Library Staff Spotlight

Sno-Isle Libraries’ amazing staff are the heart of our libraries!

Foundation Newsletter March 2026 Spotlight

Ruth Zander, Talent Development Manager

I was born and raised just north of Bellingham, growing up on a small farm in the big woods with a big garden, ponies, dogs, cats, occasional chickens and pigs, a horse, and even a few cows (my brother now owns cows on the same property). My lifelong love of the water began during many visits to my great‑grandma’s rustic cabin on Lummi Island and summer trips to Camp Na‑Bor‑Lee on Lake Roosevelt with my mom’s side of the family. I returned to Washington and the Seattle area in 2005, moved to Snohomish County in 2007, and now own a home in North Everett with a view of the water - my happy place.

Bookmobile day was the highlight of my childhood. I loved choosing a stack of books that were mine - not passed down by my brother or sisters. My mom also ferried us to the Bellingham and Lynden libraries for Storytimes and activities in our big yellow Suburban. I remember sitting in the children’s area surrounded by bright colors, artwork, and chairs that were just the right size.

After graduating from George Fox College in Oregon with degrees in writing/literature and international studies, I joined the JET Program and spent two years teaching English in Kyoto, Japan. That experience sparked my passion for working with people from different cultures and helping them access knowledge and resources. It eventually led me to Vermont, where I earned a graduate degree in Multicultural Organizational Development and HR Development/Training from the School for International Training. I returned to Japan to study the language further, complete research for my degree requirements, and conduct corporate trainings.

I happily moved back to Seattle in 2005 to work at the Japan America Society of the State of Washington. I joined Sno‑Isle Libraries in 2008 as a Training Administrator and was excited to serve an organization deeply committed to access, literacy, and learning for all. One of my sisters worked for her college library and was a Page at the Arlington Library when I started - she loved the organization and highly recommended it. She and my other two sisters are voracious readers, and we often exchange reading recommendations!

Today, I’m the Talent Development Manager. At the heart of talent development are the people - the “talent” - and I love referring to Sno‑Isle staff that way because it’s true - we have a passionate and knowledgeable group of employees in our organization. My role (and the training industry) has evolved from direct training to enabling learning across the organization through curated content, internal consulting, team‑building support, coaching managers, and collaborating with internal and external subject‑matter experts. I truly enjoy fostering growth for employees and helping create a learning environment where everyone can thrive.

Some random things I enjoy include running half marathons, traveling to new places, my 9-year-old pittie mix named Poppy, playing slow-pitch softball, listening to music (especially 1^st Wave), kayaking and paddleboarding. I love reading and learning new things about myself and the world – most recently exploring positive psychology and neurodiversity. I am always juggling multiple books, and even when I can’t finish them, I’m happy to have checked them out (I call it my “book therapy”).

I’m currently listening to The Way of Integrity: Finding the Path to Your True Self by Martha Beck. I love how she blends science and spirituality with a wicked sense of humor that helps me not take myself too seriously. I also highly recommend Laurie Notaro’s books (I met her at a WLA author event years ago, and her humor got me through a dark time). Even the titles are hilarious - like I Love Everybody (and Other Atrocious Lies). I’m currently reading her novel The Murderess.

As previous colleague Baha Farkish shared, we need more kindness and community now more than ever. Mental Health Matters. Kindness Matters. I try to remember that everyone is going through something. Reach out to loved ones - friends, family, coworkers, even strangers. A smile can go a long way.

Foundation Newsletter December 2025 Spotlight

Terry Lott, Community Project Lead

I was born and raised in Seattle. My father moved to the Mariner/South Everett neighborhood while I was a teenager from Renton. I absolutely love living in this neighborhood. My favorite thing about my neighborhood is that, over the years, Mariner has become a Snohomish County hub for culture, resilience, great food from around the world, and amazing people as neighbors.

Growing up with an avid reader as a mother, my brother and I were regulars at our local King County Library in Skyway, WA. We spent hours reading and participating in different programming that the library offered. This led my mother to open Brother’s Books, one of Seattle’s first black woman-owned bookstores in the early 1990s. I spent years working in the bookstore, reading every book in stock. Brother’s Books solidified my love for learning, reading, and knowledge.

