Meet Our Team - Paula Franklin (Pearl Public Library)

 

Paula Franklin | Circulation Clerk  | Pearl Public Library

Paula has been a part of CMRLS for 10 months! 

Here's more from Paula:

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

I enjoy being surrounded by knowledge.

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

I was appointed to be the class librarian in my first grade class. We checked out books by placing the card from each book in a pocket for each student. It was a lot of fun!

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

The Health Hometown Library in our Virtual Reference collection at https://cmrls.lib.ms.us/digital-library/virtual-reference-collection/.

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

I enjoy cooking, hiking, shopping, and volunteering.

5. What is your idea of the perfect vacation?

Relaxing on a tropical beach with an umbrella.

6. What is your favorite holiday?

Thanksgiving

Meet Our Team - Samantha Dinnella (Pearl Public Library)

Samantha Dinnella | Circulation Clerk  | Pearl Public Library

Samantha has been a part of CMRLS for 3 1/2 years! 

Here's more from Samantha:

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

Even though I am a massive introvert, I do enjoy seeing and interacting with our regular patrons. I also like seeing what books are constantly being checked out. [Helps with recommendations.]

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

What got me into reading was the Magic Tree House series.
It was during the summer between my fourth and fifth grade year. My rabbit Ginger [who later passed away in late 2017] was pregnant [completely unplanned] and I was monitoring her. Anyway, I had gotten bored having nothing to do, so I picked up a book from the MTH series and started reading. I can't remember which one it was. By the end of the summer, Ginger had given birth to 5 beautiful baby bunnies [which my mom and found homes for], and I developed a love for reading.

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

Learning Express Library.
I used this during high school. Every time someone comes up to the circulation desk wanting resources for the ACT, GED, Driver's Test, etc., I direct them to our website: https://cmrls.lib.ms.us/digital-library/virtual-reference-collection/

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

Sleep and spend time with my furbabies and family.

5. What is your idea of the perfect vacation?

My bed or the beach with 20 bottles of waterproof sunscreen.

6. What is your favorite holiday?

Halloween. I get to scare people without needing a reason!

Meet Our Team - Asia Ross (G. Chastaine Flynt Memorial Library - Flowood)

 

Asia Ross | Youth Services Librarian | Flowood Public Library

Asia has been a part of CMRLS for almost 6 months! 

Here's more from Asia:

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

I enjoy working with the patrons and helping them find a specific book they are looking for, and/or a new book that they would enjoy. I also enjoy putting together seasonal book displays, and pulling books that may appeal to patrons for each season.

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

My mom was reading to me before I was even born, and I started going to the library at a very young age, so reading is something that has always been ingrained into me. The Berenstein Bears and Amelia Bedelia were some of my early favorites, and as I got into my teenage years, I loved reading the Anne of Green Gables series (still a favorite of mine!), Nancy Drew, and Hardy Boys mysteries. As I entered adulthood, I've enjoyed books like Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. Now, I'm currently into exploring different book genres and branching out into graphic novels as well.

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

Storyline Online is a wonderful e-resource for parents to use. Children can hear books being read to them by different celebrities and important figures, and if it is not possible for children to come to story time in-person, then they can still enjoy the experience at home. You can find Storyline Online at https://cmrls.lib.ms.us/digital-library/virtual-reference-collection.

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

I enjoy reading and watching favorite TV shows at home. I also like going out to events like festivals, theater productions, flea markets, and also eating out at restaurants. Every once in a while, I also do hand lettering and drawing, coloring, or watercolor painting.

5. What is your idea of the perfect vacation?

Honestly, just traveling to most places is the perfect vacation for me. I love sightseeing, going on city tours, tasting the local cuisine, and trying out new activities!

6. What is your favorite holiday?

I don't have a favorite holiday in particular, but I do enjoy Thanksgiving.

Meet Our Team - Becky Tong (Pearl Public Library)

 

Becky Tong | Reference Librarian  | Pearl Public Library

Becky has her CMRLS 9 year anniversary on June 1st! 

Here's more from Becky:

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

I enjoy helping patrons.

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

Ella Enchanted

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

GCF Global. It's free online learning. Subjects include computer basics, typing, email, internet, Microsoft Office products, Quickbooks, reading, math, personal finance, design, career planning, job searching and applying, daily skills, work life, and more. Find more about GCF here. 

