Staff

"The most important asset of any library goes home at night –
the library staff."
- Timothy Healy 

Current Staff

Nichole Lauko

Director

Astral Sign: Cancer

Years in Library Service: I started as a part-time librarian in April 2017 and became director in January 2019.

A Favorite Book: The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

A Favorite Joke or Quote: "The merit of all things lies in their difficulty." - Alexandre Dumas, The Three Musketeers

Their Favorite Thing About Libraries: I have a lot of favorite things about libraries. From a user perspective, the ability to check out books, movies and more opens my world to so much more. From a librarian perspective, it is one of the best hidden gems of a job. Books are only part of libraries, patrons are the heart and soul.  They are the reason we do what we do and why I love my job (besides our wonderful and supportive Board of Trustees and librarians!) The more services, programs, events and materials we can supply to our patrons, the more we can build a community that can grow and rely on one another. My goal for our library is to be the community center where everyone can share their talents and stories with each other and to experience new things and create lasting relationships. I certainly hope you'll stop by and see what we have to offer!

Penny Jestes
Librarian 

Astral Sign: Libra

Years in Library Service: My time in service to libraries cannot be measured by my employed time, which is less than a year. Instead, I measure my time spent exploring , enjoying, relaxing, being gloriously happy and vicariously hungry in many, many libraries, large and small. Certainly, it would equate to enough years for me to retire. But, why would I?! I'm surrounded by so much that I hold dear - knowledge, beauty, freedom, living the lives of others, taking "mini-vacations," meeting wonderful new people every day, learning something new everyday and working with a board, director and co-workers that I'm blessed to be associated with.

A Favorite Book: I read at least five books a week, so I cannot give you one, ok, maybe one, The Milk Brothers (about the Holocaust) that's no longer to be found, so my "favorite book" changes often. Currently, it's Everything is Fine by Vince Granata (it's a memoir.) My genre is often psychological thrillers, but I also love historical fiction and non-fiction, especially on WWII and the Holocaust, biographies and military novels.

A Favorite Joke or Quote: "Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing." - Mother Theresa

The Title of their Auto Biography: Never Give Up

Their Favorite Thing About Libraries: BOOKS!

Cinda Leech
Librarian

Astral Sign: Taurus/Alliance

Years in Library Service:  10+ years

Fave steampunk book: Soulless by Gail Carriger

Fave young adult book: Gone by Michael Grant

Fave science fiction book: Daughter of the Empire by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts

Favorite Pertinent Quotes:  “Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.” ~ Walter Cronkite, and “Google can bring you back 100,000 answers, a librarian can bring you back the right one.” ~ Neil Gaiman, and “…a mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.” ~ GRRM

The Title of her Auto Biography: The Ghost Bride of Tom Ellis

Her Favorite Thing About Libraries: Public libraries are treasure chests; they are apothecary cabinets full of magical resources.

Elizabeth Harter
Librarian

Astral Sign: Aries

Years in Library Service: Starting on my first! :) 

A Favorite Book: Howl's Moving Castle by Dianna Wynne Jones

Favorite Book Series: Animorphs by KA Applegate 

A Favorite Quote: "It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness." - Chinese proverb (NOT actually Eleanor Roosevelt, fun fact.) 

Their Favorite Thing About Libraries: Libraries are a comfortable place to do and learn all kinds of things. I always love library activities and just being able to explore so many new ideas. And, of course, books!