Career Profiles
We interview LIS professionals – finding out how they got to where they are and any advice they have for students or new professionals.
TRACY MANIAPOTO
Tracy Maniapoto grew up in military camps in New Zealand and overseas and has whakapapa to Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi and Ngāti Tūwharetoa through her father and Ngāti Porou and Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa through her mother’s whānau. Tracy tells Te Rau Ora Library Life about her career pathway and her current role as a lecturer at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington.
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IVY GUO
Ivy Guo's library career started with a casual conversation with a tutor before finishing her degree. He said, ‘Want to be a librarian?’ And I felt like the lightbulb was switched on in my head as soon as the library was mentioned. Fast forward 16 years, and she is the collections manager at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University Library with a passion for academic libraries and the next LIANZA President.
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KAT CUTTRISS
Kat Cuttriss is the University Librarian at the University of Canterbury Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha. She started this new position in January after transitioning from her previous role at Massey University. With a diverse career in libraries that spans public, business and tertiary libraries, Kat brings a wealth of experience to her new role. She has also served as chair of Public Libraries New Zealand. In this interview with Te Rau Ora Library Life, Kat reflects on her career journey.
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GAY RICHARDS
Gay Richards is the information specialist at the New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse, the national centre for family, whānau and sexual violence research and information, based at the University of Auckland.
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SHIOBHAN SMITH
Shiobhan Smith is the Associate University Librarian for Customer Experience at the University of Otago, and we feature her career in this issue of Library Life Te Rau Ora.
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ANAHERA MOREHU
Anahera Morehu (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri, Ngāti Kahu) began her library career at Auckland Public Libraries. She worked with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei to develop their archival centre while attending Te Wānanga o Raukawa’s Puna Maumahara programme in Māori information management. Her next role was the kaiārahi at Auckland Public Libraries as team leader for the Te Rōpū Ratonga Māori. She later she moved to roles at the University of Auckland Library and Business School including a Kaiwhakahaere Māori role.
She is currently the Chief Archivist at Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kawanatanga and received a LIANZA honourary life membership award in 2022.
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Anahera Morehu (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri, Ngāti Kahu) began her library career at Auckland Public Libraries. She worked with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei to develop their archival centre while attending Te Wānanga o Raukawa’s Puna Maumahara programme in Māori information management. Her next role was the kaiārahi at Auckland Public Libraries as team leader for the Te Rōpū Ratonga Māori. She later she moved to roles at the University of Auckland Library and Business School including a Kaiwhakahaere Māori role.
She is currently the Chief Archivist at Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kawanatanga and received a LIANZA honourary life membership award in 2022.
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MELANIE BREBNER
Melanie Brebner got the job as the new District Library Manager with Matamata-Piako District Libraries. She is mostly based at Te Aroha Library, although makes regular visits to Morrinsville and Matamata Libraries. She wanted to move from a more operational role to work at a more strategic level. Melanie thinks it is an exciting time to be working in libraries and leading a team to meet the challenges and opportunities in such a dynamic environment.
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LEE ROWE
Lee is the Knowledge and Information Services Manager at Te Pūkenga, Toi Ohomai, which provides vocational education across the Bay of Plenty and South Waikato regions. She began as a library assistant at Dan Long Memorial Library with the PSA and has worked at Canterbury University, Tauranga City Libraries, Western Bay Libraries, and Bay of Plenty Polytechnic. Along the way, she ended up with an MLIS and a post-grad certificate in management.
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LEWIS IOANE
Lewis Ioane is a Wellington-based librarian of Samoan, Tuvaluan and NZ European descent. Originally from Tāmaki Makaurau, Lewis graduated from AUT with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in both Chinese and Japanese language studies. He also holds knowledge in many languages from Te Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa, such as Te Reo Māori, Samoan, Tongan, Rotuman, Tokelauan and others. Since 2017, he has worked in libraries in both Auckland and Wellington City before joining the team at Porirua Libraries. Beginning as a shelver he is now at Porirua City Libraries as the Māori & Pacific Collection Librarian.
