Friday Fun: Meet the YS Staff

Wonder who it is that's helping with your reference question? Want to know more about the person leading your program? For the next few weeks, the New Lenox Kids! blog will be helping you get to know your YS staff.

This week, you get to meet Cathy, one of the Youth Services Reference Assistants.

Name: Cathy Hartney

How long have you been at New Lenox Public Library? I started just before the new Library opened in 2001.

What's your favorite thing about working in a library? I like to see the young children enjoying the pre-school area by the tree. They like the puzzles, blocks, computers, and the books, too!

Do you run any programs? Happy Books, Happy Cooks for children 3 and over. We meet on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.

What is your favorite book? The gothic romance “Jane Eyre”. I’ve read it 3 or 4 times.

If you could be any character from any book, who would you want to be? Cinderella…after she marries the prince, of course.

Do you have any pets? If so, what kind and what are their names? I have two granddogs….my son’s poodles. They are a lot of fun.

Do you have any kids? Two grown sons and a daughter-in-law.

What is one random fact about you? When I am not working at the Library, I work at a school, in a class with 6 physically disabled children.

What is your favorite food? I’d probably have to say sausage pizza….or maybe dessert…or maybe glazed donuts…or….

If you didn't work in a library, what would you want to do? What could be better than this ... getting paid while watching the cutest kids come through the Library.

Have questions for Cathy or any of the other YS staff members? Feel free to ask, or just stop by the reference desks to say "hi!"

Friday Fun: Meet the YS Staff

Wonder who it is that's helping with your reference question? Want to know more about the person leading your program? For the next few weeks, the New Lenox Kids! blog will be helping you get to know your YS staff.

This week, you get to meet Liz, one of the Youth Services Reference Assistants.

Name: Liz

How long have you been at New Lenox Public Library? Since 9/04

What's your favorite thing about working in a library? The variety of things to do including working with children, planning story times and reading.

Do you run any programs? Itsy Bitsy Toddler, Art Club, Family Bingo and Saturday Programs

What is your favorite book? I have too many favorites. Walter the Farting Dog is one of them.

Do you have any pets? If so, what kind and what are their names? I have a Black Lab named Tucker.

Do you have any kids? I have three girls.

What is one random fact about you? I like to snow ski and want to try snowboarding this winter.

What is your favorite food? My favorite meal is steak and onion rings made by my father.

If you didn't work in a library, what would you want to do? I would love to be a character at Disney World.

Have questions for Liz or any of the other YS staff members? Feel free to ask, or just stop by the reference desks to say "hi!"

Friday Fun: Meet the YS Staff

Wonder who it is that's helping with your reference question? Want to know more about the person leading your program? For the next few weeks, the New Lenox Kids! blog will be helping you get to know your YS staff.

This week, you get to meet Erin, one of the Youth Services Reference Assistants.

Name: Erin Hunter (no, not the author) :)

How long have you been at New Lenox Public Library? I've worked at NLPL since August 1999.

What's your favorite thing about working in a library? It's fun to see everyone get excited about reading, and I love being surrounded by books.

Do you run any programs? I run Treasure Hunters, the preschool program for 3 1/2-5 year olds on Monday afternoons at 1 P.M.

What is your favorite book? Kids: Where The Red Fern Grows (Wilson Rawls) and Where the Wild Things Are (Maurice Sendak). Adult: The Shadow of the Wind (Carlos Ruiz Zafon) and The Rum Diary (Hunter S. Thompson)

If you could be any character from any book, who would you want to be? Ginny or Hermione from the Harry Potter series.

Do you have any pets? If so, what kind and what are their names? Edward, a 7-year-old orange, purring ball of fur. I adopted him just a few weeks ago. He's a little crazy, but I wouldn't trade him for anything!

Do you have any kids? No.

What is one random fact about you? I'm a bridge nut...I love reading about and taking black and white photographs of bridges.

What is your favorite food? I have two favorites: deep dish pizza from Gino's East, and my mom's homemade beef stew.

If you didn't work in a library, what would you want to do? I always thought it would be fun to be a teacher or a bookshop or bakery owner.

Have questions for Erin or any of the other YS staff members? Feel free to ask, or just stop by the reference desks to say "hi!"

Friday Fun: Meet the YS Staff

Wonder who it is that's helping with your reference question? Want to know more about the person leading your program? For the next few weeks, the New Lenox Kids! blog will be helping you get to know your YS staff.

This week, you get to meet Judy, the one of the Youth Services Reference Assistants.

Name: Judy

How long have you been at New Lenox Public Library? I have been working at the library almost 13 years.

What's your favorite thing about working in a library? I enjoy working with people (especially kids) and I love books! At this job, I have it all!

Do you run any programs? Not at this time. I do coordinate all volunteers in the Youth Services Dept. and I go through any donations to see what we can add to our shelves. I also spend a lot of time making sure our collection is in “tip-top” shape.

What is your favorite book? I especially love the “Elephant and Piggie” books by Mo Willems. I also really enjoy reading historical fiction.

Do you have any pets? If so, what kind and what are their names? No, but I enjoy “dog sitting” for my daughters’ dogs. (Harley, Lola and Bingo)

Do you have any kids? Yes! I have 3 daughters. They are all grown up and married. I also have 1 grandson and 3 granddaughters! I am so very lucky!!

