Athens State Student Honored by National Library Publication

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Guy McClure

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Guy.McClure@athens.edu

For immediate release

April 2, 2013

www.athens.edu

Athens State Student Honored by National Library Publication

ATHENS, Ala. - Athens State University student Laura Poe was recently named the 2013 Paralibrarian of the Year  by Library Journal.  Poe is majoring in English with a minor in Drama.  When not in the classroom, she serves as the volunteer coordinator for the Athens Limestone Public Library.

“I wear many different hats at the Athens Limestone Public Library,” states Poe.  “My duties range from the simple responsibility of making sure that each staff member and volunteer get a birthday card all the way to organizing our wonderful volunteers.”

                Library Journal is a national publication that is for all libraries, whether they be academic, public, or private.  The journal focuses on informing librarians and paralibrarians, such as Poe.  Paralibrarians are library staffers without, or who have not yet been awarded a Masters in Library Information Science. 

                The March issue of Library Journal featured Poe on its cover and honored her with a $1,500 cash prize.  The Paralibrarian of the Year award goes to one support staff member nationally and places special emphasis on the efforts of the winner to further the role of paralibrarians in the library profession.

“Three of the women I work with wrote letters nominating me,” states Poe. “The judges liked what they had to say about me and I was chosen. I have no idea of how many people were entered into this; however it was open to paralibrarians across the United States.  Last year the winner was from Florida and the year before was from Texas.”

Although her first career aspiration was to be Wonder Woman, Poe always loved books.   Some of her early memories were visiting her local library as a child to experience Storytime.  To her it was magical, and those first experiences planted a seed that has grown into a love of anything library related.  

                “My favorite part of working at the library is helping my patrons,” continues Poe.  “Just the other day I had a father come in and thank me for introducing the Rick Riordan series of books to his son. The books have boosted his AR points at school. It is the little things that make all I do worthwhile.” 

Poe’s choice of an English major seemed to go hand in hand with her love for reading.   Although, she admits, she wasn’t sold on the Drama Minor. Now that she teaches and gives lectures, she is using what she has learned from Athens State’s drama curriculum more than she ever imagined.  In fact, her newly found love for drama has landed her a lead role in the Athenian Players’ upcoming production of Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie.   Poe will play Amanda Wingfield, the matriarch of Williams’ trademark dysfunctional families.

But in real life, Poe’s greatest role is the matriarch of her own “functional” family.   She is a wife and a mother to three children age seven to sixteen.  They make their home in western Limestone County. 

Poe elaborates, “My life is like a three ring circus. In ring number one we have my job, 40 hours a week with lots to do. In ring number two we have school, I am taking four classes and am performing in a play. And in the center ring I have my family.”

Poe expects to graduate from Athens State University in May of 2015 and continue her studies by enrolling in a Master’s program at the University of Alabama.

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