Small-Town Librarian in 'Perfect' Position

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Link to October 17 Charlotte Observer article.

Excerpt:    There are people who say they love their jobs, and then there are people who love their jobs so much they run out of words to describe just how much they really and truly love them.

Laurel Reisen, the new librarian at the Mount Pleasant library, is definitely one of the latter group. In fact, she calls her new position "perfect."

Originally from Long Island, N.Y., Reisen's parents moved to North Carolina in 1995, and she followed them two years later. Her parents still live in Gold Hill, as does Reisen, and she has sisters in Faith and Salisbury.

So she knows small towns like Mount Pleasant. In fact, as she attended college at Pfeiffer and library school at UNC Greensboro, she says, her dream job was always to work in a small-town library.

When the position opened in Mount Pleasant, the timing was perfect. Her daughter had just started school, and Reisen was ready to go back to work. Although Mondays through Thursdays are long days, she says, since the library is closed on Fridays she can volunteer at her daughter's school.

Volunteers to the Rescue at Charlotte Mecklenburg Libraries

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Link to October 17 Charlotte Observer article, "Their help came just in time. Volunteers are keeping area libraries running smoothly".

Excerpt: Last spring, when it looked like many of the library branches around the county would close due to budget cuts, local municipalities stepped in to help out.

Government and elected leaders in Matthews, Mint Hill, and the three northern towns offered money and other incentives to ensure the branches in their towns would stay open, at least for abbreviated hours.

Residents volunteered in record numbers to help supplement the dwindling paid staff. And all those efforts have paid off.

In Matthews, the branch added an extra day to their schedule in September, now opening 1-7 p.m. on Mondays. This month, the Mint Hill branch was able to start opening 1-7 p.m. Thursdays. This means that, between the two towns, residents can have access to a nearby library branch six days a week - thanks in large part to volunteers.

Related articles:
Charlotte Observer to Harry Jones:  Check your ego at the door.  (9/21/2010)
County manager regrets hitting the 'send' key. (9/18/2010)
Library steering committee veers into off-road territory.  (9/15/2010)
Bank of America and Carolina Panthers kick off library fundraising campaign. (9/14/2010)
Another branch extends hours thanks to volunteer support.  (9/12/2010)
Volunteers step up.  (9/10/2010)
2 branch libraries to open one more day per week.  (9/5/2010)
Library urban legend in the making?  (9/4/2010)
Library launches pilot program to expand hours with volunteers.  (8/31/2010)
Group to study county library merger.  (7/28/2010)
Book stores help out the library.  (7/21/2010)
Libraries hope to expand hours with volunteers at 4 branches.  (7/20/2010)
Another change in hours.  (7/18/2010)
Matthews branch library sends out plea for volunteers.  (7/13/2010)
Most county commissioners cool to sales tax hike.  (7/9/2010)
New hours in effect.  (7/6/2010)
Charlotte Observer editorial board laments the passing of the Novello Festival of the Book.  (6/28/2010)
Shuttered branch could  become Friends' used book store.  (6/25/2010)
A reduced future.  (6/23/2010)
Interlocal cooperation pact.  (6/22/2010)
Three branches close.  (6/19/2010)
Town of Mint Hill perspective.  (6/18/2010)
Five towns tentatively OK $730,000 for libraries.  (6/18/2010)
Carmel, two other branches to close.  (6/16/2010)
Now that the ax has fallen.  (6/16/2010)
Commissioners to vote on budget today.  (6/15/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg Libraries:  It's complicated.  (6/9/2010)
Mayor wins straw vote at emotional council meeting.  (6/7/2010)
Editorial:  Should city 'stay in its lane' on libraries.  (6/4/2010)
County commissioners restore some cuts to libraries.  (6/4/2010)
Straw votes begin on Mecklinburg County budget.  (6/3/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg Libraries continue to look for one-time financial help.  (5/31/2010)
High school junior speaks out eloquently for libraries.  (5/30/2010)
Mayor Foxx on the art of governing.  (5/30/2010)
Mayor supports financial help for library.  (5/27/2010)
County budget:  Oh, yeah, this is fair.  (5/25/2010)
Bailout proposal not gaining traction.  (5/23/2010)
Library trustees vote to close 4 branches.  (5/20/2010)
Mecklenburg County tightens its belt.  (5/20/2010)
County manager cuts $14.7 million from library budget.  (5/18/2010)
2010-11 Mecklenburg County budget to be unveiled today.  (5/18/2010)
North Carolina woman plans on "going straight to the top" to keep Charlotte libraries open.  (5/16/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg officials ask local municipalities for $3 million contribution.  (4/30/2010Library Board chair speaks out.  (4/25/2010)
County commissioners seek ways to ease library cuts.  (4/23/2010)
Mecklenburg County needs to reduce $85-90 million deficit.  (4/16/2010)
County manager takes library board to task.  (4/10/2010)
Libraries now open fewer hours.  (4/6/2010)
"Save Our Libraries Sunday".  (3/29/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg users owe average of 55 cents in fines.  (3/27/2010)
Library announces new hours for branches.  (3/26/2010)
Library Board applies a Band-Aid to its bleeding system.  (3/25/2010)
Follow-up on Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Board vote.  (3/25/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Board votes to keep all branches open.  (3/24/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Board presented with 2 budget-cutting alternatives.  (3/24/2010)
More and bigger cuts looming on horizon. (3/23/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library System Rethinks Closings. (3/22/2010)
A New Day is Dawning in Charlotte/Mecklenburg County. (3/21/2010)

Charlotte Mecklenburg libraries haven't seen such large-scale reductions since the Great Depression. (3/17/2010)

Grand Opening of Bookworm Gardens on UW-Sheboygan Campus

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Link to October 17 Sheboygan Press article, "A new chapter".

Excerpt: For seven-year-old Taylor Sundee, no explanation was required for the hot dogs, hamburgers and cupcakes hanging from the trees in the woods at Bookworm Gardens on Saturday.

"It's raining food, just like the book," said Sundee, of Cleveland, while pointing up toward the trees, as one of his favorite books, "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs," came to life.

Sundee was one of the more than 1,000 children, parents and grandparents in attendance Saturday for the grand opening of Bookworm Gardens, a literary-themed children's garden on the University of Wisconsin-Sheboygan campus. The daylong event was held in conjunction with the Sheboygan Children's Book Festival, which continues today.