What is one random fact about you? I used to be a teacher.

What is your favorite food? Chocolate.

If you didn't work in a library, what would you want to do? I would love to be an Optometrist. How great would it be to help people to see better?

Have questions for Judy or any of the other YS staff members? Feel free to ask, or just stop by the reference desks to say "hi!"

Friday Fun: Meet the YS Staff

Wonder who it is that's helping with your reference question? Want to know more about the person leading your program? For the next few weeks, the New Lenox Kids! blog will be helping you get to know your YS staff.

This week, you get to meet Jen, the Youth Services Program Coordinator.

Name: Jen

How long have you been at New Lenox Public Library? 5 years

What's your favorite thing about working in a library? Working with kids of all ages & seeing how excited they get over the books. I also love planning storytimes.

Do you run any programs? Wiggleworms for prewalker babies, Movers & Shakers for walkers up to 24 months, Pajamapalooza for ages 6 & up, Simply Silly for all ages which is rotated with Miss Alissa & Miss Erin, World Explorers for 1st-8th grade & Girls Rock Book Club for 4th-8th grade.

What is your favorite book? The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

If you could be any character from any book, who would you want to be? Alice in Wonderland

Do you have any pets? If so, what kind and what are their names? Gypsy the Chinese Crested dog, Mork the black cat, Mindy the tortie cat, Shelby the box turtle and Frida the African fat tailed gecko.

Do you have any kids? Noah, who is 10.

What is one random fact about you? I am also a massage therapist & teach baby sign language & baby massage. Everyone should get a hot rock massage at least once in their lives & it should be from me! (insert shameless plug of business here) www.sollunahealingarts.com

What is your favorite food? Tiramisu

If you didn't work in a library, what would you want to do? I'd work at a children's museum.

Have questions for Jen or any of the other YS staff members? Feel free to ask, or just stop by the reference desks to say "hi!"

Friday Fun: Meet the YS Staff

Wonder who it is that's helping with your reference question? Want to know more about the person leading your program? For the next few weeks, the New Lenox Kids! blog will be helping you get to know your YS staff.

This week, you get to meet Alissa, one of the Youth Service Reference Assistants.

Name: Alissa

How long have you been at New Lenox Public Library? Almost a year and half.

What's your favorite thing about working in a library? Lots of things! I've always loved books, so I like being surrounded by them, but I also think my job is fun because I get to plan programs and be creative and silly.

Do you run any programs? I run WordPlay, which is our writing club, and I run Tales & Tunes, Simply Silly (sometimes) and Book Adventures, and some of the Saturday programs.

What is your favorite book? I can't pick! Lately, I've been loving The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, the 39 Clues books, Harry Potter always! I also like the scary stories that Mary Downing Hahn writes. For picture books, you can't beat Mo Willems! I love the Pigeon! I also love the Fancy Nancy books, because I feel fancy sometimes, too.

If you could be any character from any book, who would you want to be? Hmm, this is a tough one. Maybe Hermione from Harry Potter, or Bella Swan from Twilight.

Do you have any pets? I have a Border Collie/Jack Russell Terrier mix dog named Lola. She's got lots of energy and loves to give kisses!

Do you have any kids? Nope.

What is one random fact about you? I used to be a newspaper reporter.

What is your favorite food? I love sweets! I also really like pizza:)

If you didn't work in a library, what would you want to do? I would want to be a writer, a party planner or an actress...working in a library is sort of like getting to do all three!

Have questions for Alissa or any of the other YS staff members? Feel free to ask, or just stop by the reference desks to say "hi!"

Friday Fun: Meet the YS Staff

Wonder who it is that's helping with your reference question? Want to know more about the person leading your program? For the next few weeks, the New Lenox Kids! blog will be helping you get to know your YS staff.

This week, you get to meet Dana, the Youth Services Department Head.

Name: Dana

How long have you been at New Lenox Public Library? Two years the beginning of October

What's your favorite thing about working in a library? There’s always a variety of things to do and things going on so it’s never boring.

Do you run any programs? Not any regular programs, except for the annual Hamster Race. I also have done some Saturday programs and tours or programs for visiting groups.

What is your favorite book? I have very many favorite books, but one of my favorite chapter books is The Underneath by Kathi Appelt. Toys Go Out by Emily Jenkins is a very funny easier chapter book. I love anything by Mo Willems. And I’m a big fan of the Scaredy Squirrel books by Melanie Watt.

If you could be any character from any book, who would you want to be? Maybe one of the characters from the Harry Potter books, mostly because the world Rowling created was fascinating. When I was reading those books, I wanted to see characters moving around in paintings and be able to eat chocolate covered frogs and see a game called Quidditch.

Do you have any pets? If so, what kind and what are their names? Yes, I have two cats: Lilah and Sami, both female.

Do you have any kids? No

What is one random fact about you? I lived in Japan for nearly seven years.

What is your favorite food? My favorite type of food is Mexican. And I’m a big fan of popcorn!

If you didn't work in a library, what would you want to do? Something that would allow me to travel anywhere I wanted to go.

Have questions for Dana or any of the other YS staff members? Feel free to ask, or just stop by the reference desks to say "hi!"