INTERVIEW WITH KIMBERLY PAONE
Do you know who nominated you, and what they said on the nomination form?
I was nominated by four teens that frequent the library: Jonaya Kemper, Iyonna Lassiter, Lisette Mena and Bruno-Miguel Pereira. Iyonna's nomination was the one chosen by the New York Times as the winner and she was invited (with her parents) to attend the awards reception at the NYT building on October 8th. [See below for Iyonna's answers to the questions on the nomination form].
How did you find out you'd won?
Actually, a New York Times representative called me at work. My first instinct was to say, "Thanks, but you've just called a library and we already subscribe to the Times."
Have the winners' names been published yet, and if so was it exciting to see your name in the New York Times?
The winners were published in the October 8th edition on the back page of the World Business section. It's a full-page ad! It was incredibly exciting to see my name in the paper -- it was kind of surreal. A friend of my mom's had the page laminated for me so I'll have it to show off for a very long time.
How long have you worked in public libraries? Do you work specifically with teens, or with teens and children?
I graduated from Rutgers University with my MLS in May of 2000, so I haven't been working as a librarian for long. While I was at school I did an internship with Bonnie Kunzel at Princeton Public Library and I owe her a lot as far as teaching me everything there is to know. Bonnie was, and is, an incredible mentor. After graduation, I came to work at the Elizabeth Public Library as the Teen Services Librarian and I've been here since then building and growing the Teen Department. I am very lucky to work exclusively with teenagers (students in grades 6-12).
What made you decide to become a librarian?
It was serendipity. I needed to go back to school to further my education (my undergraduate degree is in Portuguese and finding work related to my degree was a bit challenging!) but didn't really know what I wanted to do. I picked up a graduate catalog at Rutgers and began to leaf through; when I got to Library Studies, I thought -- "Hey, I like to read, I like libraries... maybe this is it." I enrolled, took a YA Literature class the first semester, and knew right away that I had found my calling!
Do you have any library programs or accomplishments you're especially proud of?
Well, when I arrived in Elizabeth, there was no teen department and no teen collection, there were no teen programs -- just an empty room and me. (I was very lucky to have a good-sized budget and the full support of the library's director, Joe Keenan, as well!) So, now we have a room full of materials for teens including fiction, non-fiction, audio books, magazines and graphic novels. (And they're circulating!) There are 4-6 programs per month for teens including a Teen Advisory Council, a Poet's Club, and the Best Books for Young Adults Teen Task Force. I run a community service program in conjunction with the local high schools and municipal and county court systems. My schedule is full of school visits, tours, bibliographic instruction sessions, teacher's meetings and professional development workshops. I rarely have time to breathe, but teenagers in Elizabeth are using the library, reading more, participating more... I couldn't be happier!
Are you involved in any professional groups or activities?
I am currently a member of YALSA's Best Books for Young Adults committee, I am the Vice-President/President-Elect of the Young Adult Section of the New Jersey Library Association and serve on the Garden State Teen Book Awards committee. I also participate in our region's Book Evaluation program and I review books for School Library Journal and VOYA.
Any plans for how you'll spend the award money?
Part of the money will be spent on an activity for the teens. The rest is going toward the purchase of my new car!
Is there any advice you would give someone just entering the field (especially someone who wanted to work with teens)?
Always treat teenagers with respect, ask them for their input and opinions, never condescend.
Smile, even when you don't feel like it, and make eye contact -- it means more than you think.
Be prepared to work hard (multi-tasking is key!), but the rewards are enormous!
Stay up on the literature so you can do fantastic reader's advisory -- it's so much fun!
