Like many parents with young children, I used reading time to come to the library. Before my son was born, I hadn’t been to public libraries very often, but I knew that libraries were places where mothers and fathers would bring their young children to socialize and learn literacy. .
Storytelling times led me to weekly book hauls, children’s programs, and eventually to applying for a job at the library.
I was a stay-at-home mom and foster carer for adults with disabilities for about 10 years when I decided I really needed some outside stimulation.started working at Extrom Columbus LibraryCurrently, I am the managing librarian of the Extrom Columbus Library, and both of my adult children work in the public library.
I love many aspects of working in a library. It is very rewarding to meet the diverse young and adult clientele we visit and find ways to connect them with resources, library programs and job opportunities. I love watching the parade of toddlers, preschoolers, and babies coming and going during Storytime to soothe the enthusiasm of after-school youth, freed from the shackles of class.
Others are reading…
I have worked with 9 of the 27 chapters in Pima County and have found myself working with a completely unique community in each chapter. I love learning how to get the most out of each feature while always maintaining the library’s core value of accessing the information I hold so dear.
While working at the Joel D. Valdez Central Library, I went back to school for my Master’s Degree in Information and Library Science. During my studies, I was very honored to be invited to participate in the founding of the prestigious Pima County Public Library Seed Library.
The Seed Library has been a great gift to my library career. Watching the library grow and spread throughout Pima County is one of my greatest library joys. We would not exist and expand without the beneficial partnerships we have built. The partnership continues to grow each year. Not only do we establish and participate in national and international forums to share our skills with food and seed advocates around the world, but we also share how to grow plants from seed in our unique desert homes. We partner with local organizations that help us show our community the
Our amazing community partners include Southern Arizona Community Food Bank, Mission Gardens, Native Seeds/Search, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners, University of Arizona Garden Kitchen, Pima County Native Planter Series, Las Milpitas Community Farms, Tucson Organics Includes gardeners. , Tucson’s Community Gardens, Community & School Garden Programs, Santa Cruz Farmers Market, Iscashita Refugee Network, and more.
These partners have provided training, resources, support, seeds and rich programs for our friends and neighbors to learn and enjoy. Each organization has provided us with support and opportunities that we could not have done alone. Cicero said: “If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”
For more information on the seed library, please visit: library.pima.gov/seedlibrary.
See it now: These beautiful native plants would be a great addition to your Tucson garden. Video by Dominika Heusinkveld/Arizona Daily Star.
In addition to the Seed Library team, Kelly Wilson is also a member of the Pima County Public Library’s Youth Restoration Practice team and was awarded the 2018 Top Innovator Award by the City Libraries Council.
