Library Re-Imagined

You Can Do That at the Library?

LIBRARY STAFFS HAVE LONG BEEN KNOWN for their ability to check out books, recommend authors you’ll love and help with school projects. They can also help you do a lot of things you probably never thought of — like track down an elusive ancestor, tell you where to find grants for your nonprofit or send you to an organization that can provide emergency food or housing. Forsyth County Public Library staff members talk about what they love about their specialized library work.

APRIL MITTELSTAEDT youth services librarian

WHAT I HELP PEOPLE DO As a youth services librarian, I focus a lot on helping kids and teens discover (or rediscover) a love for reading. It’s important to me that the child has agency in picking their books, whether they’ve been told they can’t “read a book this hard” or “need to read something harder.”

WHY PEOPLE LIKE THE SERVICES I OFFER People love to talk to me about books, or ask me for help in finding books, in part because I will admit that my reading habits are not the best. It takes off a lot of pressure and “demystifies” librarians when I admit I return unread books and quit reading after 20 pages if I’m not interested.

JODY LOHMAN

business and nonprofit support librarian

WHAT I HELP PEOPLE DO I love coming to work because I spend my day helping people. I’ve also developed two programs in partnership with the Small Business Center of Forsyth Technical Community College. Winning Wednesdays is a weekly session that highlights library resources for business and nonprofits. Find Funding for Your Nonprofit is a monthly session that helps you use Foundation Directory Online, a powerful database, to find potential funding for your nonprofit.

WHY PEOPLE LIKE THE SERVICES I OFFER People really like the one-on-one appointments. We help them complete a business plan, prepare for a presentation or find funding for a nonprofit.

JOSE PEREZ

peer support services specialist

WHAT I HELP PEOPLE DO I connect people to different services and give them hope. People who are struggling with homelessness, substance abuse and evictions need to know that all is not lost. I offer a compassionate non-judgmental ear to those in our community who are struggling.

WHY PEOPLE LIKE THE SERVICES I OFFER They can talk to someone who has actually been through some of the things that they are going through. It’s convenient for people in the community to be able to come to the library and get support. They don’t have to travel all over town to have services pieced together. In the beginning they can come to one spot and get direction. I| S

UNIQUE PROGRAMS

Find Funding for Your Nonprofit Second Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.

In this orientation to the Foundation Directory Online, you’ll acquire techniques for searching the database and researching potential funding to support your nonprofit organization’s mission and programs. Call 336-703-3020 to register.

Resume Writing session Feb. 16 at 2 p.m. and April 6 at 2 p.m.

Virtual program provides suggestions for improving format, spelling, grammar and effectiveness. Online library resources will also be shared. Call 336-703-2960 to register.