Welcome to our Library Joy Series in honor of National Library Week! Here we are highlighting some of our amazing staff to share how and why they love what they do. Next up is Meg, a Youth Services Associate at Main Library.
Why did you decide to get into Library work?
I’ve wanted to work for a library for as long as I can remember! Until I was eighteen years old, I lived in a small town without a public library and with a shared middle school and high school library. Going to the nearest library always felt a little like a “special treat.” As a huge reader I loved the access to books, but I can never forget how in awe I was when I discovered that libraries also have amazing programming. Anime clubs, crafts, themed fandom parties, and so many more free events that I didn’t know were possible! I wasn’t able to go to these events, though. Nevertheless, even without one in my own community, I always felt welcomed, safe, and encouraged in that library and every library I’ve visited since then. Without my own, I was very aware of their importance in a community, and I knew that I wanted to be a part of a library to make other people feel just as happy and helped as they’ve always made me. Now here I am working at KCKPL!
What is your favorite part about working for a library?
There’s so many parts I love, but I especially love helping people find something. Whether that’s finding a book they’ve forgotten the name of, a local food bank, the right book to help strengthen their reading skills, or just giving them a hint for our library scavenger hunts! I’m always willing to help when I can and it feels good when I succeed in it.
Do you have a book or collections recommendation?
I really love juvenile and young adult novel in verses! They’re narrative novels that read like poetry rather than typical prose, and I think they’re great reads for middle and high schoolers. My favorite juvenile novel in verse is Dear Mothman by Robin Gow and my favorite young adult novel in verse is Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds.
What's a fun fact about you?
Along with planning library programming, I also do film programming at a nonprofit microcinema in KCMO called Stray Cat Film Center! I program all kinds of movies there, but my favorite part is helping facilitate programs and events with community organizations. Come talk to me about movies sometime!
Keep checking back all week to meet more of our staff or stop by one of locations today!
Dear Mothman
After the death of his best friend and the only other trans boy at school, Noah starts writing letters expressing his feelings to the humanoid creature Mothman and risks everything when he treks into the woods to prove Mothman's existence.
Long Way Down
As Will, fifteen, sets out to avenge his brother Shawn's fatal shooting, seven ghosts who knew Shawn board the elevator and reveal truths Will needs to know.