The Teen Spot at the Great Bend Public Library will hold a special party from noon to 5 p.m. this Friday, July 31. This party is two-fold as the library bids farewell to its three teen summer interns and to Young Adult and Marketing Librarian Jennifer King. Teens are encouraged to attend for snacks and games.
After four years at the Great Bend library, King is heading to the McPherson Public Library to take over its Youth Services Department. The new YA/marketing librarian at Great Bend is Deidre Mapes and she will officially take over on Aug. 1.
During her tenure at the Great Bend Public Library, King overhauled the teen department, creating the Teen Spot and a Teen Advisory Group that continues to assist with programs and volunteer work.
Through grant writing King received holiday lights for the library exterior, new furniture and books for the Teen Spot, and brought in this summer’s Argonne Rebels Exhibit.
She also was able to hire three teen summer interns for the Teen Spot as part of a YALSA/Dollar General Grant. “These three interns have worked throughout the summer, along with the Teen Advisory Group, to help prepare and run programs for all ages and have assisted in many other areas behind-the-scenes,” King said.
Diedre Mapes will begin her duties as Young Adult and Marketing Librarian on Saturday. Mapes holds a B.A. from Eastern Illinois University and a M.A. in Young Adult Literature from Kansas State University. She is also working on her MLS from Emporia State University and is the Books by Mail Reader’s Adviser for the Central Kansas Library System.