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Lewis Ioane is a Wellington-based librarian of Samoan, Tuvaluan and NZ European descent. Originally from Tāmaki Makaurau, Lewis graduated from AUT with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in both Chinese and Japanese language studies. He also holds knowledge in many languages from Te Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa, such as Te Reo Māori, Samoan, Tongan, Rotuman, Tokelauan and others. Since 2017, he has worked in libraries in both Auckland and Wellington City before joining the team at Porirua Libraries. Beginning as a shelver he is now at Porirua City Libraries as the Māori & Pacific Collection Librarian.
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HANNAH RUSSELL
Originally from Taihape, Hannah Russell has lived in a number of places in Aotearoa, and also in Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. She has been the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA) library manager since 2015, but began work at NIWA in 2006 as a reference and document supply librarian and has been the library manager since 2015. She had multiple position titles over the years, in similar roles until her jump into library management. Before working at NIWA she worked in law and university libraries and had a part-time job in a school library while studying.
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Originally from Taihape, Hannah Russell has lived in a number of places in Aotearoa, and also in Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. She has been the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA) library manager since 2015, but began work at NIWA in 2006 as a reference and document supply librarian and has been the library manager since 2015. She had multiple position titles over the years, in similar roles until her jump into library management. Before working at NIWA she worked in law and university libraries and had a part-time job in a school library while studying.
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DALE WANG Dale Wang is the new team leader in the Engagement and Learning Support Team at the University of Canterbury Library. They have been a barista, cabbage cutter, school librarian, a finance and property officer, and now a team leader. With a Master's in Classical Studies, you might be tempted to think their love of libraries is primarily an archival and backward-looking pursuit. But they love libraries for their possibilities of creativity and innovation. READ MORE > |
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Dale Cousens (Ngā Ruahine) Dale Cousens has always been a librarian. She ran a library in the basement of her grandparent’s house as a child and she really only ever considered training in library studies. She worked in public libraries in Sydney, Albury/Wodonga and Melbourne before returning to Aotearoa to work at Puke Ariki Library in New Plymouth in 2008. She now works as Team Leader- collection development (acquisitions) at Te Puna Matauranga National Library where she has been since 2015. READ MORE > |
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Caroline Syddall: Pacific Library Liaison, Macmillan Brown Library, University of Canterbury The Pacific Library Liaison is a new position within the Macmillan Brown Library at the University of Canterbury. It is a role that focuses on Pacific staff, students and information resources. Caroline Syddall began this role in early 2022. She tells us about this new role and her library career to date. READ MORE > |
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Tricia Bingham is the new Team Leader for Information Literacy at AUT. She has had a variety of roles over her library career starting as a library assistant at the University of Auckland and working her way up.
When she began her library career as a serials assistant at the University of Auckland in 1987 they used Cardex to record the receipt of journal issues. "We tediously went through the individual cards every couple of months to claim missing items which were typed into a list and sent off via snail mail to the publishers". As Team Leader for Information Literacy, she will be supporting her team in the development of information literacy initiatives that support AUT students' academic journey. READ MORE > |
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An Interview with Dr Spencer Lilley (Te Atiawa, Muaūpoko, Ngāpuhi) Spencer Lilley is currently an Associate Professor at the School of Information Management at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University. He has had a long career in indigenous knowledge management, library and information studies, within both academia and in library and information services. He has been very involved in both LIANZA and Te Rōpū Whakahau. READ MORE > |
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Louise Dowdell (Ngāti Maniapoto) Staff Development Advisor - Te Reo and Tikanga at Wellington City Libraries Louise Dowdell (Ngāti Maniapoto) is the Staff Development Advisor - Te Reo and Tikanga at Wellington City Libraries. She has worked in many different libraries, in many different roles, since graduating from the University of Auckland in 1992 with a BA. She completed the Master of Information Studies at Victoria University in 2018. Prior to this secondment she was a coach for the West Cluster of Wellington City Libraries. READ MORE > |
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Flora Wallace - Chief Librarian, Te Pae Aronui Ministry of Education Library A long and varied career in libraries, with breaks for overseas travel and work in the film industry, has given Flora Wallace an appreciation for the people she works with. You can read about her career in the library and information sector here. Flora Wallace was born and educated in Hastings. After high school she studied anthropology, archaeology, New Zealand history and Māori studies completing a BA at the University of Auckland Waipapa Taumata Rau. After graduating, she got a job in the circulation area of the university library and so began her library career. READ MORE > |
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Suliana Vea - Research Librarian, Pacific in the Research Enquiries team at the Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington. In this column, we interview library and information professionals. We find out how they got to their current role, what they do in that role and ask them any advice they have for students or new professionals. In this issue we talk with Suliana Vea. She works as Research Librarian, Pacific in the Research Enquiries team at the Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington. READ MORE > |
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Rātangihia Steer (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Porou) has been seconded to the Manager Strategic Partnerships role with the New Zealand Libraries Partnership Programme (NZLPP).
