About

Greetings and Salutations!

Trying on the Mad Hatter's hat at The Story Museum's (UK) Alice exhibit.

I started this blog when I first finished my MLIS (Master of Library and Information Science) at Rutgers University in December 2008.  Since then, I've gone through periods of deluge and drought in terms of posting.

As of school year 2020-2021, I am in my 12th year as the Middle School Librarian at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School in Alexandria, VA. I love my job because it enables me to share my young adult literature addiction with an appreciative audience of quirky, awkward, intelligent and thoughtful people known as middle school students. I am also the creator and director of a Hunger Games Camp and Harry Potter Camp through our school's SummerTimes program. While the Hunger Games Camp no longer runs, Harry Potter Camp is returning for Summer 2021!

I thrive on being involved in a variety of professional organizations.  Locally, I am a member of MWISLA (Metropolitan Washington Independent School Library Association), and am on the board of Capitol Choices.  I am also an active member of YALSA (Young Adult Library Service Association), having served on the 2020 Excellence in Nonfiction Award committee, 2015 Margaret A. Edwards Award committee and the 2014 Best Fiction for Young Adults committee. 

When I'm not in the library or directing camp you can find me plotting my next home improvement project, baking (and eating), plotting an early retirement abroad or walking the neighborhood or hitting the trails with my husband.

Email me at librariYAn@gmail.com or catch me on Instagram @TheLibrariYAn.

Who can resist a girl and dog in costume? No one! Miss Molly Manute remains forever the cutest, sweetest, snuggliest pup, even now that she's gone.

Halloween 2012.  Waldo and Woof.

Halloween 2011. Katniss and a cow.