New children's librarian on board
Review Photo/ERIC HRIN Sarah Stoody of Waverly, N.Y., the new children's librarian at the Bradford County Library, stands with Samantha Arnold of Burlington, a patron at the library.
WEST BURLINGTON TWP. - Sarah Stoody of Waverly, N.Y. has a job where she gets to relive her childhood.
As the new children's librarian at the Bradford County Library in West Burlington Township, the 27-year-old, originally from the Columbus, Ohio area, said she likes sharing books she read as a kid to a new generation of readers.
Stoody said she will enjoy reading the kids books from her childhood, including such titles as "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" and picture books by author Mercer Mayer. She also enjoys "The Berenstain Bears," the "Harry Potter" books and "Charlotte's Web."
She relishes the young readers.
"The children are really sweet and great," she said. "You can never predict what they are going to say or do. I like having a sense of humor and being goofy."
A former children's librarian at the Licking County, Ohio Public Library, she graduated in 2005 with a B.A. in history from Capital College in Columbus, Ohio and obtained a master's degree in library science from Kent State in 2006.
Her first day on the job was Monday. She just moved into Waverly on Friday. Previously, Stoody had applied for a job at the library, and then the director, Jeff Singer, called her about the children's librarian position.
"I love it," she said. "I'm really glad to be here. Everybody has been really friendly to me and warm."
She said the library board had two welcome baskets on her desk Monday. "That made me feel really nice," she said.
As for the area, she enjoys its "hilly" terrain after having been around the flat landscape of Ohio.
"It's nice to see all the hills you have here," she said.
In addition, she said she has some former college roommates living in Philadelphia, and she likes being closer to them.
"I just really enjoy helping people find new things," she said. "I really like learning new things and if you're a librarian, you learn something new every day you come to work."
She sat in on a story hour this week, and said it was "great."
"There was a really good group there," she said. "It had really good attendance and the kids seemed like they really enjoyed it." Her first story hour is March 30.
"They just seemed very warm, very sweet," she said of the audience. She read the book "Bark, George" by Jules Feiffer to the kids.
In the future, she would also like to offer programs for teenagers, such as a book club, poetry night or karaoke night.
As for her approach to work, she said, "I try to be proactive and make sure the customer always gets what they need."
In her spare time, Stoody said she likes crocheting, reading ("obviously," she noted) and traveling.
Singer said Stoody has what it takes to be a successful children's librarian.
"I'm impressed by her work ethic and her friendliness and her positive attitude, and I think this library is very fortunate to have her work here. She will be a positive force in the community."
Eric Hrin can be reached at (570) 297-5251; e-mail: reviewtroy@thedailyreview.com.
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