I started working for Sno-Isle Libraries nearly 5 years ago. The first 4 years as the Mariner Community Campus Project Lead. Being in this position has allowed me to bring a fresh perspective to the project, ensuring the community’s voice is heard throughout the process. Going into year 5, I am now the Community Project Lead in hopes of bringing the same community-centered approach to other Sno-Isle projects.

I chose to work for the library when I saw a position where I could not only impact the community that I live in by assisting in creating a much-needed neighborhood resource, but also share my expertise in community engagement, diversity, and grassroots knowledge of communities served by Sno-Isle Libraries.

When I am not working, I serve as the President of Mariner Jr Football. MJF proudly serves over 100 Mukilteo and Everett School District students from kindergarten through 8^th grade. I am most proud of being a father of 4 amazing children, ranging from 14-28 years old. Outside of work and football, I spend my time on the City of Everett Diversity Advisory Board and the Snohomish County Community Safety Council. My goal is to continually work for a better life for all my neighbors.

With football always on my mind, I am currently reading Kenny Simpson’s Gun T Offense. It is a thrilling book on how to teach players of all ages a new way to play football.

Foundation Newsletter September 2025 Spotlight

Jane López-Santillana, Oak Harbor Library Manager

I was born in Seattle but spent a lot of my youth and early adulthood in México. I have always loved stories and the magic of books but didn’t become an avid reader until around age 10. Growing up, my relationship with books was founded in bookstores and school libraries, in the U.S. and México, reading in French, Spanish, or English.

Libraries in México were primarily private. It isn’t until recently that Mexican libraries have become more publicly accessible, mirroring U.S. public library practices. The school libraries in México were small and classic literature-based, not really focused on reading for fun, but the collections represented authors and languages from all over the world.

I enjoyed exploring the variety of authors, languages, and topics that were available. I didn’t frequent public libraries until I moved back to the U.S. as an adult and began making regular trips to the Edmonds Library with my children, borrowing heaps of picture books to read together.

Before working in libraries, I worked as an interpreter/translator, followed by technology positions at Microsoft. When I finished my MLIS degree, I began working at the downtown Central Library for Seattle Public Library as a Children’s and World Languages librarian specialist.

I started at Sno-Isle Libraries as the Oak Harbor Children’s Librarian in 2010. I enjoyed the creativity of working as a Children’s Librarian, developing several projects that have since become system-wide practices, including Story Trails and the 3rd Grade Reading Challenge, which has morphed into 3rd Graders Read Together. In 2018, I became the manager for the Oak Harbor Library and have appreciated working with a dedicated staff team that is passionate about serving a diverse community.

My favorite thing about working in libraries, besides being surrounded by books, is interactions with community members that potentially change their expectations and experiences of libraries and the impacts they can have on improving lives. That can consist of making a connection to urgent health care support, engaging a student with online homework resources and tutoring, sharing information on how to download materials to a device, providing a HotSpot for a family with limited internet access, or, my personal favorite, the ability to support people who speak languages other than English with materials and resources, observing their obvious relief and surprise that they are welcome and have access to so many opportunities through the library.

When not at the library, traveling and exploring new cultures and languages are some of my greatest pleasures. My most recent trips include Turkey, Ireland, Scotland, and New Orleans. I’m always dreaming of where I’ll go next.

When not working or traveling, I enjoy visiting museums, attending theatre and music productions, gardening, crocheting, cooking for others, perusing books, of course, spending time with my family, and walking Whidbey’s beaches and towns accompanied by Shiba Inus.

I am always reading and listening to multiple books, including children’s books – I am an avid collector of illustrated picture books. Currently, I’m engrossed in reading Mona’s Eyes, by Thomas Schlesser (translated from the original French by Serle Hildegarde), the story of the relationship between a grandfather and his granddaughter, who is losing her sight. They spend a year visiting a famous work of art each week, striving to build memories before Mona loses her sight forever. Compelling! The inside of the book’s dust jacket includes images of all art pieces written into the story, so it is worth picking up a copy at your local independent book shop.

