Meet Quechee Library’s Assistant Librarian

“I wear a lot of different hats,” says Michaela Lavelle, referring to her work as assistant librarian at the Quechee Public Library. In managing this space for library patrons, Lavelle is in charge of programming, finding volunteers and delegating jobs to them, running the tech desk, maintaining the library’s website and social m edia pages, reading advisory, assisting patrons with finding books and storytime, and crafting events.

While she puts time and passion into all aspects of her job, Lavelle’s specialty is programming. With this task comes observing those who visit the library and what they’re interested in, and then curating events that will draw a crowd and the community based on this research. The Quechee Library has a strong regular patron base which Lavelle takes advantage of when planning events. She’s able to hone in on what people are already interested in and hopefully bring in new crowds.

Michaela Lavelle, assistant librarian, outside of the Quechee Library.

In early July, Lavelle organized a special storytime reading and Q&A with Kellie Gerardi – a bioastronautics researcher and one of the first 100 women in space – who has published children’s books that celebrate all things outer space. They ended this event by bringing telescopes out on their local green and stargazing. Coming up in October, Lavelle has organized an event with Louise Penny, a mystery author that library patrons have shown interest in, to perform a reading of a play written exclusively for libraries. Lavelle has also planned for a reading by local author Ken Cadow, a discussion around wealth disparity in the community, and has partnered with the Hartford High School librarian to run a book group with their high school students.

Lavelle also wants to attract members of the community who don’t regularly visit the library and younger patrons to participate in an event this upcoming fall, which will feature an Oreo tasting. Lavelle is encouraging anyone to come in at any point during the day and taste-test Oreo flavors and cast their votes on their favorites. “I try to think of who isn’t coming [to events already],” she says. “It’s nice to have a program that is silly but also easy, time and energy wise.” Programming that allows for flexible participation (without a hard start and end time) is much easier to organize than hosting events within a certain time frame, and it gives more patrons the opportunity to participate at a time that works for them in their personal schedules, Lavelle adds.

The Quechee Library has given Lavelle the space and creative freedom to incorporate fun new ideas to improve the library experience for the whole community: “There has been an overwhelming amount of ‘if you can imagine it and are willing to put the time in to plan it, then go for it,’” she says. “I’m very lucky to get to throw stuff at the wall and see what sticks, and I’ve been encouraged to do that.” Over time and as the library environment continues to evolve, Lavelle hopes to draw in more community members in their 20s and 30s as well as teenagers through a variety of programming offerings.

Walking on the rail trail, one of Michaela Lavelle’s favorite hobbies

While she coordinates opportunities with authors and organizes spaces for patrons to expand their knowledge, Lavelle also spends her time managing the library’s tech desk. The tech desk is there to ensure that library technology is easily accessible and to provide patrons with tech support and to answer questions. “Folks see the library as a place where, if they are struggling with tech, operating a device, printing, or faxing, they can find help.” Lavelle doesn’t consider herself a tech expert, but she’lll work with anyone that comes in to resolve an issue. “Patrons know that and are willing to sit there and Google with me and we’ll figure it out together,” she says.

The tech desk isn’t the only technology related task Lavelle is responsible for; she also runs the library’s social media pages. “If someone is curious about the library, they can look and see what we’re about and what we’re doing, but also know that this is a community space that they can use,” Lavelle says. For the library, social media is both a tool for advertising and publicizing events as well as community outreach and fostering connections with patrons and the local community. Lavelle focuses on promoting new events and books, but also reminds the community of the public services that the library already provides. Lavelle has found that it’s often pictures of the library building that get the most likes on social media, which she thinks is due to the fact that people like to feel connected to the library and see an example of its physical presence as an important institution in the community.

Painting the book drop at the Wilder Club & Library

Lavelle moved to the area from Texas three years ago for a job at Dartmouth College working in Student Affairs. After a couple of years, a friend of hers who worked in libraries kept sending her job openings posted by the Quechee Library. At the time, Lavelle wasn’t looking for a new job, nor did she feel like she had the right experience for the position as she had never worked in a library environment before, but one day, she decided to look into it. “At one point, I read the job description and it was exactly what I wanted to be doing,” Lavelle remembers. “Something community-embedded, with lots of programming, and a dynamic job.”

From her previous experience working with nonprofits and event programming throughout college, she had more than enough knowledge to be an asset to the library, and she has continuously proven to do so in her current role as assistant librarian. Coming up on her one year anniversary at the library, Lavelle has cultivated a strong personal connection to and joy for her work, “Overtime, being in the role, I’ve grown my confidence in it and because I’ve learned more and more about the community, I know how to put on events that are going to either attract a new group or identify where holes are [so I can try] to fill them,” she says. “A void that a lot of us feel is a connection with the people around us, and the library is a space that is meant to bring people in to be curious, be open to things, and for learning.”