The Laconia Public Library welcomes a new Director, Adult Services Librarian, Children's Librarian, and Children's Library Tech.
Deann
Hello. My name is Deann Hunter and I am the new Library Director.
I moved to NH from Pennsylvania after graduating college and it wasn’t long before I realized that working in a library was where I wanted to be. I pursued a Master’s degree in Library Science while working part-time at two libraries. I hit the jackpot in 2003 when I landed my first full-time job at the LPL as the Adult Services Librarian. Now, almost 19 years later, I find myself serving as Library Director and I couldn’t be more excited to be in this new role. The Library staff is professional and hardworking, the building is a community treasure, and the patrons are wonderful. I will miss chatting with folks at the circulation desk, so feel free to stop by my office, the door is always open.
Sarah
I am excited to be joining Laconia Public Library as an Adult Services Librarian. I have been working in public libraries for almost 7 years, most of which were spent at Belmont Public Library as a Reference Librarian. I graduated from Clarion University with my Masters in Library Science in 2020. I am looking forward to purchasing the adult non-fiction collection, assisting with reference inquiries, and participating in planning programs for adults. I am excited to be starting a non-fiction book group for adults in September. I’ve been living in the Lakes Region for about 15 years and am very interested in digging into the local history collection and digitizing some of the local history materials. I love a good book recommendation so be sure to stop in, say hello, and recommend your current favorite read!
Jamie
Hi! I’m Jamie, and while I’m not new to the library, the Children’s Librarian position IS a new role for me! In the last few months, there have been some exciting changes in the Children’s Room with the addition of our recently granted toys and fun, high-energy programs, and I've loved taking part in their implementation. In my time here, I’ve learned so much about the families who visit the library and have truly enjoyed getting to know our youngest patrons and their parents and caregivers. I’m looking forward to helping to foster a love of reading in children by making the library a place that families love to spend time, and by curating a collection that will delight and enthrall kids from birth to age 12 and beyond. We have a friendly, helpful staff who are committed to putting children’s safety and happiness first, and we think the future of our Children’s Room is a bright one!
Carly
After graduating from Plymouth State University with a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Studies I worked at the Center for Young Children and Families, a laboratory school on Plymouth State’s campus, for over a decade. I am excited to transition from teaching preschool and training early childhood teachers to support families and our youngest library patrons. Helping children fall in love with reading while offering suggestions for their new favorite book has always been one of the best parts of working with young children, and I look forward to doing the same for the children of Laconia.
Supporting children in feeling empowered to find answers to their own questions and learning to love researching is so important in creating critical thinkers. In the fall, I look forward to adding a preschool story time with a hands-on tinkering or STEM activity to promote creative thinking and problem-solving. I would also like to introduce a social-emotional story hour, featuring a piece of literature that deals with a subject children encounter often (bullying, sharing, name-calling, etc.). Discussing ways to handle these situations as a group will help children feel prepared when they encounter them on their own. I would also like to provide resources to families on promoting healthy social-emotional development in young children, promoting early literacy skills, and helping them understand their child’s behavior.