CONTACT INFORMATION: Kimberly L. Paone
Teen Services Librarian
Elizabeth Public Library
11 S. Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202
KPaone@elizpl.org
(908) 354-6060, ext. 7237
For more information on the award:
http://www.nypl.org/branch/timesaward.html
New York Times Librarian Award Nomination Form
Iyonna Lassiter
17 years of age
Senior at Linden High School
1. How did you come to know the nominee?
I would always frequent the library either to research homework, or simply sit and read. I would always check out the shelves in the front hall of the library. One day I was browsing the shelves when one of the coming events schedules caught my eye. The surprising thing was that this schedule was for upcoming teen programs. The programs required that you sign up in advance and see Kimberly at the Teen Services Desk on the second floor. I was intrigued by the programs and wanted to sign up so I approached the desk indicated on the schedule. I saw a woman who was young, pretty and didn’t look like your standard librarian - she looked approachable. Now of course I was nervous but I thought to myself ‘She’s not gonna bite.’ I shakily said ‘hi.’ She brightened and reciprocated a very cheery hello with a side order of smile. I inquired, I signed up and that day I made a new friend for life. Who knew the library could be so fateful.
2. How long have you known the nominee?
I’ve known the nominee for approximately 2 ½ years which is almost exactly how long she’s been working at Elizabeth Public Library.
3. Please list a few ways in which the nominee has helped you and/or others and made your experience at the library a more positive one. For instance, did the nominee inspire in you a love for literature or assist you in a research project?
First and foremost, Kimberly has been for me a guide, mentor, and friend. She has helped me become a faster and more efficient reader. She has spawned my interest for young adult literature. Before now I wouldn’t even leaf through selections of said literature. But she has helped change my approach to choosing quality books with substance written by authors of the same caliber. When I go to the library, I don’t want the hassle of searching for things pointed out by librarians who could care less about what I need. But with Kimberly, I will surely be steered in the right direction. I mean not only will she look up several sources of info but she will show me exactly where to look and even give me her opinion of which books will be of more help. Of course this isn’t the extent of Kimberly’s contributions. The parents of the kids involved with Kimberly’s programs go to Kim to get help looking for something because they know they’ll get quality service with a smile.
4. How does the nominee make the library a better place?
To tell the truth, I don’t even think I can remember what that [Kim’s] section of the library was like before Kim came along. I guess that’s how much things have changed. But I think the library pre-Kim was pretty much dull and lifeless. In the span of 2 years Kimberly has made the library a place to meet reptiles, a yoga specialist, a local Steve Irwin, and a caricature artist of whom all have become regulars. She’s made the library (auditorium) into our own personal little cinema. Now the library is a FUN place to go. Most teens in the Elizabeth area have a lot of free time on their hands to engage in otherwise unhealthy activities. Between 3pm and 9pm the time frame when most of these things occur is also when Kimberly’s programs take place. She’s made the library not just a place to browse the internet and do research. She’s made it a place for me to be entertained, have fun and voice my opinion. It’s now my second home. My mother is even starting to complain about how much time I spend there.
5. How has the library, and the nominee, improved the quality of your life and/or the lives of others?
Kimberly has not only assisted me in my scholastic endeavors - she has assisted me in life. She’s helped me with tough decisions and my teenage qualms. She treats me as her equal and values my opinion which the majority of adults don’t even consider. She has shared her experiences - her life with me and has rooted for me when I didn’t root for myself. She’s really been there for me. As a matter of fact she’ll be at my high school graduation - that’s how much she cares. And this doesn’t just go for me. This goes for anybody she comes in contact with. She’s held programs where we wrote some words of inspiration to terminally ill children. She donates our arts and crafts creations to hospitals, got us to start raising money for the American Heart Association, and has had us read to little kids. One of her future ventures is to start a journal writing/pen-pal relationship with senior citizens in hopes of brightening up their days and giving them an alternative view of teens. Kim has also fostered peaceful, healthy relationships amongst teens which is no simple task and she will continue to dedicate herself to this type of work which probably isn’t in her job description, but she’ll do it nonetheless.
In closing this nomination, I would just like to state that I’m so glad that there is such a thing as the Librarian Awards because if there is any librarian worthy of being awarded for what she does - it’s Kimberly Paone.