Foundation Newsletter Summer 2025 Spotlight

Baha Farkish, Administrative Specialist for Strategic Services

Growing up, my elementary school library in Kabul, Afghanistan was my idea of a dreamland. My favorite book to check out was The Adventures of TinTin. I recently bought the whole series as an adult, and it took me right back to the happier days of my childhood.

I moved from Afghanistan to South Snohomish County at the end of 2021 to join my sisters and other relatives who live in the area. Although I eventually moved to Seattle, I still visit Snohomish County frequently. I love spending time at the Mukilteo Lighthouse Park or the various cafes in Edmonds.

I walked to the Lynnwood library the day after I arrived in the United States and was absolutely blown away by how amazing it was. Library services were not ideal in my home country of Afghanistan, so this was my first time seeing anything like this.

I liked the library so much I asked the staff if they were hiring. They said they were and here I am! I started working for Sno-Isle Libraries in March 2022. I work as an Administrative Specialist, providing administrative support to different departments to ensure the smooth flow of daily operations. My favorite thing about my job is working with so many different teams and people and learning from them daily.

I am currently reading “A Political and Economic History of the Jews of Afghanistan” by Sara Koplik. A lot of people don’t know this, but Afghanistan was once home to over 5,000 Jewish families, most of whom now live in Queens and Jerusalem.

A book I recommend to my American friends is “Stoner” by John Williams. The prose in this book is outstandingly gripping and my biggest fear is ending up living a life like the main character.

I feel that we need more kindness and community now more than ever. I would like to ask everyone to just please be kinder to each other and check on your loved ones whether they are your friends, family, coworkers, or the man across the street.

Foundation Newsletter March 2025 Spotlight

Carolyn Bly, Circulation & Delivery Services Manager

Growing up in Everett, a bookmobile came to the field by my house every week. I remember playing the games they had, the hula hoop, and the parachute. As I grew older, I would walk to the downtown library and hang out. I was an avid reader and loved to browse the magazines. I would meet my dad at the dealership nearby where he worked for a ride home.

In 1989 I was a certified nursing assistant as well as working full-time at a car dealership. When my son was born, I stopped working. Four months later, a friend who worked at the Marysville Library told me about a position at the Mukilteo Library. I went in and spoke to the managing librarian and the next thing I knew I was working for Sno-Isle Libraries!

I worked at the Mukilteo Library in the old Rosehill building and loved the view of the ferry. I was only six hours a week and it was perfect because I got to spend time learning the ins and outs of the library system, while my son spent quality time with his grandma and great grandma who lived on the way to work.

Sno-Isle has given me many opportunities to learn and grow through the years. My current role is amazing with the variety of work I do. I enjoy working for an organization that gives so much to the community and supports staff with opportunities to learn and develop skills to find the right fit for them. I enjoy working with our customers and everyone in the community libraries and appreciate all they bring to the organization.

I have seen many changes over the last 35 years and every year it just gets better. With every challenge there are always opportunities to contribute towards the mission of the organization.

Some fun facts about me:

I grew up in Everett and now live in Granite Falls. I love living in Granite Falls! I live out of town and enjoy the woodsy environment and being close to my grandchildren.
Speaking of grandchildren, I have five! They keep me busy, and it is so fun watching them grow.
Our dog Hurley (an Australian shepherd & red healer mix) goes everywhere with us. She even took a road trip with us to Michigan to see my husband’s family and loved it.
I enjoy the ocean. We often go to Ocean Shores for razor clam digging.

Foundation Newsletter Winter 2024 Spotlight

Edison De Impala, Bilingual Spanish Outreach Specialist

From Coffee Fields to Libraries: A Journey of Resilience, Adaptation, Learning and Service

My journey began on a coffee farm in Colombia, where books and coffee shaped my earliest memories. I learned to read and write before I could even speak fluently. By the time I was five, poverty drove my family to leave the countryside for a nearby town in search of better opportunities.

