Sometimes our calling doesn’t come to us in our first career. Muhlenberg Community Library Director Melissa Adams discovered her love for literature and learning while pursuing a career in theater and has fortunately brought her talents back to Berks to benefit our community.
Q: When did you join the Muhlenberg Library? I started in August 2015 as the Assistant Director. I was in the position for about six months, and in the following year the existing director left, and I took over at that time.
Q: How did you make your way into the library system? I came to libraries in sort of a roundabout way. I studied theater at Kutztown University, after which I moved to New York City for several years. While I was there, I realized I wasn’t as interested in theater as I thought and ended up going back to school for a master’s degree in British and American literature. I also started working on a Children’s Literature degree at Hollins University over the summers. I ended up moving back to Berks and pursued my Master of Library Science. I worked at Lower Macungie and Pottsville Public Libraries before coming to Muhlenberg. I was delighted to get the position; it’s a way to marry the ability to help the public with my love of literature.
Q: What does your average day look like now? I make sure that everything is running smoothly and that we are providing great customer service to our community members. Daily that means I’m dealing with the financials and working on the various fundraisers and grants that we can access, or other projects that we might be able to do, to keep improving the library. For example, last year we spent a lot of time working on the Keystone Communities grant, which enabled us to renovate our community room. In addition to the larger grants we’ll coordinate traveling exhibits and connect with community members to schedule our calendar of events.
Q: Do you have any at-home programs for kids to do? We we will be doing Summer Quest entirely online by offering virtual programming, online tracking of various "quests" that participants can complete, and just like in other years, a chance to win prizes. When it's safe to do so, the Friends of the Berks County Public Libraries will be providing grab-and-go kits to provide a way for children to participate even if they do not have Internet or computers at home. Muhlenberg Community Library's Youth Services Coordinator Jacki Clark will be holding virtual weekly storytimes, crafting and gaming programs geared for K-6th graders, as well as a hang-and-chat style program for tweens and teens. We will also host other special virtual programming throughout the summer for children and adults.
Q: Do you get a chance to do any reading in your spare time? I do whenever I get a chance. I love to read and to write, although I’m not writing as much as I should right now. I’m working on finishing a master’s degree in fine arts and need to write and publish a young adult fiction novel, and I’m in the editing stages. I stay busy as a member of the Berks County Art Alliance and the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and I’m currently a foster parent. But books, writing and reading are all very important to me.
Beating Brain Drain. “Allowing yourself to read what you’re going to really enjoy is the key.” Visit the library for a selection of eBooks, audiobooks and even graphic novels to keep reading fun this summer.
Join the Fun. Follow @MuhlenbergCommunityLibrary on Facebook for updates on their schedule of events, fundraisers and summer programming. And don’t forget, library cards are free!
