Meet Our Team - Janet Paczak (Brandon Public Library)

 

Janet Paczak | Youth Services Assistant | Brandon Public Library

Janet has been a part of CMRLS for almost 11 years! 

Here's more from Janet:

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

My joy is interacting with the children in programing, helping them to find the perfect book to read, and seeing the excitement in their faces when they visit the library.

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

My love for reading began when I first went to the library in my hometown in Ohio as a small child. The three-story, gray, concrete-block library had the two lions sitting on the sides of the front entrance steps. It was a sight to behold! One of my favorite books was Pippi Longstocking.

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

I wish more people knew about all the magazines, encyclopedias, and books that are available online for them to use without having to visit the library. You can visit our Virtual Reference Collection at cmrls.lib.ms.us.

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

I love visiting with family, especially my seven grandchildren, and having them over to eat at my house. Watching Hallmark movies is one of my favorite ways to relax, knowing there is always a happy ending.

5. What is your idea of the perfect vacation?

I just experienced my perfect vacation when I went on a trip to Slovakia! I had the opportunity to visit all of the villages where my parents and grandparents, and my husband's parents, lived. It was amazing meeting people with our same last name, seeing houses that family grew up in, visiting the cemeteries where relatives were buried, eating all of the ethnic foods, and I can't leave out exploring the castles.

6. What is your favorite holiday?

Thanksgiving and the awaiting of Christmas to follow.

Meet Our Team - Angela Ward (Pelahatchie Public Library)

 

Angela Ward | Branch Manager | Pelahatchie Public Library

Angela has been a part of CMRLS for over 9 months! 

Here's more from Angela:

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

I love that I get to help people of all ages with whatever they need, whether that be working on a resume, discovering a new author, or getting our youngest patrons excited about the library!

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

When I was younger, I loved classic Nancy Drew mysteries. Then, I discovered a whole new world with The Once and Future King in middle school. As a teenager, I read every Mary Higgins Clark book at the library. In college, I majored in English Literature, and I read Hamlet once a year for at least a decade. I have so many copies with so many notes! It was like my personal literary diary.

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

So many patrons come in seeking an author similar to the one they recently read and enjoyed. I always check NoveList and encourage them to do the same if there is a particular genre or author that they would like to further explore. Patrons can sign in with their library card number.

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

I enjoy going to see a matinee at Tinseltown. I also appreciate sitting outside on a sunny day reading a good book and listening to the sounds of nature.

5. What is your idea of the perfect vacation?

I prefer short trips to places like Natchez or Laurel. Exploring a museum, walking a nature trail, and discovering interesting places to eat are easy ways to appreciate the beauty and culture of Mississippi.

6. What is your favorite holiday?

I have always loved the Fourth of July. My family lives on a lake, and I grew up with big backyard barbecues, fireworks, fishing, and fun in the sun.

Angela & Ms. Clyreece, the head of Pelahatchie Library's Friends of the Library group

Meet Our Team - Rose Roberts (G. Chastaine Flynt Memorial Library - Flowood)

 

Rose Roberts | Circulation Clerk | G. Chastaine Flynt Memorial (Flowood) Library

Rose has been a part of CMRLS for over 10 1/2 years! 

Here's more from Rose:

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

I love helping people find specific items.

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

I don't remember when I started to like reading, but my current favorite book is And I Alone Survived by Lauren Elder. It is about a woman who survives a plane crash.

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

It would be nice if more people knew about Freegal Music. Freegal provides library patrons with 5 free LEGAL downloads per week. Also, create and stream playlists for 3 hours every day. Log on with CMRLS library card and pin. 

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

I like to play video games and surf the web. Currently, I'm playing Garden Life which simulates caring for a community garden.

5. What is your idea of the perfect vacation?

Staycation for the win!

6. What is your favorite holiday?

Halloween.

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.

Meet Our Team - Joyce McKinley (Evon A. Ford - Taylorsville)

Joyce McKinley | Branch Manager | Evon A. Ford (Taylorsville) Library

Joyce has been a part of CMRLS for over 19 years! 

Here's more from Joyce:

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

I love my patrons and I love the work I do to provide them with services they need. I also love the children and the smiles they have when they leave with a new library card or a book.

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

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. I loved that it was a book that kept my interest, and it had a sad but great ending.

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

The World Book e-resource, because it has so much information!

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

I enjoy relaxing at home and also spending time with my grandchildren.

5. What is your idea of the perfect vacation?

My perfect vacation would be in the mountains, on a deck at a cabin, listening to the stream and reading a great book.

6. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas

Meet Our Team - Kimberly Ollison (Florence Public Library)

 

Kimberly Ollison | Branch Manager | Florence Public Library

Kimberly has been a part of CMRLS for 4 1/2 years! 

Here's more from Kimberly:

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

I approach everything with passion, especially my role as a dedicated branch manager where I am driven by a strong desire to serve others. Planning, creating, and delivering programs for my community brings me immense fulfillment, and I take pleasure in staying up-to-date on the latest trending books, movies, and more.

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

One of my favorite books is "Educated" by Tara Westover. I am drawn to this book because it showcases the incredible resilience and determination of the author. Despite facing numerous obstacles, she was able to educate herself and ultimately earn her doctorate, proving that with perseverance and hard work, one can overcome any challenge.

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

I wish more people knew about the wide range of resources available on our website. One standout resource is the LearningExpress Library, which provides online tutorials, practice tests, and e-books for all ages. It covers job search skills, workplace improvement, reading, writing, math, science, career certification, college entrance prep, GED test prep, and more. It's a fantastic tool for personal and professional development.

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

I enjoy spending time with my 4 kids, my husband, and our dachshunds.

5. What is your idea of the perfect vacation?

I like the idea of museum-hopping for a vacation. Planning a trip to a city known for its many museums sounds like an exciting way to spend my days, exploring different exhibits and learning. I'd love to immerse myself in diverse cultural experiences, discover new subjects, and appreciate the world's rich heritage through various museum collections.

6. What is your favorite holiday?

My favorite season is October because it's when the wind starts to blow and the leaves begin to change. It's a month for roasting marshmallows over bonfires, pulling out leggings and cute boots, celebrating mine and my middle son's birthdays, and enjoying pumpkin patches, state fairs, and roasted corn. October is when I married my best friend. It's a magical time of year that holds special memories and activities that I cherish!

Meet Our Team - Carrie Brown (Headquarters)

 Carrie Brown | Coordinator of Programming | CMRLS Headquarters

Carrie has been a part of CMRLS for a little over 7 years! 

Here's more from Carrie:

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

My favorite part of my job is visiting our schools every year with our Book Character Visits. I love getting to bring the love of reading to the kids. I also love going to work in the different branches, where I get to help patrons find the things they need.

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

I was read to as a baby and have loved reading ever since! I think my favorite book as a small child was the Foot Book by Dr. Seuss. By the time I was in second grade, I was checking out historical nonfiction and fiction books. I checked out Lord of the Rings and the Chronicles of Narnia many many times.  The first books I actually bought for myself were at the book fair in second grade. They were Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and a book about Ancient Egypt. I guess those two books began shaping the things I love to read now.

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

Rocket Languages! It has so many languages to learn including American Sign Language.

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

I love to spend time at home with my husband, our daughter, and our dog. We love to go walking at the park.

5. What is your idea of the perfect vacation?

I have always wanted to visit Prague. I’ve been fascinated with the city and its beautiful architecture for a very long time. It would be great to spend a week or two taking it all in.

6. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas! It’s so magical and pretty.

Meet Our Team - Frances Meadows (Magee & Mize Public Libraries)

 Frances Meadows | Branch Manager | Magee & R.T. Prince Memorial Library

Frances has her 26th anniversary with CMRLS in April! 

Here's more from Frances:

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

I really enjoy talking and getting to know each person that walks through the doors. The very best part is watching a little child’s face light up when they see how many books there are in our children’s area!

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

It was not just one book. When I was young, it was a way to pass the time. I read the picture biography books and nature books that my grandmother had until I got tired and knew them by heart. It was in my teen years that I found Nancy Drew and those old orange biographies, like Molly Pitcher: Young Patriot by Augusta Stevenson. My classmate introduced me to Illusions by Richard Bach. My dear, wonderful mother introduced me to paperback romances and that took over for awhile until a friend hooked me on Jeannette Oke.

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

The Resume Builder! Patrons will come in and want to do a resume and will go to Microsoft Word. We always redirect them to the Resume builder. It's so fast and easy!

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

I love spending time with my grand-babies, my dog, Bear, my Buddy cat, and my family. I also like to do puzzles and watch Survivor and Amazing Race.

5. What is your idea of the perfect vacation?

Wow! I think it would be a cruise for an entire month for my whole family, including all my sisters and their families too, and even my in-laws! That way no one has to cook or clean up. We can go do other things and still be together.

6. What is your favorite holiday?

Thanksgiving. Getting together with the expectation of simply being thankful for family and friends.