She has a Bachelor of Commerce (Management), a Postgrad Certificate in Strategic Leadership and a Master of Business Management. Fun fact- she was part of the inaugural INELI–Oceania cohort. In this article she tells us about her career background and her new role. “I’ve been in the library sector for the last decade and have worked in small libraries starting in my hometown of Hokitika, to Christchurch City Libraries and now at the University of Canterbury where I’ve managed in a number of different libraries from education and Puaka James Hight to Macmillan Brown." READ MORE > |
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Michelle Blake, University Librarian, Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato | University of Waikato, Waikato Library
Michelle is a Kiwi who lived in the UK for the last 15 years. She started her career in libraries as a shelver, while studying at Otago, then worked as a library assistant while completing her MLIS. She worked at Victoria University before moving to London, holding a number of roles at the London School of Economics before moving to the University of York. In York her final role was as the Interim Director of Library and Archives leading a team of 160 staff. READ MORE > |
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Linda Stopforth recently started a new role at Wellington City Libraries. She is the Business Development Customer Specialist, Wellington City Libraries.
Linda was just beginning to find her feet in her new job when lockdown came and added a new dimension. But, she says, the purpose of this position is to engage with the Wellington business community and promote the research services and resources we offer to assist them. She is a librarian with several decades of experience across the special library world working in private and public organisations. These days she wears several hats dividing her time between her new role, her own business interests and doing the administration work for a small charitable trust, YETI Nepal. READ MORE > |
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Who got the job... The University of Otago Librarian!
Each month we feature an individual who has recently moved to a new role in the library and information sector within New Zealand. This month we’re featuring Mike Wall who has recently filled a position with the University of Otago, Dunedin as their University Librarian. Mike has graciously answered a couple of our burning questions about his new position and what being the University Librarian is all about. Thank you Mike for taking the time to answer our Q&A! READ MORE > |
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Amy Brier, Parliamentary Librarian and Deputy Chief Executive Library and Engagement / Tumu o te Pātaka Rangahau and Tumuaki Tuarua o te Rangahau, te Whakapāpātanga at the New Zealand Parliament, leading the Parliamentary Library and Engagement team / Te Pātaka Rangahau, te Whakapāpātanga.
Why don’t you start by telling us a little bit about yourself? Ko Amy Brier tōku ingoa. I was born in Christchurch and grew up in Taranaki. I moved to Wellington to attend Victoria University of Wellington where I studied history, political science and criminology (obtaining honours in criminology). I live in Ngaio, Wellington with my husband Rob, our three primary-school aged children and our dog Obi (named after the Jedi). Apart from a few years overseas, my professional working career in Aotearoa has all been at Parliament. I’m currently in my 11th role at Parliament so it’s fair to say that I love working here! READ MORE > |
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Who got the job... Senior Court Librarian
This month we’re featuring Matthew Radcliffe who has recently moved to the Northern Region based in the Auckland District Court as a Senior Court Librarian. Matthew has graciously answered a couple of our burning questions about his new position and what being a Senior Court Librarian actually entails. Thank you Matthew for taking the time to answer our Q&A! Tell us a little about the job! The incredibly broad job description. I am very lucky to have been working in libraries for over half of my life and this is the role with the widest scope of responsibilities I have ever had. READ MORE > |
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Meet Rebecca Keenan the new cataloguer at Dunedin Public Libraries. Only a month into this new job Rebecca shares how she got there, what special skills, attributes and knowledge you need to be a great cataloguer and what a fun day in the life of a cataloguer includes!
