A BEAUTIFUL MORRISVILLE ADDITION New Local Wake County Library Is Now Ready and Waiting to Open

It's beautiful! NEW MORRISVILLE COMMUNITY LIBRARY READY AND WAITING…

By JANIS JAMES

Helen Yamamoto feels she already knows Morrisville. Having spent 10 years at the West Regional Library in Cary – which is less than three miles from the Morrisville border, Yamamoto said she got to know many people from Morrisville.

“I love the diversity of Morrisville, the community’s openness to new experiences, and the population’s desire to make their town the best it can be,” said Yamamoto, who’s married and the mother of four children (and one grandchild). “They support the library and are committed library users, and I feel a special connection with them. When the opportunity opened up to manage a library embedded in the Morrisville community, it just made sense for me to reach for it!”

Now if she and her team can just open the doors of the new 8,800 sq. ft. facility at 310 Town Hall Drive, Morrisville residents can browse and choose from more than 46,000 books. As of late August, no opening date was set (due to the COVID-19 closure of all Wake County libraries); however, Yamamoto is confident that patrons will feel the new facility is well worth the wait.

“I think they will be surprised by how open the library feels, how bright it is, and how much seating and table space is available,” she said.

But the open space and natural light is only the beginning.

“Much of the furniture has built-in charging stations for electronic devices,” Yamamoto noted – but, as someone interested in sustainability, her favorite aspects of the library include the native landscaping plants and the fact that it has the infrastructure for solar power. “In addition, all the lighting is LED, and the ceiling light fixtures look like a work of art – be sure to look up when you enter the building!”

Speaking of art, Morrisville Community Library is one of the first Wake County facilities to include a work of public art. “Planned for installation in mid-August, the piece will be in the plaza at the corner of Carolina Street and Town Hall Drive,” Yamamoto said. “It is an interactive work, and there are plans

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Because I was a witness to its creation, I feel that in some small way there is a part of me in this library facility.

HELEN YAMAMOTO

Morrisville Community Library Manager

HELEN YAMAMOTO

POSITION: Morrisville Community Library Manager RESIDENCE: Raleigh AGE: 53

CAREER BACKGROUND:

With Wake County Public Libraries since 1994, beginning as a library page, then part-time library assistant, full-time library assistant, librarian, and now manager. Also spent time as a landscape designer.

EDUCATION BACKGROUND:

Sanderson High, Raleigh; Wake Technical Community College (College Transfer, Landscape Architecture Technology degrees); North Carolina State (BA in Arts Applications, with minor in Environmental Science); NC Central University (Masters of Library Science) AFFILIATIONS: American Library Association; NC Library Association; Public Library Association; currently serving as treasurer of the Youth Services Section of the NC Library Association FAMILY: Husband, Willy; four adult children (Anthony, Hallie, Dylan, and Alex). Hallie also works at Wake County Public Libraries. PETS: Pedro (dog) INTERESTS: Bike riding, reading, gardening, environmental stewardship, and the Morrisville community.

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to invite the community to contribute to it in the future. It will be lit up at night and is visible from the inside and outside of the library. We are so excited to engage our community with this work of art.”

Yamamoto took a somewhat unconventional route to the become the new librarian in Morrisville, leaving her university studies at age 20 to start a family with her husband of 33 years, Willy. “I worked at the library part time while I raised my children, and when my youngest started school, I returned to school myself at Wake Technical Community College.”

She eventually transferred to North Carolina State University to complete her undergraduate degree in Arts Applications, with

MORRISVILLE COMMUNITY LIBRARY

OPENING DATE:

BOOKS: SIZE: MANAGER: KEY STAFF:

HOURS:

ADDRESS:

PHONE: WEBSITE:

No specific date, due to COVID-19 (as of late Aug) Approx 46,000 8,800 sq ft Helen Yamamoto Tammy DiNardo, youth librarian Urmila Das, library assistant Michelle Walker, library assistant M-Th:10 am-8 pm; Fri-Sat:10 am-6 pm; Sun:1-5 pm 310 Town Hall Dr (at the traffic circle), Morrisville 919-463-8460 wakegov.com/libraries

I love the diversity of Morrisville, the community’s openness to new experiences, and the population’s desire to make their town the best it can be.

HELEN YAMAMOTO

Morrisville Community Library Manager

a Minor in Environmental Science. “My interest in design and sustainability led me to pursue an associate’s degree in Landscape Architecture Technology at Wake Technical Community College, where I received the 2010 Bud Burton Outstanding Student Award,” Yamamoto explained. “I became an accredited professional in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design in 2009 and worked a second job with a local landscape architectural firm.”

But she soon realized that her heart was in libraries, serving the members of her community, and furthering literacy and the love of reading – especially in children. “So I returned to school at North Carolina Central University to complete a Masters of Library Science, which I received in 2014,” Yamamoto said.

Her career in libraries started in May 1994 at the Southeast Regional Library in Garner, where she was promoted to library assistant in 1996 and served the youth of Wake County (and their families) for the next 24 years. Then, in 2011, she was able to combine her interest in sustainability with her work in libraries as chair of the County’s Wake Sustainability Committee.

“The experience was very rewarding and spurred my interest in management and leadership. The North Carolina Library Association selected me, along with 49 other librarians and library managers from across the state, to attend their Leadership Institute in 2016,” she noted. “My capstone project contributed to the “Storytime 101” training that is now required professional development for all new Wake County Public Libraries employees serving children.”

