Thursday, February 25, 2010

Have you met Betty?


I'm sure most of you have met Betty - her cheery face is there at the desk greeting us all, making us laugh and adding a bright spot to every day. She has become a bit of a celebrity this week because of the Baked Bean Cook-off - not because she won or she was a judge, but because she was front and center in the local paper's picture of the event. So many people have seen it and commented on it to her, she is almost regretting having come to taste the beans. Almost, but not really, because Betty belongs right there in the mix of things, bringing that ray of sunshine with her. But as much as we all know Betty, we don't really 'know' her so we are asking the 5 Questions of her this time.

1. Complete the sentence: When I am not at the library, you can find me:
At home cleaning.

2. Describe your perfect day: Lounging by the pool on a beautiful, warm and sunny day

3. If you had to live somewhere else than NH, where would it be? Florida

4. What three things can you always find in your fridge? Hot and spicy V8 juice, cheese and salad.

5. You would be surprised to find out that I: Have lived in the same house since I was 2.

After this, Betty decided she was boring - "I have lived in the same place since I was 2, married to the same man for 47 years, and worked at the same place for 31 years". She's anything but boring, she is fun, funny and you never know what she is going to say next.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Our New Assistant Director


Our new Assistant Director started this week. Her name is Michele Garneau and we were lucky enough to steal her from Manchester City Library. Michele has a wide and varied experience professionally and personally that will be a wonderful asset to our library, our community and our staff.

Michele is from New England (Rhode Island), but as the wife of a career Army man, she has lived and worked in many different places in the US as well as a stint in Germany. With each new Army posting, she found a new job and new experience. With her husband’s retirement from the military, they resettled in New Hampshire, leading to her working at Manchester for eleven years – first as a children’s librarian, then as a cataloger, then as department head.

She is looking forward to the new challenges of working at Kelley and also looking forward to becoming a part of the Salem community. Manchester is part of the GMILCS system, and as a result Michele already knew some of the Kelley staff from meetings and committee work. She is fitting in smoothly and already feels like a long-time member of the staff.

It seemed only right to have her be the second staff person to face the 5 Questions with the Kelley Staff:

1. Complete this sentence: When I am not at work, you can find me: Singing.
2. Describe your perfect day: Getting up early, and having coffee on the deck or at a picnic table. Then a long walk and a lunch at a nice restaurant with good food. Spending the day with my husband.
3. If you had to live somewhere else than NH, where would it be?: In Arizona to be near my daughter and grandson.
4. What 3 things can you always find in your fridge?: Yogurt, salad fixings, eggs - nothing exciting, I am a simple person.
5. You would be surprised to find out that I: ride a motorcycle.