Can you share with our readers a little about your library background and how it led to this role? Back in Ireland, I studied journalism and worked in various content creation jobs – I wrote about tyres for a transport journal (I don’t drive), I wrote add copy for Yahoo! (not my favourite), and I created travel guides for Hostelworld.com (that was awesome). READ MORE > |
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Ania Biazik, Library Manager at Thames-Coromandel District Council
Thank you Ania for taking the time to answer our Q&A about yourself and your career! We’re so pleased to have you join us for this edition of Library Life. Why don’t you start by telling us a little bit about yourself? I was born and grew up in Poland, my hometown is Częstochowa, and I studied in Katowice (Silesia, Poland). I came to New Zealand in late 2004 for my one-year OE: to learn English and explore the world; and that one year extended to another and another… It’s been an amazing seventeen years in Aotearoa! Perhaps, one fun fact about Ania, which I haven’t shared widely, is that I supported a music group “Button Hackers” with one song. READ MORE > |
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Mark Crookson, Programme Director, Documentary Heritage. National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa. Why don’t you start by telling us a little bit about yourself? I grew up in a various places across Te Waipounamu (Christchurch, Blenheim, Invercargill, Dunedin) but I call Dunedin home. I’m still lured there by cold still winter days, solitary walks on the Ōtepoti’s many beautiful beaches, and the sense of faded grandeur that is hard to find elsewhere in NZ. But I also find myself rolling my rrrrrrs when I hang out with my old Invercargill friends. Both were great places to grow up. READ MORE > |
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Barbara McPhee - former Parliamentary Librarian Deputy Chief Executive
Barbara said her farewells on a list-serv back in January,saying, “Over my 17 years in the parliamentary environment, I’ve had some amazing experiences and worked with some truly wonderful people both in my role as research manager and then more recently as Parliamentary Librarian DCE. In that time, we've worked through organisational restructures and a major review of the Parliamentary Library collections ensuring that our resources are relevant, manageable and accessible for members of Parliament and their staff. More recently we've had to relocate parliamentary library staff while earthquake strengthening is undertaken on the parliamentary precinct, and we've launched a new service portal where clients can seamlessly lodge and track requests. All fascinating stuff! But now it’s time for me to move on. So I'm looking forward to a new environment, some new opportunities and challenges.” READ MORE > |
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Aimee Pieterse – Team Leader, Maniototo Community Library
Kia ora Aimee and thanks for sharing your career pathway with our readers. First up; can you tell us about your current role? What is your job title and what do you do day-to-day? Can you also tell us what qualifications you have? I am the Team Leader at the Maniototo Community Library in Ranfurly, Central Otago. The Maniototo Library is a small rural library serving a community of approximately 1,600 people. In my role, I manage the day-to-day operations of the library from Monday to Thursday and have a library assistant who covers Fridays. READ MORE > |
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Annette Beattie – Library Services Manager, Wairarapa Councils.
Kia ora Annette and thanks for sharing your career pathway with our readers. First up; can you tell us about your current role? What is your job title and what do you do day-to-day? Can you also tell us what qualifications you have? I work across two Wairarapa councils – South Wairarapa District (SWDC) and Carterton District (CDC). I’m in a new role as the Library Services Manager with the directive of bringing strategic direction, and operational coherence and consistency to the libraries’ service. Day-to-day, I work across four branches and two council offices. We currently have a team of 14 permanent staff and a pool of casuals. I have a BA in Geography, PostGrad Diploma in Librarianship, PostGrad Diploma in Business, Prince2 Practitioner certification and Agile Professional certification and industry qualifications in business analysis, facilitation, and strategic negotiation. READ MORE > |
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Philippa Robinson – Research Library and Archives Manager at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. Kia ora Philippa and thanks for sharing your career pathway with our readers. First up, can you tell us about your current role? What is your job title and what do you do day-to-day? Can you also tell us what qualifications you have?
