Contributors

Allison Riggs, Teen Librarian at Schaumburg Township District Library
Allison is a Teen Librarian at the Schaumburg Township District Library. She enjoys helping patrons find their next favorite read and coming up with new teen programming ideas. She has worked in public libraries since 2013.

Laura L. Barnes, Sustainability Information Curator at Illinois Sustainable Technology Center
Laura L. Barnes has been an environmental librarian for nearly 30 years and is passionate about libraries as sustainability hubs in their communities. She created the Green Libraries LibGuide and authors the Environmental News Bits news blog.

Sarah Keister Armstrong, Principal/Owner at Sarah Keister Armstrong & Associates, LLC

Susan Dennison, Communications & Development Manager at Indian Trails Public Library District
Susan Dennison is the Communications and Development Manager for the Indian Trails Library. Prior to this position, she worked in Washington D.C. for an advocacy organization. She earned her B.S. in management from Arizona State University and her MFA in fiction from Columbia College Chicago. She is active in the Chicago literary scene and serves on the board of directors for the Stories Matter Foundation. You can visit her website, sedennison.com for more information.

Shannon Kazmierczak, Digital Downloads Librarian at Oak Lawn Public Library
Shannon Kazmierczak is a part-time librarian with a full-time mindset in the southwest suburbs. When she isn’t reading her book (on her Kindle Paperwhite, of course) for her book club she hosts at the wine bar, she acts as a concierge librarian to friends and family. She has been a high school librarian and a youth services librarian prior to this position she’s had for 12 years.  A self-proclaimed townie, she spent her formative years sneak-reading VC Andrews in a quiet corner of the library she now works in.

Donna Forbis, Marketing & Events Coordinator at Illinois Prairie District Public Library
Rumor has it that Donna was born with a book in her hand and has been reading ever since.  By day, she is the Marketing and Events Coordinator for the Illinois Prairie District Public Library in Woodford County, IL.  By night, she is a wife, mother, student, author, and amateur genealogist.  She tries to instill a love of reading and learning in children of all ages every day.

Patty Pearsall, Adult Services Librarian at Algonquin Area Public Library
Patty is an Adult Services Librarian at the Algonquin Area Public Library. She has been employed there for over 30 years. During her tenure at the Algonquin Library she has had several job titles and worked in two departments.

Olivia Buck, Circulation and Outreach at Bloomington Public Library
Olivia Buck is a Library Technical Assistant in the Circulation and Outreach Department, a Bookmobile Driver, as well as the Home Delivery Coordinator at Bloomington Public Library. She received a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing from the University of Illinois and her research in writing center studies has been published in The Peer Review, an International Writing Center Association journal.

Aaron Skog, System Wide Automated Network (SWAN) Library Services
Aaron Skog has been part of the SWAN organization as its leader since 2008. He has an MLIS degree with a background in cataloging, system administration, and network operating system design and security. He has 10 years public library experience, and has also worked in special libraries at the Art Institute and the Chicago History Museum.

Don McKay, AIA, Principal, Sheehan Nagle Hartray Architects

Patrick Maloney, Adult Services Associate at Joliet Public Library, Children’s Service Associate at Woodridge Public Library
Patrick Maloney has been loving every minute of working in a public library since 2007. Already an avid reader and writer, what started off as fun part time job that paid the bills while he earned his BA in Audio Design and Production from Columbia College Chicago turned into a blossoming lifelong career. Patrick currently serves as an Adult Services Associate at Joliet Public Library and as a Children’s Services Associate at Woodridge Public Library. He spends a great deal of time writing for both business and pleasure, and is eager for an excuse to spend even more time pounding away on his keyboard.