Live, Laugh, Love the Library
Diving Into the Mind of a West Allegheny Community Librarian
By: Emily Sayre
National Library Week (April 6-12) is a time to shine a light on local libraries and highlight the valuable role that libraries and library workers play in strengthening the community. The National Book Committee, a nonprofit citizens organization, was formed in 1954 by the American Library Association and the American Book Publishers. Just a few years after its creation, the National Book Committee created National Library Week with the idea that if people were motivated to read, they would utilize and support their local libraries.
In honor of National Library Week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Lexi, a Pittsburgh book lover turned librarian, who spends her days running youth literary programs and driving around in a bookmobile. For the past few years, she has worked at the West Allegheny Community Library based in Pittsburgh, PA, which I often visit.
West A Library
Emily: Can you tell us about the day-to-day work that you do?
Lexi: My title is Youth Services Program Specialist, so my job is largely based around programming and outreach. I have two programs a day, whether it’s outreach or programs in-house at the library. When I am not doing a program or outreach, you can find me at my desk. It’s a front-facing position, so I will do my planning and training and such on the computer, but also help the patrons when it's needed. Looking up to see if we have a book in the library and helping them find it is probably my number one question asked. I also get asked about recommendations dealing with certain topics!
Emily: Have you ever recommended a book to someone and they came back after having read it, and said “You’re amazing, I love you, this book changed my life”?
Lexi: I have recommended many books—I don’t know if I ever got the phrase that changed my life, but I have gotten thanks! In our library newsletters, Heather, the Manager of Library Services, adds some staff recommendations at the end, and I have had people tell me they always look for mine and really enjoy the ones I recommend! So, that’s always lovely to hear! I do love trying to find someone a great book. Occasionally I will have to research for [a book recommendation]; if it’s romance though, I usually have a couple on deck!
I also used to work the circulation desk at South Fayette Library before this job, and I gave more recommendations there because I was in the thick of things. Now, unless specifically asked, my [recommendations] are typically more child-based.
Emily: What do you like to do for fun? How do you center yourself and maintain a work/life balance in a field that many people turn to for leisure?
Lexi: I am a reader, so I read a lot in my spare time. Romance is my genre of choice. I also enjoy hanging out with my friends and boyfriend so that also keeps me busy. I spend a lot of my time playing with my cats as well!
Emily: Did you always know that you wanted to be a librarian? What made you decide to be one?
Lexi: I have not always known but needed a change after being burnt out and injured at a previous job. I knew I had such a strong love for books and literacy that I thought it would be fun to combine the two!
Emily: What sort of education do you need to be a librarian?
Lexi: Not my position but other positions in the library do need a master's in Library Science. For my position, I believe a bachelor's degree in a related field was required! I personally have a dual bachelor's degree and a master's degree, all in education. This is more for the admin work side of libraries. You do not need this degree if you are a circulation desk specialist.
Emily: What do you enjoy most about your current position?
Lexi: Hmmm, definitely the programs and outreach. If I had to choose, I’d probably say my outreach. I do have a really fun time driving the bus and going to 8 different preschools and daycares in the area.
Emily: The infamous bus — can you tell us what exactly the bus is, where you go, what you do, all of the things?
Lexi: The bus is full of books! It’s a collaboration between the library, West Allegheny School District, and Monark Student Transportation, all of which have generously supported this partnership! I use this bus for my outreach, which is a 30-minute preschool Storytime followed by book checkout. So, for my outreach at the beginning of the school year, I have the parents fill out a form and then give all the children a new library card! Then, when I visit them, the children come onto the bus and get to pick a book to check out for the month.
Every visit, I check the old books in and then they get to pick a new book out to borrow! I go to 8 preschools/childcare centers in our service area, Oakdale, Findlay, and North Fayette, and see around 400 children!
Emily: Are there any fun projects you are working on right now?
Lexi: We are currently working on planning for summer reading, so I have some really fun ideas brewing! The theme is Color our World, so lots of fun arts and colors are mixed throughout my programs. Coming up for St. Patrick’s Day, I am doing a “Magic Leprechaun Rocks’ program that I am really excited for. I will be making “rocks”, which are basically baking soda, and hiding them around. The kids will have to find them and “clean them”, which is a vinegar mixture, so it has a chemical reaction, and once the rock is clean, [it] will reveal a gold coin! I’m super excited for the fun and exciting chaos that will ensue.
We also have an Angry Birds game towards the end of the month, where patrons can play a real-life version of Angry Birds. Teen volunteers paint boxes that will be knocked down and dodgeballs to look like the Angry Birds' characters. Then, the patrons will have the opportunity to throw the dodgeballs at the wall of boxes like in the game. I am excited for that program as well!
Emily: What’s your favorite event that you’ve hosted for the community?
Lexi: I am not sure if I have a favorite event to be honest. I do love when we get a presenter in. I learn along with the kids so that is super fun. We get presenters in all fields, STEM, art, music, movement, nature, cooking, and safety with police, fire, and FBI. [We do] lots of partnerships with the community so that is always awesome. We partner with Raccoon Creek State Park and have done lots of cool stuff with them here [at the library] and at the park! I also enjoy doing slime with the kids. It’s super messy obviously, but also super fun, and I really enjoy it when the kids are having a blast! I just like it when I can see the excitement regardless of the event!
Emily: I love the books-for-sale bookshelf in the front of the library and have personally purchased one or two books from there before. Where do you get those books? Are people able to donate their books with the intention of being sold by the library?
Lexi: Those books are donated by our patrons and amazingly organized by “Friends of the Library”. Yes, we accept donations at all times and have an updated list of things that we are accepting! We have that wall for sale all the time, and it does get updated monthly. All the proceeds from the sales go towards things for our patrons! Programs, furniture, [and] other odds and ends to make patron life a little easier and more comfortable here!
Emily: I always turn to the library when there's a new release I want to read, either through Libby or from your shelves. What is the most direct way of getting books onto the library shelves? Should people submit purchase requests? How can we help to diversify library bookshelves?
Lexi: Every library is a little different; our specific policies are here: Western Allegheny Community Library, Policies. Typically, however, if it’s going to be a popular release the library system will have it! Hoopla is also a good e-resource to use! However, requests can not hurt! We want to know what people want and usually more than one person wants it!
However, if the Allegheny County Library System doesn’t have something you can always do an InterLibrary Loan, where they will reach out to other libraries around the country and try to get the book you need! Also, if the library you are at does not have the book you need and another library in the system does, you can request to have it delivered to your library of choice for pickup!
Emily: Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know?
Lexi: The Carnegie Library System has another great program, the Library of Accessible Media for Pennsylvanians (LAMP), which is for patrons with disabilities, and they help find resources they can use and enjoy! Our library also has so much more than books! We have experience passes, hot spots, movies, CDs, games, puzzles, and our very awesome Library of Things, [where] you can borrow so many things from tools to a wheelchair, to pickleball equipment, to a Kindle.
Spread the Love For Your Local Libraries!
I highly encourage you all to chat with your local librarians! See what programs and resources they have available, ask what their favorite books are, and get to know the people who are supporting your community!
You can find the West Allegheny Community Library on Facebook at Western Allegheny Library and WACL Kids & Teens and on Instagram at @waclibrary, and if you’re in the area, make sure to check out their Large Spring Book Sale this May 1st through 3rd!