Susie
Gutenberger -- Library Manager
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If
you saw a whirlwind in the library recently, it was probably
Susie Gutenberg, our new library manager. This native
Ithacan came back to the area early last fall from several
years in the Chicago area, and she has hardly sat down
since. With lots of ideas for new programs and updated
services, Susie has been very busy not only in the library,
but also at home with her husband Mike. Their family
recently grew with the addition of their second daughter,
Oona, who joined her mom, dad and big sister, Olive,
in December.
Absolutely passionate about libraries and their importance in a community’s
life, Susie decided to commit to paying back to the community by earning
her master’s degree in library science from the University of Illinois
at Chicago starting in 2003. Up till then she worked for several years as
a highly regarded pastry chef in the Chicago area and as a teacher of English
as a Second Language. Within months after starting work for her advanced
degree, she went from volunteering in children’s library services,
to heading the Children’s Services Department in a large suburban library
where over 4000 children had active library cards.
By her own admission, Susie is skilled at multi-tasking and enjoys the variety
of challenges LCL brings to her work life. A typical day for her at the library
might involve grant writing, organizing toddler story times, getting help
from community groups like the cub scouts and their parents, generating ideas
for new programs and fundraising, as well as helping to implement the new
software system at LCL and working with patrons to find just the “perfect” book.
Soon, with her help, the library will expand their services and open hours,
have more room through shelf reconfiguration for an ever growing number of
books, partner more often with the local schools and recruit more volunteers.
She said she is awestruck by the dedication of the wonderful volunteers who
make the library run smoothly and who have made her transition into her new
job possible.
We are indeed fortunate to have Susie Gutenberger, an energetic and knowledgeable
professional to help lead the way for LCL, and we wish her ongoing success!
Be certain to say hello to her the next time you are in LCL.
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Paula
Weaver -- Library Clerk
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Whether
working behind or at the Circulation Desk, our new part time
Library Assistant Paula Weaver keeps very busy on behalf of
the Lansing Community Library. Trained originally as a software
engineer, Paula moved to our area from Vermont in 2007, and
was officially employed by the library in January of 2009 after
volunteering for over 6 months. She appreciates the less stressful
work atmosphere of the library compared to that of a big company
where she had previously worked.
Although she often volunteers at the circulation desk helping kids and adults
check out books and movies, Paula is more often working at one of the computers
in back of the desk. At the computer her main job for the present is entering
the books and other materials into Polaris, the computer system which is part
of the Finger Lakes Library System. This data entry includes bar coding each
item in several places and electronically recording all of the facts such as
title, author, official book number (ISBN ) about the item. Eventually, Paula’s
work (and that of others who are volunteers) will enable patrons of LCL to access
the entire collection of the Finger Lakes Library System by a few clicks on the
computer, and to be notified via e-mail about any overdue items they have. In
the near future her present duties will expand to include helping to train current
library volunteers on the Polaris system, and she is looking forward to this
new responsibility.
A resident of the Lansing school district, Paula says her job at the LCL is most
rewarding, and that she likes the people she works with a lot. A self-described
people person, she says one of the best parts of her job is helping the community
members who come to the library. As she sees it, one of the main challenges of
the work at LCL is working within the budgetary limitations of a not-for-profit
organization.
Not surprisingly, Paula has always loved libraries and has a lifelong habit of
reading. Her current favorite books are of the self-help variety, especially
those on financial management and interpersonal communication. Clearly, this
highly-competent and friendly staff member does not really need help at all!
In case she is not at her desk when you come to the library, she may have taken
a break, since she also enjoys getting away from computers and books by taking
long walks.
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