Susan Keller, Director of Culpeper County Library, named 2013 Supporter of Paraprofessionals Award

The VLAPF Board is pleased to announce that Susan Keller, Director of Culpeper County Library, was selected as this year’s recipient of the 2013 Supporter of Paraprofessionals Award. Her peers are quoted as saying “She exemplifies the award she is being nominated for and that is SUPPORT. She is always ready to SUPPORT her staff, no matter what their educational background, length of service, or position in the library, and is always there to lend a helping hand.”

Nomination for VLAPF Supporter of Paraprofessionals Award

Nominee: Susan Keller, Director of Culpeper County Library

Nominator: Kathy Clevenger, Circulation/Volunteer Coordinator of Culpeper County Library

I would like to submit my Director for the award of VLAPF Supporter of Paraprofessionals. I started working at Culpeper County Library in 2001. Coming from a medical background, I knew little to nothing about the field of Library Sciences. I always had a love of books and reading, but never fully understood the dedication and skills involved in making a library “work”. I was “one of the public” at the time, thinking that all Librarians do is sit and read and critique books all day. With that thought in mind, I thought, what a great opportunity to volunteer! This was my first encounter with the individual who would come to be a great mentor and role model for my future career with libraries.

Introducing me into the Culpeper County Library as a circulation volunteer, she explained how important customer service is in working with the public. No problem, alii had to do was check books in and out and talk to the patrons about books. What a surprise was in store for me! With her guidance and support, I was led through the trials, tribulations, and the joys of working with the public in a library setting. Although there were many questions along the way, I always could count on her to make me see how best to communicate with patrons in supporting and promoting the necessity of the public library in a community.

Over the years, I went from volunteer, to part-time and then on to full time staff status. I was the first to step into the position of Circulation/Volunteer Coordinator, a position newly created by my Director, who realized the importance of having a formal volunteer program and an overseer of all circulation functions. Learning along the way was, and continues to be a pleasure for me, working alongside my Director. I say working alongside, because she never fails to step in and help cover desks when staffing is required.

She is always encouraging educational advancements of her staff through conferences, webinars, or by achieving a higher degree of education. Just recently acquiring my Library Support Staff Certification, she was always there to answer questions, offer advice, and critique items that were submitted for my classes. But the greatest token of appreciation that I have taken away during my studies and over the years, is the word that exemplifies the award she is being nominated for and that is SUPPORT. She is always ready to SUPPORT her staff, no matter what their educational background, length of service, or position in the library, and is always there to lend a helping hand. She has strongly supported the library and its extremely important role in our community. During the economic downturn, she was always praising the work her staff performed with less funding and staffing. Her SUPPORT has won her tremendous respect from her staff in general. Because of this and my deep personal gratitude for all she has shared and continues to share with me, I strongly recommend Susan Keller, Director of Culpeper County Library, as VLAPF Supporter of Paraprofessionals for 2013.

Nomination for the VLAPF Supporter of Paraprofessionals Award

I would like to nominate my boss, Susan Keller, Director at the Culpeper County Library, for this award. Five years ago, I was searching the entire United States to try to find a great library to work at. I had my Masters in Elementary Education, but not in Library and Information Science. The position I currently hold at the Culpeper County Library, Youth Services Coordinator, required a MLIS in order to be considered for the position. But, I called the library anyway, and wound up spending long hours on the telephone with Susan, asking her questions and talking to her about what I had accomplished in my brief three years as a Children’s “Librarian” in Illinois. After about three such phone chats, she encouraged me to apply for the position, and she hired me. This is a management position, and I do not yet possess an MLIS.

Over the past five years, Susan has praised me for the skills I brought with me to the job. I had 10 years of experience working with teenagers, and greatly expanded teen programming at the library by obtaining an annual grant from a local suicide prevention group. Susan constantly compliments my ability to work with teens, and supports my efforts. Susan has been a great mentor to me with regards to management, and she always takes the time to fully answer questions I have about all day to day operations in the library.

Another thing I would like to make mention of is that when Susan became Director of the Culpeper County Library, she fought to get raises for all of the staff working here, including paraprofessionals. The paraprofessionals are well paid, and Susan respects the skills they all possess. She views them as highly capable with reference, and other tasks that some might require an MLIS for.