Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Campbell.
Hi Amy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
I joined the Harris County Public Library system at the Katherine Tyra @ Bear Creek Branch in 2009. I’ve always been passionate about access to information and knowledge, so the library is a natural fit.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Working at the library isn’t always easy! We thought flooding from Hurricane Harvey would be our biggest challenge, but we never imagined a pandemic might change our perspective. Like the other branches in our system, we were closed from late March 2020 until June 2021. During that time, we had to completely change our model – we shifted to curbside-only service, taking out books on hold to customers waiting outside the building. Our library system also started a service called Book Bundles, where customers filled out a form about the sorts of books they were interested in, and our staff pulled multiple books for them to try. We also presented virtual programs and handed out hundreds upon hundreds of grab and go craft kits.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
With the onset of the pandemic, our library system turned from in-person programs to virtual. I embraced this as well, seeing it as an opportunity to expand our reach beyond our library’s geographical area. In addition to being a librarian, I’ve always been passionate about writing and authorship. I decided that the time might be right to blend that passion with my library work.
Along with my Assistant Manager Elizabeth Boggs and several other libraries in our system, I started the HCPL Writes series of virtual programs. During November, we host virtual programs in conjunction with National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) to encourage writers to complete a 50,000 word novel. Additionally, we also host monthly programs that cover a wide range of topics, from write-ins to get creative juices flowing to panels about different aspects of writing and authorship with guest independent authors.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Anyone interested in working with our library in any capacity can email bc@hcpl.net. We love to hear from others in the community! We have partnered with other organizations before, and love to do so.
Contact Info:
- Email: bc@hcpl.net
- Website: https://www.hcpl.net/branch/katherine-tyra-branch-library-bear-creek
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearcreeklibrary/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bearcreeklibrary
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/bearcreekpl