Despite being academically advanced, I was denied entry to first grade due to my limited social and communication skills. To address this, my father, a skilled communicator and aspiring entrepreneur in the coffee trade, brought me along in his work. Immersed in books and the coffee business, I learned to navigate social interactions and adapt to different environments. This early exposure to the world of business and people laid the foundation for my future endeavors.

My formal education was unconventional. By the age of twelve, I had completed high school and developed a passion for learning. During this time, the school library became my refuge, I devoured books, from classic literature to philosophical treatises, from Plato to Neruda. Tutoring classmates ignited my understanding of knowledge's true value: sharing it.

When it came time to choose a career, I was torn between medicine and economics. Too young to pursue medicine, I opted for economics, eventually earning dual master’s degrees in economics and global development. A year later, I fulfilled my dream of entering medical school.

However, tragedy struck during my fourth year of medical school when my father was kidnapped and killed by guerrillas. This forced my family to flee Colombia, beginning a new chapter of adaptation. I embarked on a career spanning much of Latin America, focused on economic and community development.

Life changed again when my children were diagnosed with autism and I made a life-changing decision: I set aside my career to support them fully, mirroring my father’s dedication to my growth. This transition opened the door to new opportunities, including managing local programs aimed at empowering immigrant communities, marginalized groups, individuals with disabilities, and micro-entrepreneurs.

Over two years ago, I joined Sno-Isle Libraries as a Bilingual Spanish Outreach Specialist. In this role, I channel my expertise and experiences into meaningful work. Helping families access information and resources, from library programs to life skills and entrepreneurship opportunities, brings immense fulfillment and reminds me of the transformative power of libraries and reinforces my belief in inclusivity and community upliftment.

Living here offers me something priceless: the ability to live without fear. Books remain a constant in my life, and I often revisit those that shaped me, such as On the Shortness of Life by Seneca and The Metamorphosis by Kafka. Recent socio-political changes have inspired me to reread works like Machiavelli’s The Prince and Rousseau’s The Social Contract.

As a parent of children with disabilities, free time is scarce, but I stay informed about legislative developments and medical advancements that impact families like mine. I also lead a foundation supporting individuals with disabilities in Colombia and serve on the WA DDA Family Advisory Council. In my spare moments, I write poetry, paint, and work on two books—one chronicling my upbringing in Colombia and the other exploring neurodiversity.

Foundation Newsletter September 2024 Spotlight

Richard Suico, Edmonds Library Manager

I am originally from Canada. I was raised both in Montreal and Calgary. As a child, my sister and I would walk to the library after school before hockey or figure skating practice since the rink and wave pool were attached to library. It was one of the many of the City's "Leisure Centers". 

It was always welcoming, and I never felt judged. I loved the World Book and Encyclopedia Britannica where I could quickly learn facts and information about any topic. I was keen on history and biographies, so encyclopedias were a great first place to start.

I started as a sub librarian for Sno-Isle Libraries in the south district in 2001 where I would work the reference desk at all 6 south libraries at the time. I am currently the Library Manager of the Edmonds Library.

I've lived in Edmonds since 2002. I have the privilege of working and living in the same community. I get to know people who come to the library as customers and interact with them at community events, schools and restaurants.

I am a marathon runner. I have run over 20 marathons by now including the Boston Marathon 5 times, Berlin, Chicago and Paris. I am running the London Marathon in April 2025.

I am reading the Storm Before the Storm by Mike Duncan. It chronicles the failings and failure of the Roman Republic with echoes of our current political climate.

Picture of the four staff members who coordinate the Summer Reading Program Foundation Newsletter Summer 2024 Spotlight

Sno-Isle Libraries Summer Reading Team: Tamra Miyamoto, Anna Morrow, Jennifer O'Brien, & Jennifer Sullivan

Tamra Miyamoto, Library Associate at Darrington Library, 12 years with Sno-Isle Libraries

I'm currently in a long-term relationship with the library. I started visiting Mill Creek Library about 30 years ago seeking unicorn books. I never really left after that other than to get my library degree. I even started my first Sno-Isle job at the Mill Creek library, before moving to Darrington.
I recently learned to crochet, thanks to our online resource CreativeBug. I am now hooked and making fidget toy prizes for summer reading programs from scrap yarn.
I enjoy finding ways to connect the community to their library and each other throughout the summer!

