I'm an urban librarian. I help people find information; read books, play games, and make crafts with kids; visit classes; sing songs with preschoolers; select (and weed) media for ages 0-18; create and tell flannelboard stories; teach parents about early literacy; keep the peace (when I can!); and paint over graffiti.

I've been a children's librarian for 3 1/2 years at the Angeles Mesa Branch of Los Angeles Public Library. I have an MLIS degree from UCLA, but I learned practical library skills while working as a substitute in all branches of the Cambridge (Massachusetts) Public Library. That job, and the encouragement of friends there, drew me to a full-time career in this field. Previously I worked as a campus minister with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, cleaned hotel rooms at Yosemite National Park, and opened mail for the MIT Admissions Office—giving me practice in outreach/event planning, hospitality, and stamp collecting.

Despite my current setting in the heart of Los Angeles, my roots are in rural Northern California. I love country life, but my hometown had no library. That heritage helped to give me passion for unserved/underserved communities, as did lots of community service during my college years in the Boston area. Now, through my job, I am available to wholeheartedly serve the kids and families of an inner-city neighborhood. Of course, I don't always know how to do that well, and I hope the Eureka! Institute will show me more about developing and implementing relevant ideas in effective ways. I also want to learn to lead by example and gain strategies for communicating—how can I best translate my enthusiasm into words/actions that will encourage and motivate my colleagues, both at this branch and throughout the system?

Like many librarians, I enjoy green living, knitting/crocheting, reading, and cooking. I also love playing sports, learning to follow Jesus, riding my bike, and going on adventures with my husband.