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

I like to meal prep for the week.

5. What is your idea of the perfect vacation?

Window-shopping in new places.

6. What is your favorite holiday?

Thanksgiving

Meet Our Team - Colby Faulkner (Brandon Public Library)

 

Colby Faulkner | Circulation Clerk | Brandon Public Library

Colby just celebrated his 1 year work anniversary with CMRLS! 

Here's more from Colby:

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

My favorite part of working here is recommending books and authors to patrons as they are checking out materials.

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

J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye was the first book I read that made me realize the inimitable power of a flawed yet sympathetic narrator. I read it when I was 16, the same age as the narrator/protagonist, and have read it once a year every year since then.

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

I think that the audio book and e-book apps we use, cloudLibrary and hoopla, are extremely helpful free resources that a lot of our patrons do not realize they can use with their library card. You can find them in 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 watching TV and movies with my wife and our 2 dogs.

5. What is your idea of the perfect vacation?

To me, an ideal vacation strikes the perfect balance of exploring a new place with my wife and relaxing by reading somewhere scenic and quiet.

6. What is your favorite holiday?

I can easily say Halloween is my favorite!

When Colby went on study abroad to England, he visited the gravesite of author J.R.R. Tolkien - his proudest literary achievement.

Meet Our Team - Victoria Sharp (G. Chastaine Flynt Memorial Library - Flowood)

 

Victoria Sharp | Reference Services Supervisor | Flowood Public Library

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

Here's more from Tori:

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

There is a certain kind of joy that comes with solving a riddle or puzzle, and the library has given me many opportunities to experience that. I get particularly determined when I have to find something obscure—like an image from decades ago or a small piece of information only found in a niche newspaper. It’s a lot of fun!

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

Growing up I loved reading and re-reading the Chronicles of Chrestomanci by Diana Wynne Jones and anything Artemis Fowl.

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

Project Gutenberg (gutenberg.org), the oldest digital library! If you search Project Gutenberg in our catalog, you can find a lot of old classics listed as e-resources.

Working in a library, I’ve come to learn how important it is to be able to access books whose copyrights have expired and are becoming more and more scarce in physical print. Project Gutenberg archives older books that are no longer under copyright due to age and allows them to be accessed for free to users in the US.

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

I like picking up hobbies that I don't have time for! Currently, I'm learning to crochet and edit videos. Besides that, I like gardening, reading, and playing the occasional video game.

5. What is your idea of the perfect vacation?

A perfect vacation for me would involve meeting up with friends I haven't seen in a long while who live in other parts of the country. If I want a more introverted vacation, though, I love visiting the Smokey Mountains.

6. What is your favorite holiday?

Thanksgiving! I love the food and love seeing family I haven't seen in awhile.

Tori as Winnie the Pooh

Meet Our Team - Carolyn Thompson (CMRLS Headquarters)

 

Carolyn Thompson | Administrative Assistant | CRMLS Headquarters

Carolyn has been a part of CMRLS for 2+ years! 

Here's more from Carolyn:

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

Meeting and greeting patrons and guests!

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

The Bible - It tells you present, past, and future!

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

On-line Reference Collection. Find it in our Virtual Reference Collection at cmrls.lib.ms.us.

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

I enjoy working in my flower beds.

5. What is your idea of the perfect vacation?

Anywhere I can relax.

6. What is your favorite holiday?

I don't really have a favorite holiday. 

Meet Our Team - Rachel Hood (G. Chastaine Flynt Memorial Library - Flowood)

 

Rachel Hood | Circulation Supervisor | Flowood Public Library

Rachel has been a part of CMRLS for 16 1/2 years! 

Here's more from Rachel:

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

My favorite part of working in the library is helping patrons with their needs, whether it be finding a book or information on a database.

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

Ransom by Julie Garwood started my love for reading. It is a wonderful historical romance book set in the highlands of Scotland.

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

Heritage Quest is a great resource for helping people look up their ancestors. Find out all about it in our Virtual Reference Collection at cmrls.lib.ms.us.

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

Hang out with my family, play a game on my phone, or read a book.

5. What is your idea of the perfect vacation?

I would really love to on a Caribbean Cruise and see the scenic wonders of the Caribbean.

6. What is your favorite holiday?

Fourth of July is my favorite holiday! I love fireworks and barbecues. It's also the day America declared independence and became a free nation.