Working in a Place That Celebrates Curiosity
Last January, Burlington Public Library welcomed a new Community & Programming Librarian to the team. One year later, we sat down with Sarah-Ann to look back on her first twelve months on the job—from memorable moments at Central Branch to the lessons she’s learned in this early stage of her professional library career.
The Joy of Everyday Discovery
One of my favourite things about working at the library is being immersed in an environment that truly values curiosity. Being surrounded by books, media, and endless information means every day offers the chance to learn something new. Often, a display created by one of our staff members unexpectedly sparks my interest and sends me down a delightful little rabbit hole of discovery. I love that this job encourages spontaneous learning, not just for our customers, but for staff as well.
Connecting People With the Information They Need
Libraries are true information hubs. If we don’t have the answer right away, we’ll find a way to get it for you! There’s nothing quite like helping someone locate exactly what they’re looking for, whether it’s a book, a resource, or simply the right direction.
Want to start a garden but not sure where to begin? We’ll guide you to our gardening section. Preparing for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)? We can show you the print and online tools available with your library card. Looking for updated Burlington bus routes? Our Information Burlington wall has everything you need. Helping people find resources that make their lives easier—or simply more interesting—is one of the most satisfying parts of my job.
Fostering a Love of Reading
There’s something incredibly special about helping someone fall in love with a book or introducing them to a new favourite author. I love chatting with customers about what they’re reading. I have my go-to genres, but I’m often surprised and delighted when someone recommends a title outside my comfort zone. Most recently, a customer suggested the graphic novel Saga, and I absolutely loved it!
Getting Creative in the MakerSpace
Working at Central means I get to spend time in our MakerSpace, and it’s one of the coolest parts of my job. Our customers are wonderfully creative, and it’s amazing to see how their skills have grown and continue to grow over time.
From using the laser cutter to create wedding centrepieces to vinyl stickers for school marketing projects, makers of all ages and experience levels create such impressive things in our space. I also appreciate that we offer maker courses so customers can learn how to use the equipment confidently. Personally, I’m excited to try embroidering shirts for a family bingo event this spring!
Bringing Programs to Life
Running programs is another highlight of my work. Whether I’m introducing an animal show, hosting Tech Connect sessions with our dedicated volunteers, leading a Family Storytime, or chatting with readers during our monthly reading challenge meetups, I love connecting with our community in fun and meaningful ways.
The Best Part of the Job
Working at BPL means no two days are ever the same, and that’s exactly what makes this place so special. I’m grateful to be surrounded by supportive staff and wonderful customers every single day. I can’t wait to see what this year brings!
Related article: What Librarians Really Do
Looking for a change from teaching, Sarah-Ann entered her library program after rediscovering her love of libraries through #booktok and graduated from library school in 2024. Sarah-Ann reads from all genres, so picking favourites is a near-impossible task; however, she can be relied on to pick up books written by Andy McDermott, Peter Swanson, and Emily Henry. If she could have any superpower, it would be the ability to insert herself into any book of her choice and participate in the story.
