YOUTH SERVICES COORDINATOR JOINS STATE LIBRARY STAFF

by Ann Hoey Youth Services Coordinator

As the new Youth Services Coordinator, I look forward to working with all of those in New Hampshire who serve children and young adults in public and school libraries. I come to this position with the background in the arts, education, and librarianship. Previously, I taught English at Plymouth State College, and helped with children's programming at Plymouth Friends of the Arts before moving with my family to Ann Arbor, Michigan. There I earned a Masters of Information at the University of Michigan.

While in Michigan I had the opportunity to experience working in a variety of library settings. One of these libraries was completely digital - the Internet Public Library. I performed children's collection development and online reference for this organization. During one semester, I dashed from my day-time internship at the undergraduate library to my evening part-time work as a children's librarian at Canton Public Library. Eventually, I settled into a "permanent" position at Canton where I joined their ten-member youth development staff. I was extremely lucky to begin my library career in a public library that not only valued children's services, but encouraged us to "reach for the sky."

My family and I returned to New Hampshire during the summer of 2000, and I worked at the Southwick School Media Center in Northfield during this past school year. In late June 2001, I began my position in Library Development Services at the N.H. State Library.

I feel very passionate about providing quality library services to children and young adults. Public and school librarians need support and encouragement for their valuable, but often unrecognized efforts. As a Youth Services Coordinator I hope to be an advocate for librarians and to work to develop resources and programs for children throughout New Hampshire. I would especially like to help foster more communication and cooperation between public and school libraries. I also believe we need to do more to nurture the young adults in our library communities. I hope we can work together to meet the challenges of youth library services in New Hampshire.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at 271-2865 or by e-mail at ahoey@library.state.nh.us.