Briefly describe your role at Summerlin Library and Performing Arts Center:
The Summerlin Library has different departments: Adult Services, Youth Services, Circulation, and Production and Venues Services, and all of them work both independently and collaboratively to connect members of the community with the immense variety of materials, services, and programs that we offer as part of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District. As Branch Manager of the Summerlin Library, I’m primarily responsible for making sure that all of the moving parts are working in harmony toward the goal of meeting the needs of our unique community, as well as for gathering feedback from our customers and ensuring that feedback is incorporated in every way possible. Please feel free to share your thoughts and experiences with me!
What sets the Summerlin Library apart from others in the city?
Each of our 25 District libraries is phenomenal in its own way. What I notice most about Summerlin Library is the quality of its programs and events. Each and every one of our dedicated staff members plays a part in Summerlin’s programs, and it comes across in what we offer. Our Youth Services team is highly knowledgeable in methods of fostering early literacy skill development and access to STEAM activities and resources. Our Adult Services team works diligently to cater its programs to the Summerlin community, offering frequent computer classes, book club discussions, movie viewings, arts and crafts workshops and meet-ups, and much more. We also have a Performing Arts Center, and the team responsible for coordinating that space facilitates a staggering number of high-quality performances, workshops, and cultural events throughout the year. There truly is something for everyone.
What should Summerlin residents know about the Library?
Summerlin Library is so much more than what people have come to think of as a traditional library. We are ultimately a community center, a place where people can gather, learn, and be connected with other community partners and resources; a place where people can be entertained, astonished, and amazed. From our newly arrived 3D printer to the makerspace under development for the near future, we are constantly looking for innovate ways to engage people of all ages and interests.
What is your favorite event/program at the Library?
My favorite events by far are our large signature events. Many of you may be familiar with our Fall Festival, which happens annually in October and won the 2021 Best of Las Vegas Silver Award in the Arts & Culture Event category. This past March also saw our first Chalk It Up! Chalk Art and Music Festival, and we’ll be having a School Garden Harvest Market in the spring. What’s so great about these events is that every member of our Summerlin Library team (as well as many others from across the District) are involved in the planning and execution process, and literally thousands of community members come together to experience them. At these outdoor events you may enjoy live music and art, stilt walkers, pumpkin decorating, craft stations, vendors, face painting, psychic readings, food trucks, and more. It’s just one more example of how there’s always something new to discover at the library.
