Elaine Alexander
Colchester
Summary
Detail-oriented and experienced Children's Librarian with 17 years of experience in collection maintenance, program planning, and outreach. Proven in developing and implementing engaging story times, STEM programming, and book clubs. Skilled in cataloging and knowledgeable in books for young readers through teens. Possesses a Master's degree in Library Science.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Director / Children's Librarian
Deep River Public Library
07.2014 - Current
- Responsible for collection maintenance for all Children and Teen materials
- Develop and implement story times for infants, toddler and preschoolers
- Provide outreach to area pre-schools, increasing by 50% in 2025
- Provide school-age STEM programming
- Budget and plan the annual Summer Reading Program, including coordinating with local media specialists
- Handle library promotion, both on social media and for local papers
- Secured funding and negotiated vendor pricing for a set of Launchpads, saving over $500
- Negotiated a donation of a Nintendo Switch for teens, a $350 value
- Collaborated with Dr. Jou for a large screen gaming night for teens
- Collaborated with local elementary school for yearly kindergarten field trip; fourth grade summer reading promotion, and fifth grade history activity
- Facilitated book clubs and other adult programs
- Implemented a picture book reorganization system to improve browsing, applied a similar structure to juvenile and teen books
- Collaborated with community partners to provide more programming at reduced costs
- Oversee library students, helping them to come up with graduate level work assignments that fit with the public library needs.
- Developed an original Summer Reading Program that is inclusive for all.
Adjunct Library Programmer
Acton Public Library
01.2017 - 01.2019
- Order books and materials for all ages of the Children's and Teen collection
- Weed teen materials, as well as requested sections of the Children's collection
- Write promotional material for the Old Saybrook Neighbors
- Substitute for the baby story time on a weekly basis, including planning
- Research and order themed backpack kits
- Categorize incoming picture books for processing
- Developed and ran STEM Steppers program for K-2nd grade
Children's Substitute
Wethersfield Public Library
01.2014 - 01.2019
- Assist patrons with reader advisory and technology
- Substitute for children's programs as requested
- Collection maintenance; ordering and deselection
- Creating book bundles
- Market programs and assist with patron registration
- Supplemental help for members of the Children's Department as requested
Library Programmer
Cragin Memorial Library
01.2008 - 01.2017
- Plan and provide two weekly sessions of Terrific Twos & Threes; increasing attendance by 50%
- Develop and provide two weekly sessions of Baby Boom; growing the program to a weekly attendance of 80 people
- Provide assistance to the Children's Librarian in ordering teen materials for the library
- Assist the Children's Librarian with planning Summer Reading Program
- Perform Outreach to area pre-schools
- Help implement an outreach to the local high school early education program
- Assist in picture book reorganization project
Education
Master's degree - Library Science
Texas Woman's University
Denton, TX08.2020
Skills
- Library Services
- Computer skills
- Public library service
- Programming for children and families
- Strong writing background
- Knowledgeable in books for young readers through teens
- Cataloging
Accomplishments
Publications:
Death at Deacon Pond, Lobster Press, 2006
Anglerfish: The Seadevil of the Deep, 2022
Giant Cuttlefish: The Chameleon of the Sea, 2026
Femme Fatale of Fireflies, 2026
Giant Pacific Octopus, TBD
Eels: A Migration Mystery, TBD
Publications
- Giant Cuttlefish: Chameleon of the Sea, Candlewick, 04/01/26
- Femme Fatale of Fireflies, Candlewick, 2026
- Anglerfish: The Seadevil of the Deep, Candlewick, 2022
- Death at Deacon Pond, Lobster Press, 2006
- Giant Pacific Octopus, TBD, TBD
- A Migration Mystery, TBD, TBD
Associations
- American Library Association
- Connecticut Library Association
- SCBWI
Timeline
Adjunct Library Programmer
Acton Public Library
01.2017 - 01.2019
Assistant Director / Children's Librarian
Deep River Public Library
07.2014 - Current
Children's Substitute
Wethersfield Public Library
01.2014 - 01.2019
Library Programmer
Cragin Memorial Library
01.2008 - 01.2017
Master's degree - Library Science
Texas Woman's University
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