Hi everyone! I’m so excited to be here and participate in PLIX. I work at the Pueblo City-County Library District as a Branch Librarian. My main focus is on programming and outreach. As a kid, I was discouraged from pursuing STEAM activities, courses, and hobbies. I am really looking forward to learning from you all as well as learning about STEAM as I create the programming at our branch!
I have so many dreams for libraries. I think the one that is most prominent right now is that we will use COVID as a way to increase accessibility of technology and internet in order to create a more integrated virtual and physical experience. COVID has required virtual technology and programming like never before and I hope that we can push innovative virtual/physical solutions further.
Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day! I love everything breakfast, but my favorite has to be a scrambled egg recipe from Ramsay. It seems a bit weird, but once you try it, I think you’ll enjoy: https://www.gordonramsayrestaurants.com/recipes/scrambled-eggs/
I’m a youth librarian at the Nicholson Memorial Library System in Garland, TX (a suburb of Dallas).
I had a librarian friend invite me to join PLIX. My library system is currently planning maker spaces for our four locations. STEAM will be a big part of how we use these new resources. It’s exciting to join a forum that offers opportunities to learn, collaborate and grow.
My branch is getting a brand new location and building in a few years. I’m dreaming of an outdoor programming/classroom area, where we can make a little bit of a mess. For libraries as a whole, I want public libraries to be out in the community reaching out and letting people know we are here for them. I don’t have a favorite breakfast food. I love all breakfast food. It’s my favorite meal of the day.
Hi I am Jacqui from Long Beach CA. I currently work at the Long Beach Public Library as a para-professional, though I am a long time educator in nonprofits and public schools.
I have participated in PLIX online workshops, and long ago I was a student in the Creative Learning online class.
I am interested in how to more actively engage parents and families in the library experience, and to help the library better serve the needs of our community. As we experience such huge change, and many obstacles, I think there is a great opportunity for libraries to more actively participate in community growth and development.
I love toast!
Hi everyone! My name is Maggie and I am the Youth Services Librarian at the Cambridge Public Library - Valente Branch, in Cambridge MA.
I joined this community because I’m really excited about the possibility to bring more and more STEAM into Cambridge, and specifically into the branch I work at! Our building is connected physically to an elementary school, which feels ripe for potential collaboration. I’m hoping to find some new ideas for ways to make STEAM and particularly maker technology feel accessible and appealing. I didn’t realize how much I liked the maker aspects of STEAM until I was a grown-up, and I want to help people make that connection earlier.
My dream for the future of libraries is to use our resources and influence as best we can to make all kinds of learning more accessible for our community, so that anyone who is interested can participate more easily. And to make sure that libraries are taking the time to figure out what that community need is.
My favorite breakfast food would have to be French toast with homemade bread and 100% real maple syrup. But pimento cheddar cheese on a savory scone is a close second.
Hello!
My name is Melissa Sprenne - one fun fact about me is that I’m the only person in the world with my name
What library do you work at?
-Richland Library Ballentine - Irmo, SC
What motivated you to join this community?
-I heard about PLIX last year from a coworker and was intrigued; I attended a PLIX-sponsored international meeting last year just to hear about what was going on in MakerSpaces around the world
What is a dream you have for the future of libraries?
-Universally fine-free; that they become (or remain) bastions for open-mindedness and learning; that we foster curiosity and a sense of play in all ages; that we expand beyond the traditional stereotype of what a library is (for instance - we sit on several acres of woods and have a wonderful birding program)
What is your favorite breakfast food?
-Leftover cold pizza (though a large blueberry muffin, split in half, slathered in butter, and pan-fried on the cut side is a close second)
Hello! My name is Patty and I am the Youth Programs Librarian at the Boston Public Library. It’s my first year in this position and what a year it’s been!
I joined this community because I am a new East coast resident (originally from the Chicagoland area!) and with shut downs, I was hoping to expand my network, especially with likeminded STEM and STEAM enthusiasts. With most of our programming moving to digital platforms for the foreseeable future, I’m looking forward to learning and hearing what others are doing. I had never heard of PLIX before, so this has been very exciting!