After her promotion to manager of the Morrisville Community Library last summer, she had the opportunity to work in the Libraries’ Collection Development Services, where she selected and ordered the books for the Morrisville Library’s Young Adult collection. “As the library was still under construction, I attended construction meetings and got to be involved in every stage of the building process,” Yamamoto said. “Because I was a witness to its creation, I feel that in some small way there is a part of me in this library facility.”

Yamamoto said the Morrisville library has been a long time coming, but had a great team involved in bringing the project to fruition – adding that Wake County library facilities director at the time, Terri Luke, worked closely with architect Christine Coates on the design; and current facilities director Katrina Vernon has been involved with the construction process.

Helen Yamamoto UP CLOSE

QWho was your inspiration growing up?

‘My father. He lived in World War II Warsaw, Poland, during his formative years (age 11-15) and lost his entire family – except for a half sister he hardly knew. He served as a kind of scout during the war, running errands and delivering messages for the Polish Underground. The city was bombed to dust, and yet he managed to survive. He spent time in the Altengrabow Prisoner of War camp in Germany, where conditions were not good. Then after the war, he rebuilt his life on his own. He started as a miner in Australia, then put himself through university in Canada, and married and raised a family. Through all his struggles he remained a compassionate and loving man. We had a culture of learning and conversation in our family, with many heated discussions over the dinner table! He taught me to keep an inquiring and open mind, to share my thoughts freely, and to try to understand others.’

QWhat give you the most pleasure in life?

‘My family. My husband and I have four children and one grandchild. It amazes me to see how my children each have very different and unique personalities, even though they were raised with the same parents in the same household! I love seeing the people they have become and the things they are doing.’

QWhat inspired you to become a Librarian?

‘As a young mother, I used to take my children to the library every week for storytime. We always went home with armloads of books! I remember reading my children to sleep every night – this was the best time of day. All the stresses of the day were left behind and we had an opportunity to enjoy each other in the quiet moment of a shared story.’

QWhat do you most enjoy about your job?

‘I have many favorite parts of my job! Being a children’s librarian is a very creative endeavor. I loved planning with my peers and then presenting a program to young people, whether it was a room full of preschoolers and their caregivers, or a group of opinionated teens.

‘One of the most rewarding parts of being a librarian was managing the Teen Leadership Corps at my library. It was an opportunity to inspire and lead young people at a crucial point in their lives – just as they are finding themselves, discovering what they are good at, and practicing the independence that will make them leaders in their own communities, wherever they go.

Part of my job was to find a balance between setting limits and encouraging the teens to try new things and grow in their roles. It was very fulfilling to see “my” teens bond with each other, learn, grow, and find success!’

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“Wake County’s Project Manager John DeHaro made sure construction stayed on track and patiently addressed any questions I had,” Yamamota continued. “The folks at Thomas Construction Company Enterprises Inc., did a great job with this building project. A fellow library manager, Yvonne Allen, has a decorator’s eye and did all the interior décor. It looks beautiful!”

Yamamoto is dedicated to ensuring that the new library reflects with the needs and interest of the Morrisville community.

“You always want to make sure you are connecting with your community – that you understand what your patrons’ needs are and that you are prepared to meet those needs,” she stressed. “We want to take into account the things that make Morrisville unique. “

Coming on board with the new library early on allowed Yamamoto to take some time to get to know the town and to take advantage of this unique opportunity. “The Town of Morrisville offers an excellent series of classes called Morrisville 101 that informs citizens about the workings of every facet of the Town’s government – including administration, parks, public works, and public safety,” she said.

At these classes, Yamamoto not only learned all about the Town’s history and government, but she also got to meet citizens who are engaged with Morrisville, and the people who make it work. “Having connected with the people who serve the citizens of Morrisville, I feel we have a common purpose and the library is another important part of this community,” she said.

For more information on the Morrisville Community Library, visit wakegov.com/libraries. Janis James is a regular contributor to 919 Magazine, and a proud holder of her very own library card.

How Wake County Libraries Are Responding to COVID-19

To adapt services and programs in response to changing needs due to COVID-19, the Wake County Libraries plan the including: n Increasing digital resources available, such as expanding the collection of e-books and e-audio to support school curriculums and home-based education. n Providing a way to secure a library card online. n Recording “Storytime Anytime” for youths to listen at their convenience. n Providing a “Books on the Go” service, which allows people to request books online and set an appointment to pick them up at their convenience. n Partnering with several organizations to develop a High School Program of Service that will be offered virtually starting this fall to help students prepare to successfully apply for, fund, and attend college. n Restarting the Ambassador Service Program for individuals in 11th Grade and up; and the Teen Leadership Corps program for 6th through 10th Graders. n Following CDC best practices in terms of social distancing and safety to protect both staff and the public. This has slowed the library stocking and opening process. n Closing libraries during the Governor’s stay at home order. Over 100 staff were deployed to the County’s Emergency Operations

Center to answer Wake citizens’ questions on the COVID-19

Information Line and serve as contact tracers. As information professionals who are used to answering questions with sensitivity and compassion, these roles fit perfectly with staff’s skillset.

For more information, visit wakegov.com/libraries/services/ support/Pages/default.aspx.

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