute youth titles matched to a theme to Westerville Magazine every other month.
Presentations
Baby Time Boredom, 2019 Ohio Library Council Expo (October 2019)
Co-presenting with Sarah Simpson.
Babies’ brains double in size during their first year of life. While babies learn faster than older children and adults, many libraries offer little programming for this age range. Take baby time beyond traditional storytimes by thinking outside of the box. Join Westerville Public Library to learn about special programming for ages 0-3 such as babywearing dance, STEM baby play, and sensory exploration, and discover tips on how to cultivate a cost-effective baby toy collection focusing on specific developmental stages. After the presentation, you will get some hands-on playtime with baby-friendly STEM and sensory toys.
Blog Posts
Follow my blog at bookcartqueens.com.
Robot Obstacle Course, Jbrary, April 16, 2019
Book Reviews
- Descendants – Evie’s Wicked Runway Book 2, Diamond BookShelf
- Toy Story 2-in-1, Diamond BookShelf
Press
Making ugly art is the task for young artists at Westerville library
The Columbus Dispatch | April 8, 2019
Westerville Public Library Will Be Transformed Into A Wizarding Wonderland For Wizards & Wands Festival
The Columbus Navigator | October 2018
