{"id":17454,"date":"2013-04-08T09:27:22","date_gmt":"2013-04-08T13:27:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inalj.com\/?p=17454"},"modified":"2019-01-13T20:03:56","modified_gmt":"2019-01-14T02:03:56","slug":"emily-ellis-mover-shaker-teen-librarian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inalj.com\/?p=17454","title":{"rendered":"Emily Ellis …Mover & Shaker & Teen Librarian"},"content":{"rendered":"

This interview is over 1 year old and may no longer be up to date or reflect the interviewee\/interviewees’ positions<\/span><\/h2>\n

My interview with 2012 Library Journal Mover & Shaker<\/a>, Emily Ellis<\/em><\/p>\n

\"emilye\"<\/a>Naomi:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 How did you come to work for your current position?
\nEmily:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 I’m only 30, but I’ve been working in libraries for 15 years which seems completely crazy. \u00a0I started out as a library page in high school through my undergrad years. \u00a0After graduating I started working at a local high school media center where I discovered a passion for working with teens. \u00a0The Teen Services position at Greenwood Public Library opened up during my last year in the SLIS program, so I applied. \u00a0It was a new position to the library, which was exciting and terrifying all at the same time. \u00a0Building a program can be fun because you can shape it with your community, but it is also a lot of work and a lot of trial and error. \u00a0I was taking youth services classes at the same time that I was juggling a rather rowdy group of after school kids, but I eventually found a groove and was able to establish a fun and welcoming place for teens. \u00a0Now, six years later, I’m the Head of Reference and Teen Services. \u00a0My passion is still in the Teen Room with that crazy, rowdy bunch of kids, but I’m also learning to enjoy management.<\/p>\n

Naomi:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Can you speak a little bit about the program you won the Library Journal Movers & Shakers award for?
\nEmily:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0I was selected as a community builder for my work with teens. \u00a0While I started out as the first teen librarian at Greenwood Public Library working with the Reference Department, we now have a designated Teen Department with a second part-time librarian working specifically for teens. \u00a0Participation in teen program has increased over 100% each of the last three years. \u00a0In addition, I started the Teen Film Festival in 2009 with the help of Julia Reynolds, the media specialist at Greenwood High School. While working in the high school media center, I was absolutely amazed at the level of talent and passion of student filmmakers. \u00a0I wanted to find a way to bring that to the public library setting, but I knew it would be difficult because, unlike in the school setting, I wouldn’t have a captive audience. \u00a0Julia was new to her post, and I wanted to start building a working relationship with her, so I introduced the idea of a Teen Film Festival. \u00a0Together we created the goals for the festival, guidelines and entry forms, and promotional materials.<\/p>\n

The first year was a huge success. \u00a0Since then, the program has morphed a bit. \u00a0It is still a work in progress, trying to find the right avenues for promotion and participation. \u00a0We are now a county wide and surrounding areas program and have enlisted the help of the county library system. \u00a0I create media packets that are delivered to each of the participating schools, and all of the participating librarians are encouraged to help in the judging process. \u00a0This upcoming year we plan to also promote in the middle schools and have an \u201cupcoming\u201d filmmaker award. \u00a0Our tag line is \u201cencouraging creativity in our community\u2019s youth.\u201d \u00a0Guidelines are minimal and creativity, in whatever form, is celebrated. \u00a0It\u2019s a lot of work, but something I look forward to every year.<\/p>\n

Naomi:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Favorite book(s)?
\nEmily:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Oh…such a hard question! \u00a0Sorry. \u00a0I can’t pick just one, so a few of my favorites: To Kill a Mockingbird<\/em> by Harper Lee, The Eyre Affair<\/em> by Jasper Fforde, The Fault in Our Stars<\/em> by John Green, Code Name Verity<\/em> by Elizabeth Wein, and A Wrinkle in Time<\/em> by Madeline L’Engle.<\/p>\n

Naomi:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Favorite thing about libraries?
\nEmily:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Stories are by far my favorite thing about libraries, and I don’t just mean the amazing stories that line the shelves and take me to different worlds or teach me new ideas. \u00a0The library is a place where each individual patron can add to his or her own story by making connections with other community members and organizations, participating in exciting discussions and programs, or developing new skills and talents. \u00a0To be a part of that, to be given an opportunity to serve, makes librarianship a pretty amazing profession.<\/p>\n

Naomi:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Are there any blogs or websites we should be following?
\nEmily:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0At the beginning of the year I started a blog with fellow librarian and Teen Film Festival founder Julia Reynolds called TheLibrarianWay.com<\/a>. \u00a0We talk about teen services and library topics from a public and school perspective. \u00a0I also blog at TheGnomingLibrarian.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A few of my favorites are www.abbythelibrarian.com\/<\/a> for great information on children’s services and readers advisory and www.teenlibrariantoolbox.com\/<\/a> for wonderful discussions on all things teen services.<\/p>\n

Naomi:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Any tips for job hunters?
\nEmily:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0We recently had to fill a few positions at my library. \u00a0It was my first hiring experience was a bit nerve-wracking, but I learned a few things along the way. \u00a0If you’re interested in working with teens, showing a knowledge of pop culture and teen interests can go a long way, as well as a fun, playful personality. \u00a0Bring out a bit of your inner teen to show that you can relate to that demographic. \u00a0Teens appreciate someone that’s willing to laugh and maybe, occasionally embarrass themselves. \u00a0The other thing I learned is the importance of the first impression. \u00a0If a candidate doesn’t have much experience with collection development or programming, that can be learned with the job. \u00a0But if a a manager can’t “see” a candidate working at a reference desk offering patrons a warm smile and friendly service, he\/she might not be a right fit for the position.<\/p>\n

Does your library have a library kid or two hanging around? Emily Ellis was one of those. She received her undergraduate degree in history from the University of Indianapolis before going on to her Masters in Library Science program at IUPUI. She was still finishing up her classes when she was hired as the first ever full time teen librarian at Greenwood Public Library. Since it was a new position, Emily was charged with creating the teen program from the ground up. In a library where a great teen program had been five kids playing board games, Emily transformed the landscape by creating exciting programs and annual events. Emily is now a department head for both Reference and Teen services<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This interview is over 1 year old and may no longer be up to date or reflect the interviewee\/interviewees’ positions My interview with 2012 Library Journal Mover & Shaker, Emily Ellis Naomi:\u00a0\u00a0 How did you come to work for your current position? Emily:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I’m only 30, but I’ve been working in libraries for 15 years…<\/p>\n

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