Megan started as a Youth Services Assistant ten years ago, then climbed up into the Youth Services Librarian role before finally donning her crown as the Head of Youth Services. Her experience across the departmental spectrum makes her an excellent manager. Every year she plans and performs hundreds of library programs, from wildly fun bubble busses to early literacy programs like 1000 Books Before Kindergarten. She shares her expertise with the wider world at library conferences, and she encourages everyone near her to spread their creative wings. Megan builds and manages the collections and services in our youth library with a sense of serious whimsy, because the love of reading she engenders in youth is fun, but serious stuff, vital to the success of our community’s children and teens.
- Diana Sussman, Edwardsville Library Director
How long have you worked at the library?
I started at EPL in 2006 working summers when I was home from college and a couple years after graduating. I have been here for 10 years since coming back in 2014.
In what part of the library do you work and what do you do?
I work in the youth library as the Head Librarian of Youth Services. In this position, I am responsible for programming and services for babies, children, and teens, purchasing materials for the youth library collection, managing the youth services team, and assisting with managing the youth circulation desk. Additionally, I love to do outreach and partner with organizations to provide fun events and/or services for kids in the community!
What has changed the most since you started working here?
A lot has changed in the time I’ve started working here! We had a significant remodel in 2021 and that has been a big change for us in the youth library. Our computer lab was transformed into a space just for teens. It’s a favorite spot for everyone and turned out better than we could have imagined!
What services offered at the library do you wish more people knew about?
We have added more story times for families that are unable to attend the weekday morning sessions. Our new story time sessions start the 1st week of September. We have weeknight story times on Wednesdays and a monthly Saturday story time. Dates and times are available on the library’s website.
What has kept you working at the library?
The kids! I love getting to know the kids who come into the library and their families. I love getting to share my love of the library and reading with them and hope they catch that bug too. Being here for 10+ years, I’ve seen kids grow up before my eyes and still love coming to the library. My hope is that they know the library is a welcoming place for them always!
What’s an underrated book you think everyone should read?
I love the author Ruta Sepetys. She writes historical fiction for teens. Her first book published in 2011, Between Shades of Gray, is about a historical event within WWII that I knew little about before reading. This is not a light book to read, but an important one for sure.
Do you have a book character role model?
Jo March from Little Women
What is the first book you remember reading?
I was quite the storyteller for my little brother who would have to listen to me read Amelia Bedelia books to him. I would go so far as to record myself doing this on cassette tape too. How lucky am I that I get to keep reading books to kids now!
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