Anna Morrow, Children’s Librarian at Oak Harbor Library, 1 year with Sno-Isle Libraries

I feel like I grew up at the library as my parents are both Elementary school teachers, and I was called upon to help weed their school’s library beginning in the third grade! I loved my childhood public and school librarians (I’m still in contact with all of them!) and deeply appreciated how they made their libraries safe spaces for kids like me. I hope to continue that tradition of helping the library feel like a welcoming, comfortable, and fun place for everyone who visits.
I’m an East Coast transplant – I grew up in Boston and went to college in NYC before moving to Seattle to get my MLIS.
I’ve loved getting to know my fellow team members from other Sno-Isle branches and seeing the behind the scenes of Summer Reading! I have also enjoyed helping develop the first Summer Reading page on the website and brainstorming content that will help children and families get excited about summer reading.

Jennifer O'Brien, Library Associate at Camano Island Library, 13 years with Sno-Isle Libraries (several of these were with the Foundation!)

I've been a fan of the library since I was very little and frequented the Magnolia Library in Seattle with my family. I've since raised my 3 sons with the help of Sno-Isle Libraries, and now my 2 grandchildren join me for my Storytime sessions on Tuesdays at the Camano Island Library. Libraries are my past, present and future!
I like to check out cookbooks and prepare every recipe from cover to cover! My favorite so far is Lucky Peach Presents 101 Easy Asian Recipes.
I have happy childhood memories of participating in Summer Reading and love being a part of the team that brings it to Sno-Isle patrons. Celebrating the finishers and watching them pour over the prize books for a special title is a huge perk in this job!

Jen Sullivan, Student Success Coordinator at Service Center, 16 years with Sno-Isle Libraries

I was a library kid from the beginning, including participating in Summer Reading in southern CA. I started at Sno-Isle as a Children’s Librarian and now I support staff and programs throughout the Sno-Isle system.
I like spending time with my kids, visiting bookstores, and reading on a rainy day.
Summer Reading is all about the joy and fun of reading, whether it’s a graphic novel, audiobook, or the back of a cereal box. And, thanks to the Foundation, we get to share that joy with so many kids! I love being part of the team because our library staff truly care about the programs offered to youth, and their creativity and enthusiasm is endless!

Foundation Newsletter March 2024 Spotlight

Zack Lewis, IT Enterprise Applications Administrator

I grew up in Redmond, WA. I spent most days trekking through the woods in camouflage fatigues. I spent most nights watching Johnny Carson and then reading Mack Bolan novels by flashlight.

My mother would take my sister and I to the Redmond library almost every weekend. It was an imposing building; a grey, brutalist structure with black, tinted windows and high ceilings. We would always sneak into the front row of the storytimes and puppet shows hosted by our librarians. Invariably, we would leave with armload of books. If I’m honest though, my favorite childhood memory from the library was the unbridled thrill of operating the microfiche machine.

I started working at Sno-Isle libraries in the summer of 2016. My job title is IT Enterprise Application Administrator. I help develop, maintain and upgrade some of our library IT systems, such as our print and public computing services. I chose to work for Sno-Isle Libraries because I wanted to work in the community where I live and have my work directly benefit the people in my community.

Aside from the natural beauty and outdoor activities, my favorite thing about living in Snohomish County is that we’re still growing and changing. The opportunity to influence and shape the future of our community is still available.

Little-known facts about me:

I help to coach my son’s middle school robotics team, the Cybernetic Narwhals.
I’m developing a personal project, a text-based application that integrates AI with family group chats.
I write and publish music on SoundCloud.
I love to cook Indian and Chinese cuisine (Madhur Jaffrey and Fuchsia Dunlop are my idols).
I also love golfing and skiing with my two sons.

