Get to know Jessica, Information Specialist (MLIS), at the Denmark Library!
Although she was born in South Florida, Jessica considers Canton, Georgia, her
true hometown, having moved there at the age of two. After spending two decades
in Canton, she has since lived in various parts of North Georgia, including
Dawsonville and her current home of Clermont.
Being a librarian was her dream job as a child, but she never seriously
considered it until she lost her job in archives when COVID hit. She was in
the midst of her MLIS degree when she decided to apply for library positions.
“If only 8-year-old me could see me now!” says Jessica.
If she could describe her role in five words or fewer, it would be: “Curating
stories, connecting our community.” She finds being an Information Specialist
unique because every day brings a fresh experience. In her six years at FCPL,
she has never had the same day twice. Whether it’s a meaningful patron
interaction, a shared moment with her coworkers, or a unique program, there is
always something exciting happening.
Another unique part of her role is that she has been able to experience the
Youth Services side of things. While Information Specialists focus on adult
programming and services, they get to test their youth knowledge while
covering the Ask Us desk or roaming the branches. After ending the day with
sore legs from assisting with a Youth Services program, she has a newfound
respect for how much energy, time, and love goes into their program planning
and execution.
Her favorite part of her job is her coworkers. Regardless of how her morning
begins, they consistently make coming to work a joy. “I’m particularly
grateful for the Denmark branch team—the process of opening that location
brought us together in a way that feels incredibly unified,” said Jessica.
She highly values the interactions she has with patrons. Being in a
public-facing role, she has been asked some of the most interesting questions
that sometimes lead her on a hunt for an answer. Her favorite questions will
always be focused on book recommendations. “The excitement of being able to
match a person with a book is the best feeling,” exclaims Jessica.
Jessica studied abroad in Berlin in 2018 and calls it one of the best
experiences she has had. She took classes on German history and language,
involving daily field trips around the city and surrounding areas to
historical sites. “I’ll never forget the day one of my professors brought a
small group of us to a tiny park on the outskirts of Berlin,” Jessica
recalled. “He led us to the entryway of a crypt where we could still see
bullet holes from WWII, dating back to when a German soldier sought refuge
from chasing Russian forces.”
In her spare time, Jessica enjoys hiking, kayaking, traveling, and spending time
with her family, including her two rescue dogs. Before having her daughter last
year, she had just started quilting, and hopes to pick that back up soon. Now
that she lives further north, she is hoping to explore the nearby state parks.
After studying history in college, Jessica reads mostly nonfiction,
particularly history and memoirs or biographies. Every now and then she will
pick up a historical fiction, thriller, or horror novel as a palate cleanser.
Jessica just started listening to
This Land is Your Land: A Road Trip Through U.S. History
by Beverly Gage, and recently finished
The Hidden History of the White House: Power Struggles, Scandals, and
Defining Moments
by Corey Mead. Audiobooks are her go-to since her commute is an hour each way,
though she still enjoys a physical book when she is on vacation and has time
to sit down and read.
Thank you, Jessica, for sharing both your journey towards joining FCPL and the
experiences that make you unique! We appreciate your dedication to tracking
down the answers to patron questions, helping out across departments, and
bringing your knowledge of history to FCPL.
Sara Higgins
Communications Specialist
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