Staff

Share a childhood library memory: My home library was in Door County, Wisconsin, which is known for its cherry orchards. The library rented the "Cherry Train" which is a pedestrian tram that hosts daily tours. Children rode the Cherry Train while the librarian read a story over the loud speaker. It is a memorable event hosted during summer reading and the tradition still continues to this day!
What’s an unexpected skill you have? I played in a Mahjong tournament this year!
What’s a food you could eat every day? Cheese, but I'm lactose intolerant! Isn't that rude?!?
What’s your go‑to coffee or tea order? Decaf, unsweet iced tea
A place you’ve traveled that you’d love to revisit? Paris, France
A fictional world you’d love to visit? Land of the Dead in the movie Coco. I love the colors!
An album you can listen to on repeat: Brushfire Fairytales by Jack Johnson
Your favorite thing about working at NMPL: My co-workers! They are the best!

Share a childhood library memory: Summer Reading programs at the library every year, but most specifically, the year where the theme was North Manchester, and the game board was all streets/landmarks around town. We had moved to the area recently, and this experience helped the town feel like home!
What’s an unexpected skill you have? I can code for websites
What’s a food you could eat every day? Sourdough bread, a runny egg, and an heirloom tomato. And fruit. ANY fruit.
What’s your go‑to coffee or tea order? A chai or a cafe miel
A place you’ve traveled that you’d love to revisit? Spain
A fictional world you’d love to visit? The Shire from the Lord of the Rings
An album you can listen to on repeat? The Cosmic Selector, Vol. 1 by Lord Huron and The Great Divide: The Last of the Bugs by Noah Kahan
Your favorite thing about working at NMPL: I can use all my skills, hobbies, and creativity here at work!

Share a childhood library memory: Moving to Indiana from California was a tough transition as a 10 year old!  I had just discovered the Baby-Sitters Club books at the San Luis Obispo Library. In addition to missing all my friends, I sadly concluded that I would also miss out on this amazing series.  Imagine my delight to walk into the library here and discover a whole shelf full of BSC books!  It was a small thing but it helped (especially because Dawn's storyline was so similar).
What’s an unexpected skill you have? Packing for trips
What’s a food you could eat every day? Tom Khai Gai
What’s your go‑to coffee or tea order? Matcha
A place you’ve traveled that you’d love to revisit? Winneba, Ghana
A fictional world you’d love to visit? Narnia
An album you can listen to on repeat? The Lord of the Rings soundtracks
Your favorite thing about working at NMPL: The programming and the people!

Share a childhood library memory: When I was about age five, my first library finally removed the card catalog, completely transitioning over to a computer searchable library catalog.
What’s an unexpected skill you have? I can juggle (3 items max).
What’s a food you could eat every day? Ramen
What’s your go‑to coffee or tea order? Coffee, black.
A place you’ve traveled that you’d love to revisit? Frankfort, KY
A fictional world you’d love to visit? The Dreaming (Sandman). Specifically, the library overseen by Lucien.
An album you can listen to on repeat? Pain is Beauty by Chelsea Wolfe
Your favorite thing about working at NMPL? Curating the books, films, and games of the adult department collection.

Share a childhood library memory: Oddly enough, I actually did not grow up in the library. I didn't set foot in a library until I was 17. Now here I am working in one and didn't realize it was my dream job.
What’s an unexpected skill you have? I run and compete in races with my daughter Evie. We run 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons and triathlons!
What’s a food you could eat every day? Any kind of potato! (Mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, French fries, tater tots, hash browns... they're all beautiful.)
What’s your go‑to coffee or tea order? Cafe Miel (espresso, milk, honey and cinnamon)
A place you’ve traveled that you’d love to revisit? Vienna, Austria!
A fictional world you’d love to visit? The Midnight Library
An album you can listen to on repeat? I go through music phases so there's no ONE album I can always listen to.
Your favorite thing about working at NMPL? The staff for sure. I've said it before and I will say it again: NMPL has the BEST staff which leads to a great environment. That, and maybe the fact that I can turn my interests and hobbies into programs.

Share a childhood library memory: I spent a lot of time at the school library, and made only one visit to our local library. Still to this day, I love to walk the stacks and window shop books.
What’s an unexpected skill you have? Energy Reading
What’s a food you could eat every day? This time of year, a Blue Ribbon Star Bar!!
What’s your go‑to coffee or tea order? An Americano - no room for cream or sugar
A place you’ve traveled that you’d love to revisit? Sedona, AZ
A fictional world you’d love to visit? Stars Hollow
An album you can listen to on repeat? Folklore by Taylor Swift
Your favorite thing about working at NMPL? The Staff! Best group of people I've ever worked with!

