Stacy Rausch

Stacy Rausch is the Director of Branch Library Services at Gail Borden Public Library District in Elgin, IL. With over 17 years of library work experience, she specializes in project management, public programs, partnerships, and grant writing and management. She earned her MLIS degree from San Jose State University in 2018.

Ana Devine

Ana Devine, , Division Chief of Community Services, earned her Master of Library and Information Science degree from Dominican University (River Forest, Illinois). She has been with Gail Borden Public Library for over twenty years. Prior to joining Administration, she was Director of Neighborhood Services overseeing the Branch libraries and Mobile Library Services. She was the Library on the Go Manager of the Community Services and Program Development Division from 2011 – 2015 managing the creative and multi-faceted outreach activities the library offers throughout the district including the ReaderShip preschool storytime program and Home Services. In 2013 she established the successful Gold Star Partners summer reading community collaborative initiative and in 2014 implemented Welcome Baby!, baby’s first library card and early literacy program.

Maxine Days , MLIS, has worked with the City of High Point at the High Point Public Library for over twenty-five years serving in a variety of roles, such as After School Program Coordinator, Research Librarian I, and Event Coordinator. In addition to her primary reference duties, she teaches the Basic Skills computer class and collaborates with local artists to showcase their creative artistry. She also plans and organizes annual events like the Black Expo, Community Cultural Festival, Author Showcase, Breast Cancer Awareness, the Heart Healthy Campaign, and the Health Fair. Maxine believes that forming partnerships is key to promoting community growth and that it enhances the well-being of others.

Download Maxine’s slides.

Marie Letarte

Marie Letarte is the Director of the Bigelow Free Public Library in Clinton. She is a serial exerciser, still trying to find her favorite, but leaning toward swing dancing. Working with local non-profits, she’s brought all sorts of health activities to the library, including salsa dancing, tai chi, yoga, cooking demos, and a weekly walking group. The most steps she’s walked in a day was almost 30k, according to her fitbit. Marie is a firm believer in nature therapy and eating wild blueberries wherever she finds them.

Milagros Tanega

Milagros Tanega is from Harris County Public Library for nineteen years and served as Branch Manager for Evelyn Meador Library for eight years. She is a Rotarian, ALA Branding Committee, Chamber of Commerce member, Toastmasters. Milagros works in a Gold Certified LEED building surrounded y natural trails and parks in Seabrook, Texas. She initiated along with other local partners to build of a community herb garden, seed exchange library, and edible tree forest with several fruit trees on the surrounding City property. Awarded a grant from the Native Plant Society to create a Butterfly Garden with the intention of bringing back the Monarch to Texas. In Partnership with Urban Harvest and local garden clubs in the community for the Outdoor Learning Exploration Space. She worked with the Friends Group to obtain a Lunar Rendezvous grant and Seabrook Rotary for a community StoryWalk program. She worked with Seabrook Rotary to build five new free little libraries in Seabrook that is now on the world map and fully operational. She works directly with community stakeholders to make an impact in Seabrook and beyond.

April Young has worked for almost twenty years in the library field in North Carolina. She is currently employed as the Library Director of the Rutherford County Library System. She previously worked within the Sandhills Regional Library System at the Hoke County Public Library. April has worked in periodicals, circulation, children’s, teen, and adult services. She is a community focused librarian who believes in an open approach to library services, meeting patrons no matter where they are in life. April loves being outside and enjoys reading, playing with technology, and spending time with her family.

Kelly Senser

Kelly Senser is a programming and community engagement coordinator for Loudoun County Public Library in northern Virginia. Equal parts reader and nature explorer, she regards libraries and the great outdoors as treasured spaces to nurture one’s sense of wonder. During her 20 years at National Wildlife Federation, gardening for wildlife and the benefits of outdoor play were centerpieces of the content and programs she created. Passions for these subjects and community-building now fuel her local efforts to connect people with nature. Kelly has been a certified Virginia Master Naturalist since 2015.

Stacy Lane

Stacy Lane comes from a retail management background and started in libraries a little over three years ago. She is the Youth Services Librarian at the Laurel Public Library in Laurel, Delaware and is currently working on her MMLIS from the University of Southern California. Stacy loves reading, collaging, and a good massage. She can be found perusing thrift stores or yard sales in her spare time. She loves all things library and youth services. She resides in Delaware with her husband, their two children, two dogs, and one cat.

Dr. Noah Lenstra is an Associate Professor of Library and Information Science in the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where he brings a community organizing approach to the study and teaching of public libraries. Notably, Noah founded the Let’s Move in Libraries Initiative, which focuses on supporting healthy living in public libraries. The project was inspired by Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative, which focused on increasing Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL) among Americans. Let’s Move in Libraries continues Obama’s legacy by working to increase physical activity and nutrition through libraries in the U.S., Canada, and other places in the world. He received Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Library & Information Science from the University of Illinois.