New youth services librarian, Celina Record, April 2018

Celina's new youth services librarian plans to enhance programming Lisa Ferguson, Star Local Media Contributor Apr 5, 2018 As a child growing up in Plano and Allen, Lauren Graves made frequent visits to local public libraries. “I remember pulling out the picture books. I just wanted to draw whatever was in the books,” she recalled. “That was my big thing – reading as well, but mostly attempting to mimic the illustrations and their (artistic) styles.” In February, Graves – who graduated in 2014 from SMU with a bachelor’s degree in art history, and two years later earned her master’s in library science from UNT - was hired as youth services librarian at Celina Public Library. She is the first city of Celina employee ever to hold the recently created position. “It is a big undertaking to kind of shape this (role),” Graves said, “but I think that also provides an exciting and unique opportunity to create something new.” Among her duties is developing and overseeing the library’s programming for children and teens, including its annual Summer Reading Program which is scheduled to begin June 1. It is anticipated that this year’s program will be larger than in previous summers, and will feature several reading, music and science-related events geared toward youngsters age infant through 12 years old at the library. +1 Lauren Graves Youth Services Librarian Lauren Graves, center, speaks to a child, right, as Director of Library Services Linda Shaw, left, dressed as Cat in the Hat, looks on during Celina Public Library’s Dr. Suess birthday celebration earlier this month. PHOTO COURTESY OF CELINA PUBLIC LIBRARY “Summer reading is really important,” Graves said. “We want kids to keep the skills that they’ve gathered throughout the school year and continue growing those skills to prevent summer learning loss, so when they go back to school they’re still prepared and ready to roll.” Linda Shaw, director of library services for Celina, said Graves “really embraces the community-building nature of the library” and boasts a “positive attitude toward serving and being a part of the library team.” Most recently Graves, 25, worked as an access service librarian at Reed Library on the campus of Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, where she managed the access services department that oversaw the circulation desk, and helped craft library policies and procedures while assisting students. One of the best aspects of that job, she said, was forming relationships and connections with patrons. She looks forward to doing the same at Celina Public Library. Public libraries are “absolutely vital” to communities, Graves said, because they typically “provide more than just books. Public libraries provide a community space and resources that some children might not have access to otherwise,” such as internet access needed to complete homework and other assignments. “Some of them might not have that at home, but we are able to provide that.” Also, “Public libraries play a role in teaching digital literacy, which is essential in the Information Age, along with information literacy,” she said. The library can be “a space of support, and I think that’s crucial,” Graves explained. “There aren’t many places one can go in society today where one can use the resources, attend services and consume materials, but not have to purchase anything.” Given Celina’s fast-growing population, its public library “is serving a really great role in the community right now, and I think there’s a lot of opportunity” to expand its programming, services and profile in the community, she said. Plans for a children’s book club are in the works, and Yoga Story Time sessions for preschoolers through early elementary-aged kids are set to begin in June. Graves, who since 2011 has been a certified yoga instructor through the nonprofit Yoga Alliance association, has previously taught it to children during sessions at the Trammell & Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art in Dallas. “It’s always super fun to do it in the park, and it’d be fun to do it out on (Celina’s) square,” she said. Future youth programming at Celina Public Library “will really depend on what the community wants,” Graves said, “so I’m putting feelers out and seeing what people are interested in. I want to provide activities … that people are excited about, that the kids are excited about.”