I have many dreams for the future of libraries, but one in particular is to make the library more accessible to to people, particularly underserved populations and people who have outdated views on what the library can offer.
My favorite breakfast is a veggie and goat cheese omelet, but my usual breakfast is a good ol’ bowl of cereal and copious amounts of coffee
Hi, my name is Naomi Clewett. I work at Lexington Public Library (KY)as Technology Programming Librarian. I had planned to attend the PLIX workshop at MIT last March which was cancelled. I’m excited to be able to attend the upcoming virtual workshop. I love french toast!
I work at Chicago Public Library. I was involved with the creation of our Maker Lab, which got me really into instructional design and understanding adult learning, and I am very interested in any opportunity to better understand these concepts, which is how I became motivated to check out PLIX. I really enjoyed the Creative Learning experience and can’t imagine how much planning went into it!
I would like to find more ways for library users to put their mark on the library. I don’t know if that’s a yearbook of event goers, or initiatives spearheaded by volunteers, but I would like to see our communities better reflected. I was talking about plans for a Maker in Residence, and I’m starting to think that’s where this is coming from.
Mmmm, breakfast. Every morning I make chorizo, potatoes, and eggs. If I could have someone make me any breakfast, I’d probably have a piece of French toast, eggs, and a side of homefries.
Your palačinky look a lot like my family’s Latvian pankūkas! They can have savory or sweet fillings, depending on whether they’re served at breakfast or dinner. My favorite was my grandpa’s homemade apple butter with sour cream.
I love your dream for the future of libraries, especially the elimination of overdue fines to make libraries more accessible to all! It’s been a long time coming, but I’m happy to say our Hennepin County Library just announced we are officially fine-free. Hennepin County libraries end overdue book fees - StarTribune.com
And by the way, I will have to try the recipe you posted. My Czech grandmother never made palacinky, but it looks amazing!
Hi Lissa! Yes, and also like French crepes. For my Czech cousins it’s the go-to backup food when there’s nothing else on had for a hearty snack or meal. I haven’t tried them with apple butter or sour cream but sounds yummy
Yes! You’re right! When I do genealogy research I have to search Star and Starr because some of my immigrant ancestors anglicized their name when they came to this country.
Hi, I am Cathy from the Greece Public Library. I was motivated to join by the online class being offered. My dream for the libraries future, it to return to offering Pre-pandemic services and programs. We have seen interest grow in our 3D printing service during this unique time. We have a wonderful creation station that contains: 3D printer, cricuts, button maker and graphic tablets which is not in use right now.
My favorite breakfast food is an omelette.
I work for the Essex Library Association in CT. I’m the children’s and teen services librarian. I began here during COVID so I’m looking forward to getting to really know our patrons soon.
I joined this community because I love STEAM programming and I’m always looking for new ways to offer it to the kids in my life (and, let’s be honest, to have an excuse to do some tinkering myself).
A dream I have for the future of libraries is to be able to be a space of safety and refuge for kids where they can pursue all of their interests. We’ve always been a space like that for avid readers, but our books offer such a variety of knowledge that we can supplement with maker kits, technology, programming, and other media.
My favorite breakfast food is chocolate chip pancakes and bacon. The first restaurant I’m eating in post-pandemic is our greasy spoon and I can’t wait to see our favorite waitress and fill up on my favorite foods.
Hi my name is Kathy and I am an Adult Services Librarian for the Columbus Public Library in Columbus, Georgia, which is the main library in our library system Chattahoochee Valley Libraries.
I joined the community because I am trying to start an ongoing STEAM program for the library’s community. Pre-pandemic I had started with STEAM talks from faculty members at the local university, but things kind of got sidelined and I am in need of some inspiration. I have enrolled in the PLIX workshop at the end of April and I hope to get a lot out of it.
My dream for the future of libraries is to see a library which is able to provide services for everyone within the local community, and to offer classes which provide meaningful topics and promote learning to people of all ages.
My favorite breakfast food is French toast. However I really enjoy it for dinner as well.
(I know what your Cz name means 
When I do genealogy research I have to search Star and Starr because some of my immigrant ancestors anglicized their name when they came to this country.