PEOPLE MAKING YOUR LIBRARY WORK

BILL O’DELL SMITH

As if it were just yesterday, Bill recounts his first visit to Deschutes Public Libraryin 1983. “It was the first thing I did when I moved to Bend. The old library was quaint, but the Downtown branch feels more like a library,” says Bill. A Los Angeles native, Bill is accustomed to big-city life and a robust library system featuring live music, public computers, and—of course—many books. He quickly

Diana Hern Ndez

Community Librarian, Latino Community

Time flies when you’re having fun, and in just four months Diana’s brought a lot of fun to the library! Community Librarian Diana Hernández brings her dual immersion teaching experience paired with a love of books to help build relationships within Deschutes County’s Latino community. “Growing up in Texas, my childhood was filled with books and story times in Spanish. Our neighborhood library was a safe and welcoming place for my family,” says Diana. Her upbringing embraced a reciprocal relationship between Latinos and the library, and she’s eager for the opportunity to work with the Latino community, helping facilitate access to knowledge and resources. Diana shares, “Reading and books have been a consistent and reliable companion throughout my life and I want to share that with my community.” She enjoys reading sci-fi and fantasy and creating playlists based on these books. “I’m currently prioritizing reading books written by women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ authors. Through reading diverse perspectives, I’m learning to be a better human being—one book at a time.” Welcome, Diana!

discovered his new library has all the modern offerings often found in large cities. “I’m a big reader; I enjoy science fiction, graphic novels, and comics,” says Bill. Checking all the boxes is his favorite author Neil Gaiman. In the warmer months, Bill works long days landscaping, but in the off-season he visits the library nearly every day. “If it weren’t for the library, I wouldn’t have the means to read. It’s a good place to relax and think for a while.”

Perfil Del Personal Diana Hern Ndez

Bibliotecaria Comunitaria, Comunidad Latina

¡El tiempo vuela cuando te diviertes! En solo cuatro meses, Diana ha traído mucha alegría a la biblioteca. Diana Hernández trae su experiencia como maestra de doble inmersión y su amor por la lectura a su nuevo puesto como bibliotecaria comunitaria de la comunidad Latina. “Crecí en Texas, y mi niñez estuvo repleta de libros y cuentos en español. La biblioteca de mi vecindario fue un lugar seguro y acogedor para mi familia,” dice Diana. En su experiencia, la relación entre la biblioteca y la comunidad Latina ha sido positiva y está emocionada de tener la oportunidad de trabajar con la comunidad Latina para facilitar el acceso al conocimiento y los recursos que ofrece la biblioteca. Diana comparte que “La lectura y los libros han sido compañeros consistentes y confiables en mi vida y quiero compartir eso con mi comunidad.” Sus géneros favoritos son la ciencia ficción y la fantasía. Cuando no está leyendo le gusta crear listas de reproducción de música inspiradas por sus libros favoritos. “Presentemente me estoy enfocando en leer libros escritos por mujeres, personas racializadas, y personas LGBTQ+. A través de leer libros con perspectivas diversas, estoy aprendiendo a ser un mejor ser humano—un libro a la vez.” ¡Bienvenida, Diana!

INNovember 2020, Deschutes

County voters supported the Library’s bond measure to expand and improve libraries across the county. The work is now underway, starting in the first half of 2023 with remodels of the La Pine and Sisters Libraries and the start of construction of a new Redmond Library that will double the square footage of the previous space.