I am the Research Library and Archives Manager of the EH McCormick Research Library at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. We are part of the larger curatorial and learning department. We manage all publications, serials, art archives, artists files and research for the gallery staff as well as the public. READ MORE > |
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Sasha Eastwood-Bennitt – Library and Resource Manager at Manchester Street School.
Kia ora Sasha and thanks for sharing your career pathway with our readers. First up, can you tell us about your current role? What is your job title and what do you do day-to-day? Can you also tell us what experience you have?
Thank you for the opportunity to share my journey to a job where I get to spend my days sharing my love of reading with others. I have been the Library and Resource Manager at Manchester Street School in the Manawatū rural town of Feilding since 2008. READ MORE > |
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Peter Murgatroyd – Special library manager, Counties Manukau Health.
Kia ora Peter and thanks for sharing your career pathway with our readers. First up, can you tell us about your current role? What do you do day-to-day? My current role is Library and Knowledge Services Manager at Counties Manukau Health. I manage a team of six comprising three information specialists, a knowledge broker, a library assistant and an elearning administrator. We support evidence-based care and evidence-informed decision making by providing library and research services for the staff at Counties Manukau District Health Board. READ MORE > |
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Sana Saleem, Subject Librarian (Pacific) at Unitec Institute of Technology - Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka. Kia ora Sana and thanks for sharing your career pathway with our readers. First up; can you tell us about your current role? What is your job title and what do you do day-to-day? Can you also tell us what qualifications you have? I am the Subject Librarian (Pacific) at Unitec Institute of Technology - Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka. Within my role, I am also responsible for these subject areas as a Subject Librarian for Languages (Bridgepoint), Performing and Screen Arts (Creative Industries) and Interloans librarian. READ MORE > |
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Troy Tuhou, Team Leader, Library Executive, Auckland University of Technology.
Kia ora Troy and thanks for sharing your career pathway with our readers. First up; can you tell us about your current role? What is your job title and what do you do day-to-day? Can you also tell us what qualifications you have? Kia ora koutou katoa, I am currently the Team Leader for the AUT South Campus Library Community Engagement team. My role is varied and includes managing the day- to- day operations at South Campus Library including care and maintenance of the collection, facilities, furniture and equipment. I also manage the South Campus team and consider myself to be an enabler, ensuring that they have the resources and equipment to do their job, but also helping them to develop their skills. READ MORE > |
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Adrienne Hannan, Children’s and Youth Services Coordinator at Wellington City Libraries. Kia ora Adrienne and thanks for sharing your career pathway with our readers. First up, can you tell us about your current role? What is your job title and what do you do day-to-day? Can you also tell us what qualifications you have? I’m the Children’s and Youth Services Coordinator at Wellington City Libraries. I cover all the operational (and often strategic) aspects of our programmes, events, and services for 0 – 18 year olds and their families. My role covers service design, training and professional development, marketing and communication, resourcing, and relationship management. READ MORE > |
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Linda Palmer, University Librarian at Massey University. Kia ora Linda, and thanks for sharing your career pathway with our readers. First up; can you tell us what qualifications you have? I studied for a Bachelor of Arts here at Massey University (1986) and I’m a Teachers’ College drop-out. There must be a lot of crossover between teaching and library work. Yes, but it turned out that I didn’t enjoy working with children, so it wasn’t for me. But basically nobody in my family had been to university, so going to Teachers’ College was a step into tertiary study. It was a year they were taking the top academics, so they screened us all by qualifications and didn’t stop to ask if we actually wanted to work with children. READ MORE > |
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Allison Dobbie, a life in public libraries. In November 2018 Allison Dobbie retired from her role as Principal Development Advisor Community Services at Auckland Libraries after decades of dedicated services to libraries. We review her career and hear about her interest in the Pacific. READ MORE > |
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Judith Wenborn, a librarian behind the wire. 'I decided during 2007 that I needed to de-stress my life and move on from Selwyn. I accepted a position ‘behind the wire’ at Christchurch Men’s Prison, starting in January 2008. So, for the last eleven years, I have been a Prison Librarian.' Judith Wenbourne retired from a career of almost 30 years in libraries in 2019. We hear from her about her work in public and prison libraries READ MORE > |