The library was a special place to Haley Lewis during her childhood.
“I grew up going to the library,” she said. “When I was younger, this is sort of what me and my dad did. We would go to the library together all the time.”
And it is still a special place to her today. Lewis is the youth specialist for the Greenwood-Leflore Public Library System.
“It was a really good fit for me,” she said about working at the library. “And I’m thankful to (my dad) for building that and instilling that love in me from a young age.”
Lewis has been working at the library for a little more than three months. She graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in May with a degree in library and information science.
Lewis is an Arkansas native. She and her husband, Ryan, have been married for 18 years and have four sons — ages 15, 11, 10 and 6. They moved to Eupora almost a year ago. They lived in Columbus prior to relocating.
As youth specialist, Lewis works with children ranging in age from birth to high school seniors.
She creates literacy-based programming for children and youth, manages the library’s social media, and holds story time for preschool children at the main branch and at the Jodie Wilson Library branch.
Lewis also helps with “anything that comes up” at the library, such as answering questions about the computers or helping children with their homework or studying.
The story times are held on Tuesdays — 10 a.m. at the main branch and 2 p.m. at Jodie Wilson Library.
On Thursdays, Lewis holds programs for youth in middle school and high school.
“I like to have something after school for one of the older age groups,” she said. “Usually there will be other things going on, like last week we had a 9/11 documentary and craft on Friday.”
This month, a writing club for middle school and high school students will begin.
The writing club for high school students will meet at 4 p.m. on Thursday, and the club open to middle school students will be held at 4 p.m. on Sept. 30.
“We’re going to play some games to work on skills, like characterization,” said Lewis. Then, the participants will spend time working on their own writing projects.
Lewis is also working on an upcoming event at the library, Greenwood Geeks Out, which will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Oct. 30.
It will include a fan art competition open to ages 14 to 18. Participants can submit their fan art at either branch. Submissions will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Oct. 28, and the winners will be announced at the event.
“If they wanted, they could start putting in submissions now,” she said.
Greenwood Geeks Out will also include a cosplay competition, a drawing panel and Dungeons & Dragons, among other activities.
“That’s sort of our big, big thing that I’m looking toward and working on right now,” said Lewis.
September also is library card sign-up month. “Kids can come, and if they get a library card, they can have coupons for a free slushy or ice cream,” Lewis added.
Lewis said she enjoys her job and finding ways to make literacy-based activities fun for children.
“I like those moments where I can see them get interested in something ... when I can start to really build something with them. Those are the best moments,” she said.
Outside work, she enjoys writing, traveling and trying new foods. And, of course, Lewis enjoys reading.
“I love books, even as objects,” she said.
She also likes to nurture a love of reading at home with her family.
She said her husband once told her, “picking out books for people is kind of your love language,” and she agrees. She enjoys getting books for her children for special occasions, and even “not a special occasion, you’re going to end up with multiple books.”
“It was really important to me that they had that same love of this place and of books in general,” Lewis said about her children and the library. “I think it’s important because the library has a lot of struggles in general right now with this sort of new age of information. So it’s really important to me that they understand the importance of these places.”
- Contact Ruthie Robison at 581-7235 or rrobison@gwcommonwealth.com.
