I oversee the operations, including budget, staff recruitment, training, and evaluation, of the second largest branch in the Yolo County Library system. We are currently undergoing a move from an 8,000 square foot temporary location into a brand-new 18,000+ square foot building. Opening Day is October 10th so life is currently a chaos of boxes, books, furniture, equipment set-up, event planning, and the hope that I don’t forget something of major importance. Prior to this position, I was a Reference Librarian at the Yolo County Library’s Mary L. Stephens branch in Davis and before that worked for Monterey County Free Libraries as Principal Librarian at the Seaside Branch and Supervising Librarian at the Carmel Valley Branch.

My project at the Institute will be to work on streamlining and centralizing our Collection Development process. I hope to obtain some practical tools for transitioning the Library from a branch-specific model of selection to a system-wide one, as well as to grow my leadership skills, especially the ability to facilitate staff acceptance of a method that they are unfamiliar with and wary of. I am also eager to benefit from the knowledge of my colleagues in the field and develop a resource-sharing and support network of peers outside my organization.

Yolo County Library, Interim Branch Manager, Arthur F. Turner Community Library, West Sacramento.