I'm currently reading Season of Life by Jeffrey Marx. It’s about coaching, fathers and sons, toxic masculinity, community, and love, all in the context of high school football.

I am an ongoing contributor to the Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation. I believe in the efficacy of its purpose and mission. In a world where knowledge is the ever-increasing economic currency, access to knowledge is paramount for surviving, learning, and thriving. Public libraries are a bulwark for protecting the equitable access to knowledge in our community. Please consider donating to the Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation.

Foundation Newsletter Winter 2023 Spotlight

Tonya Miranda, Human Resources Technician

I grew up in Federal Way, Washington and have lived in Western Washington my whole life. After I graduated from high school, I moved to Bellingham to attend Western Washington University (Go Vikings!) and received a degree in English with a concentration in creative writing. After graduating, I moved to Edmonds and worked in the insurance industry for several years. An insurance brokerage I worked at in Seattle had an in-house library which sparked my interest in special libraries and inspired me to leave my job and return to school to obtain a degree in library and information science from the University of Washington (Go Huskies!).

While my career path didn’t lead to a position in a special library, I was able to apply the knowledge and skills I learned to my employment at the City of Marysville. While working there, I kept one foot in the library world by taking my daughter to story times when she was young, serving on the Friends of the Marysville Library Board for a five-year term and, of course, checking out many books. Two years ago, I jumped at an opportunity to contribute to the library world in a new way by applying for my current job as Sno-Isle Libraries Human Resources Technician, merging my work experience and my interest in libraries!

My favorite part of working at Sno-Isle Libraries is interacting with and assisting the folks who are applying for job opportunities as well as my friendly, talented, and dedicated colleagues. I have always been drawn to jobs that enable me to support other people. Sno-Isle’s commitment to excellent customer service and connecting people to resources, information, and services aligns with my personal values as well.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my spouse and daughter, taking walks on our neighborhood trail or on one of the beautiful local trails in the area, practicing yoga, reading poetry (and occasionally attempting to write it), and attending musical theater shows and plays.

One little known fact about me is that I’ve eaten cold cereal to start most of my days since I could first eat solid food. I am also a big fan of all breakfast food which I would happily eat at any time of the day.

I’m currently reading The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin and Poetry Unbound: 50 Poems to Open Your World by Pádraig Ó Tuama.

Foundation Newsletter Fall 2023 Spotlight

Kathryn O'Brien, Clinton Library Associate

I was born in New Jersey and moved to California in the late 1970s when I was eight. My mother had just finished her advanced librarian degree at Drexel University and was hired by Intel Corp to establish its first research library! My father was also a public librarian branch manager. I basically grew up in libraries. One of my earliest memories is hiding under my father’s desk at the library stamping something I probably shouldn’t have been stamping with the little date stamp librarians used back in the day.

I moved to Whidbey Island with my husband and two baby boys in 2001 and can’t think of anywhere on earth I’d rather be. The community is rapidly growing and changing, but still, I love its beauty, isolation, and proximity to mountains and city when they call. My family lives on a 5-acre homestead, half of which is forested with cedar, fir, hemlock, and other natives. The other half we have worked hard to create extensive food, flower, and pollination gardens. Our family utilized Sno-Isle’s Langley Library branch routinely over the decades for children’s books and services, as well as very large stacks of adult reading. The librarians knew us by name and it was there that I fell in love with libraries all over again. When commercial flower farming became too much, I returned to university and began my second career as a part-time page in Freeland, an intern in Collection Development, and later, taught part-time Agriculture and Environmental Science at our local high school. Neither of my parents would have believed that I, too, would obtain a librarian degree in the second half of my life! Since then, I have worked in various branches on the mainland and Whidbey Island.