Share a childhood library memory: Coming to the library and playing Neopets and What's Her Face on the computers with my sister.
What’s an unexpected skill you have? I'm not really sure... maybe crafting. This is a hard question!
What’s a food you could eat every day? Mexican food
What’s your go‑to coffee or tea order? Iced Lavender Chai (hot in the cold seasons)
A place you’ve traveled that you’d love to revisit? Tennessee
A fictional world you’d love to visit? The Isle of Berk to meet Toothless
An album you can listen to on repeat? (More of an artist than an album but) Bad Omens
Your favorite thing about working at NMPL? I love everything about NMPL. The staff is family and our patrons are amazing.

Share a childhood library memory: Using the computers to write short stories
What’s an unexpected skill you have? I can ramble for hours about the importance of Crisis On Infinite Earths (1985).
What’s a food you could eat every day? Any apple based dessert
What’s your go‑to coffee or tea order? Iced latte with half a shot of sugar-free vanilla
A place you’ve traveled that you’d love to revisit? Chicago
A fictional world you’d love to visit? Gotham City (DC Comics)
An album you can listen to on repeat? Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge by My Chemical Romance
Your favorite thing about working at NMPL? Our wonderful collection of comics and graphic novels!

Share a childhood library memory: I always looked forward to the Scholastic Book Fair but I always seemed to need more money than my mom would give me!
What’s an unexpected skill you have? I can do the Crow Pose in yoga
What’s a food you could eat every day? Chocolate Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
What’s your go‑to coffee or tea order? Chai latte
A place you’ve traveled that you’d love to revisit? Telluride, CO
A fictional world you’d love to visit? Three Pines (village in Louise Penny Gamache books)
An album you can listen to on repeat? Back in the High Life by Steve Winwood and/or Fine Line by Harry Styles
Your favorite thing about working at NMPL? My co-workers!

Share a childhood library memory: Checking out the Mousekin books by Edna Miller for my mom to read to me, especially Mousekin’s Golden House.
What’s an unexpected skill you have? Good handwriting
What’s a food you could eat every day? Brownies
What’s your go‑to coffee or tea order? Drip coffee with sugar and milk
A place you’ve traveled that you’d love to revisit? Savannah, Georgia
A fictional world you’d love to visit? Sesame Street
An album you can listen to on repeat? Simon & Garfunkel's Greatest Hits
Your favorite thing about working at NMPL? Working with a group of such amazing people!

Share a childhood library memory: Playing here with my twin with some of the same toys still here today, such as the semitruck, barnhouse, and of course the trains.
What’s an unexpected skill you have? Juggling poorly
What’s a food you could eat every day? Jerky
What’s your go‑to coffee or tea order? Hot Chocolate
A place you’ve traveled that you’d love to revisit? Niagara Falls at night
A fictional world you’d love to visit? Star Wars universe, any world as long as I can be a space wizard on the visit
An album you can listen to on repeat? Ascend - Illenium
Your favorite thing about working at NMPL? The general liveliness about the place. I sometimes forget we're a library and not a community center some days. It's awesome!

Share a childhood library memory: I remember getting my first library card from Mentone back in 2003!
What’s an unexpected skill you have? I don't think I have one? Does sarcasm count?
What’s a food you could eat every day? Pasta!
What’s your go‑to coffee or tea order? Gas station machine French Vanilla Cappuccino
A place you’ve traveled that you’d love to revisit? The Netherlands
A fictional world you’d love to visit? The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
An album you can listen to on repeat? 'The Magic of ABBA' on vinyl
Your favorite thing about working at NMPL? Getting to touch all the books!

Share a childhood library memory: Going to Orienteering club back in high school!
What’s an unexpected skill you have? I can dance really well.
What’s a food you could eat every day? Mac and Cheese.
What’s your go‑to coffee or tea order? Small Iced London Fog.
A place you’ve traveled that you’d love to revisit? I would love to revisit Greece and see the mountains again.
A fictional world you’d love to visit? Aerwiar from The Wingfeather Saga.
An album you can listen to on repeat? Eye On It Deluxe Ed. by Toby Mac
Your favorite thing about working at NMPL? Talking with the patrons while I help them!

Share a childhood library memory: I remember getting a card that was placed in a slot in the back of my book with the date stamped on it that the book needed to be returned by!
What’s an unexpected skill you have? I know how to make stained glass. If you're looking for something odd I can touch the tip of my nose with my tongue
What’s a food you could eat every day? Watermelon
What’s your go‑to coffee or tea order? Unsweet tea
A place you’ve traveled that you’d love to revisit? Alaska
A fictional world you’d love to visit? Narnia
An album you can listen to on repeat? I don't have just one. I can listen to Contemporary Christian all day long.
Your favorite thing about working at NMPL? I get to set my own hours