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10/12/2022 08:30 AMTen years ago, Morgan School senior Lyndsey Robinson got her first job: working as a shelver at the Henry Carter Hull Library. Now, 10 years later, Lyndsey is back working at the Henry Carter Hull Library, this time as the new teen programming coordinator.
Every parent of a teenager has looked for after school activities that keep their kids out of trouble while also being fun. While parents might not always think to check with the local library, in Clinton, the community can call itself lucky for having a someone like Lyndsey who enjoys working with the kids to help make their lives fun and informative.
“I’ve worked with teens most of my life. They’re such a great group, and it’s amazing seeing this age group come into themselves,” says Lyndsey. “Teens are crazy, and it’s so much fun to work with them.”
During a recent chat with the Harbor News, Lyndsey outlined what she does in her role as teen programming coordinator.
“I run the teen advisory board and I also run all the teen programs, meaning I come up with ideas for programs and then I work with teens to figure out what kinds of books or ideas they have for the library,” explains Lyndsey. She can also be found working at the reference desk and assisting people with any library questions.
The biggest challenge in her new position is getting the teenagers to come into the building. Partly because the Morgan School is no longer located across the street from the library and partly due to the way people’s habits have changed over the past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lyndsey says it is going to take some work to get teens to return to the library. However, Lyndsey is up the challenge and has some ideas in the works.
Lyndsey only started her job in early October so there’s still some ideas she’s working on ironing out in terms of programming but one initiative she’s eager to see get going is the teen advisory board. The board meets the last Monday of each month and is meant as a way for teens to tell the library their ideas for materials they’re interested in as well as program ideas. More information on the board is available on the library website and Lyndsey encouraged those interested to keep an eye on the website for programming news in addition to the advisory board in the future as well.
For Lyndsey, working with the kids in town is one of her favorite parts of working at the library.
“I lovingly call them lawyers of chaos because they find every loophole but they keep me laughing,” she says with a laugh. “I also tell them I will do my best to answer any question they have.”
Lyndsey encourages people with questions or ideas to reach out to her at lyndsey@hchlibrary.org.
Lyndsey’s journey to working at the library actually started a little over 10 years ago. While she was in middle school Lyndsey thought she might want to be a vet when she got older, but eventually she turned her attention to another love of hers: reading.
“Books have always been an escape for me. I used to sneak them and read in class between assignments,” Lyndsey recalls with a laugh.
Lyndsey worked in the library while she was in high school but it was a homework assignment for her master in library sciences program that brought her back to the library. After getting in touch with members of the library for her homework assignment, Lyndsey was made aware of an opening in the library and began working there as an assistant librarian in the fall of 2021.
“It was literally a journey 10 years in the making. I consider it such an honor to work with teens in my hometown,” says Lyndsey.
Putting on successful programs at the library is something that Lyndsey has experience doing. In June, Lyndsey helped coordinate a Pride month celebration and flag making event. The event featured flag decorating, games, music, and trivia all centered around LGBTQ history.
“It went really well. We had 50 people of all ages including one teen who came up to me and said that they still were not out to their family but this was their first Pride event they felt comfortable coming too. Even just having that one interaction made it a huge success for me,” says Lyndsey.
As a member of the LGBTQ community and someone working with teens, Lyndsey says she’s happy to be a visible person in the community that LGBTQ kids can talk to and relate to, a thing that she didn’t have when she was growing up in Clinton.
Lyndsey grew up in Clinton and graduated from the Morgan School in 2013. In her spare time Lyndsey keeps herself busy doing her graduate school work, playing video and table top games, sewing, and of course reading.
Though she no longer calls Clinton home, Lyndsey is quite fond of the community.
“I’m biased, but I think we have one of the best libraries. My coworkers and director are so supportive of me.”
“I always really love the people. So many of my best friends are still in Clinton and I’ve gotten to know a lot of our patrons as well,” says Lyndsey.