Fast forward 10 years and I now work full-time out of the Clinton Library (Sno-Isle Libraries' smallest branch) thoroughly enjoying our local community, where I know many by name and as friends. My favorite part of my job is watching families grow and our community come together while creating engaging programming for all ages. Book groups, the Trudy Sundberg Lecture Series, Storytimes, Online Trivia, Whidbey Reads (now Sno-Isle Reads), hands-on workshops in the arts, technology, science, and nature fields, author visits, local field trips, organizing lectures with experts on topics that matter, the list goes on… My job enables me to expand my intellectual horizons, regularly acquire new proficiencies, and deepen my understanding of the world. Love it!

When I am not working and do not have my nose in a book, I usually have my hands in the garden (my solace and happy place), or you might find me working on some crafty project (I am currently enjoying Indigo dyeing), hiking in the Cascades or Olympics with my husband, or in the kitchen cooking up something delicious and healthy.

Some little-known facts about me:

I moved out at 16 and lived off-grid through my early 20s in the mountains of Northern California
I breed English delphiniums (my favorite flower)
I love to dance and was a tribal belly dancer for many years
I have two Master of Science Degrees

I'm currently reading These is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine: 1881-1901, Arizona Territories - a novel by Nancy E. Turner, and it is really good!

Recommended favorite novels:

Martin, Marten by Brian Doyle
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
The Wall by Marlen Haushofer
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
Jimmy Bluefeather by Kim Heacox
This Tenderland by William Kent Kruger
Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker

And don’t even get me started on gardening and flower books! But... I just finished this one and it’s a real treasure: The Cut Flower Sourcebook: Exceptional Perennials & Woody Plants for Cutting by Rachel Siegfried

Foundation Newsletter Summer 2023 Spotlight

Betsy Arand, Freeland Library Manager

I grew up in an Illinois town northwest of Chicago, when corn fields were just up the road from our house. The land was flat – not a hill or mountain in sight! I visited relatives in Port Angeles when I was young and fell in love with Olympic National Park. Even though I had a wonderful job as a librarian at the Evanston Illinois Public Library, it only took a 5-minute discussion with my husband to decide to apply for a job with Sno-Isle Libraries.

I remember the joy and feeling of accomplishment I experienced as a child in riding my bike to our small library. The library did not have a lot of natural light, except for the skylight in the children’s room. It was my favorite place to sit and read before checking out. The library had two cards – one color for a child’s card and a different color for an adult card. After reading every Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames, and Trixie Belden book the library owned, I discovered a display of Mills & Boone romance novels. Because I was not old enough to have an adult card, though, the librarian would not let me check any of them out for a couple more years!

I started working for Sno-Isle Libraries on October 1, 1990 as an Adult/Teen Services Librarian. Five other “levy-lid lift librarians” were hired at the same time, as Sno-Isle Libraries expanded the number of staff with MLIS degrees. I rotated time each week between the Oak Harbor, Coupeville, Freeland, and Langley libraries, answering reference questions, selecting adult and teen books, designing programs for teens, and promoting summer reading to middle school students at all four libraries. Oak Harbor’s current library was built in 1993 and I began working there as the first full-time Adult/Teen Services Librarian and eventually became the Assistant Managing Librarian. Although the Whidbey Island commute to Oak Harbor was lovely, I was excited to cut my daily commute to 12 minutes when I started working as Manager of the Freeland Library 14 years ago.

After receiving an MBA degree, my first job was working as a Public Information Officer for the Longview Public Library. When the library received a federal grant for a library demonstration project for Cowlitz County, my job changed, and I became the bookmobile supervisor for the project. After this project ended, I took a job as the manager of one of the new shopping center libraries for the Ft. Vancouver Regional Library system. When my supervisor said, “You know, if you like working in libraries, you should consider getting a library degree,” I realized I had found a great career and headed back to school one more time!

Some little-known facts about me:

I was the first female drum major of my high school marching band
The Cowlitz Library and Learning Services bookmobile had a “Red Zone” pass so we could keep delivering books to people before Mt. St. Helens erupted in 1980 (I was reading Frank Hebert’s Dune the morning of the eruption and could see it from my balcony)
The choral group I sang with gave the first performance at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts when it opened
I learned to recite the alphabet backwards in the 6^th grade, a skill that has come in handy in my library career!

