Susan Kirby-LeMon, retiring Skano school librarian and co-chair of Kirds, Read, Too!, started on the Two Towns One Book (TTOB) committee at its inception in 2011. Known as “Your Friendly Librarian” or “YFL” to hundreds of Skano students and parents, she has helped grow TTOB and lead TTOB’s youth-focused components – Kids Read, Too! – over past years.
“I have the best job in the world, with the best kids, with the best families, in the best community,” Susan noted before retiring on January 30. She has served as one of the bridges between the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library and the Shenendehowa School District – a partnership that is strong in our community. In addition to Susan serving on the TTOB Committee and co-leading Kids Read, Too!, the library has a presence at several Shen elementary reading-related programs throughout the year.
Kids Read, Too! evolved to help engage our youngest community patrons. A companion reading list for the community read is shared with elementary school librarians to promote to their students and grownups. The library also offers take-and-make packets during school breaks – further strengthening the relationship between the library and our schools.
Two Towns-One Book has also evolved over the years. “People just keep coming up with more and more great programming ideas,” noted Susan, who is most proud of the way the community has embraced and deepened their understanding of the program.
While offering programming for the book of the year in the first half of each year, the group concurrently accepts nominations for the next year. A special “reading committee” of volunteers review the books over the summer and narrows the selections down to five finalists – which the community can vote on in August. Next year’s book is then announced in the fall, and planning for programming begins again.
“Linda Conklin, who chairs the TTOB Committee, runs such an efficient meeting. You need a facilitator who keeps people on task and is true to the time commitment. I’m also so thankful to have met Carol Davis,” who co-chairs the Kids Read, Too program.
Susan has left her post to head south soon and will join her daughter’s family – including a new grandson. She’ll continue to volunteer with public libraries and other pro-democracy initiatives like the League of Women Voters.
“Despite all of the streaming systems and different ways that people can access books, we still have a lot of aliterate (unwilling to read) people; TTOB helps combat that. It’s important to read stories, and see, and learn to empathize and broaden your world – and to foster your sense of community.”
Thank you to Susan Kirby LeMon, who has helped broaden our worlds and foster our sense of community throughout the last two decades!