Meet Our Team - Claire Hoffman (Brandon Public Library)

 

Claire Hoffman | Youth Specialist | Brandon Public Library

Claire has been a part of CMRLS for 3 months! 

Here's more from Claire:

1. What is your favorite part of working in the library?

My favorite part of working in the library is that everyone who comes through our doors has an amazing, unique story. I truly enjoy connecting with all our patrons and families. I have met a lot of families that are from out of state and even a few that have moved here from other countries. As a Youth Specialist, making connections and creating weekly programs to continue to grow our library community has been the most rewarding experience for me. Bringing joy to a new environment is my goal wherever I go. I have truly enjoyed bringing that to the library. So far, my favorite Kids’ Connection event that I planned has been our reading pep rally we had with the Mississippi Braves. It was a lot of fun to see the smiles on the families’ faces as we celebrated Dr. Seuss’s birthday together.

2. Was there a book that made you love reading?

I have a plethora of books that I love! I am a huge children’s book advocate. My favorite children’s book authors are Eric Carle, Laura Numeroff, Peter H. Reynolds, Jan Brett, and Eric Litwin. It is hard for me to pick just one book that made me fall in love with reading, but if I must, I will say Big Fish by Daniel Wallace. I grew up having many story times with my grandparents on their porch in the rocking chairs. My mother also would tell me stories at bedtime, and we would even play games making the stories up together. When I read Big Fish it reminded me of special childhood memories I had telling stories with my family.
“He believed the stars were wishes, and that one day they would all come true.”
― Daniel Wallace, Big Fish
I love the book so much that I went to Wetumpka, Alabama one summer after HGTV renovated the town and saw, in-person, the house from the movie. It was a sight to behold!

3. Tell us one e-resource you wish more people knew about.

Britannica Fundamentals for PreK – 2nd grade is a FABULOUS e-resource for free that I would highly encourage all families to allow their children to explore. It offers math and language arts games that are wonderful for reviewing skills taught at school. The games are so much fun that the kids won’t event realize they are practicing a standard that has been taught. There is also "Explore" where students can see all the biomes of the world, "Create" where students can make digital art, and my most favorite part is there is "Read" where children can select a book and the application will read the book to them.

4. What do you like to do when you're not at the library?

I have really come to love my job at the library. When I am not at the library, I am constantly thinking of new fun programs I can try to plan for our Kids’ Connection. I also enjoy watching HGTV home renovations, visiting new places, and finding new books to fill my bookshelf with things I will likely never find the time to read.

5. What is your idea of the perfect vacation?

My idea of a perfect vacation is to go somewhere where there is much to explore. I love places that are full of rich architecture, nature, art, and history. My husband and I enjoy traveling to Florida and Colorado to visit family often. We love to go on hikes, find new bookstores and art galleries to explore, but my dream vacation would be to one day go to Iceland, or Ireland.

6. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas time is the holiday I hold the most close and dear to my heart. I love all the beautiful lights lit up at night in town squares. Not to mention my anniversary is in the month of December, so the holiday is truly a magical time that me and my family all cherish.