In no particular order, these are some books I love to recommend:

Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown,
The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin,
The Dry by Jane Harper,
The Cold Millions by Jess Walter,
Eruption: The Untold Story of Mount St. Helens by Steve Olson,
Swan Dive by Georgina Pazcoguin,
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson,
One by One by Ruth Ware,
The Library Book by Susan Orlean,
and all of Louise Penny’s books!

Foundation Newsletter Spring 2023 Spotlight

David Adkins-Brown, Temporary West District Manager

I was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, and grew up in Albany, Oregon. I left Oregon to live in China off and on for about 13 years, came back to Alaska to be with family, and then moved here to Washington.

I was that kid who loved going to the library. When I was 5, I spent part of my birthday at the Albany Public Library but was pulled out of a fun Storytime and taken home immediately because my sister decided to be born right then. The nerve of her disrupting my library birthday! I love her a ton though and both of us love going to libraries just to relax, do programs, and browse.

I started working for libraries in Jr High as a teen volunteer. Later I took a college job working in Inter Library Loan and Circulation. Professionally, I started off in school libraries with my first library being for an Alaskan Native School. I joined Sno-Isle Libraries in 2021 as an Assistant Managing Librarian of the Mill Creek Library and presently, I’m serving as a temporary District Manager. I am also a professor for the Highline College/Seattle Pacific University School librarian program where I teach two classes: School Librarianship and Library Administration and Management.

Library work is something I was always involved in or close to. I keep asking myself if I chose it or if it chose me. One of my favorite library jobs is doing Storytime. My Storytimes have always been noisy with a lot of singing, dancing, and audience interaction. Some little-known facts about me:

My husband and I used to spend summers living on the Deschutes River out of a tent while working as river guides.
We have two corgis.
I have driven the ALCAN Highway (a.k.a. the Alaskan Highway) several times.
I have traveled to more locations in Asia than I have in the United States.
I enjoy cooking and will randomly make a Thanksgiving dinner.
I regularly go hunting for mushrooms.
I enjoy reading baking books and fully recommend Tartine Bread.

Foundation Newsletter Winter 2022 Spotlight

Tricia Lee, Assistant Director of Equity, Inclusion, and Development

Greetings! I’m Tricia Lee, Sno-Isle Libraries Assistant Director of Equity, Inclusion, and Development. I started working at Sno-Isle Libraries about three and half years ago after moving here from Colorado. Our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) team works to embed principles and practices of EDI into the fabric of Sno-Isle Libraries and the customer experience. I also work with our Talent Development Department providing learning and growth experiences to the organization. I’m incredibly fortunate to combine my passions of racial equity, social justice, facilitation, training, and libraries every day in my work. I appreciate the small and big moments when we move the needle toward a more equitable and inclusive world.

I have worked in libraries for over thirty years and much of that time has been dedicated to EDI work. My first memory of the library as a child was visiting our small neighborhood West Slope Community Library in Portland Oregon. I remember secretly creating book displays in the library by placing my favorite books face out on the top shelves (this was before merchandising was a thing in libraries). In my teen years, my family relocated from Portland Oregon to the mountain community of Evergreen, just west of Denver, Colorado. I struggled to fit in, and the library was a refuge that gave me access to a world that was bigger and more diverse. In fact, I spent so much time in the library, I was offered a job at my middle school library stamping date due slips (yes, paper date due slips!), typing cards for the card catalog (remember those?), and shelving books. I was hooked and continued working in libraries for the rest of my life in so many different roles.

When I am not working, I enjoy spending time at home with my family, including my spouse, three kiddos, ages 8, 10, and 13, and Jupiter, our Siberian Husky. Some little-known facts about me are that:

I sang in a band in college, took singing lessons for a few years, and still love belting out songs in my car.
I love exploring social media platforms on all things art, fashion, music, and design.
My first date with my spouse was at a corn maze and we have a tradition of visiting a corn maze/pumpkin patch every year since then. The tradition we started 19 years ago is now shared with our kids and extended family.