Boardman woman closes book on career as children’s librarian
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WARREN – A Boardman woman has spent 20 years working at the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library.
Lori Faust, who most recently served as community engagement manager and formerly children services manager, said she has been with the library since October 2006. Her last day was Friday, and her retirement party was Thursday.
She said she started as the assistant manager for the children’s department after training at the library while working on her master’s degree in the fall of 2004.
Faust spent time working as a systems engineer in electronic data systems at EDS the year Ross Perot sold it to General Motors. She worked in that field for five years before taking care of her young children.
Faust said in her late 30s, she decided to get a master’s degree in library science at Kent State University.
“I always wanted to be a part-time children’s librarian. I always loved children’s books and was interested in how children learned to read. I was told I needed to have a master’s degree,” Faust said
Prior to working in Warren, she had worked for about two years at the Stark County District Library as a full-time children’s librarian.
“I came to the Warren-Trumbull County Library and was in the children’s department for several years. It was a perfect fit for me and I loved it since the very beginning. I loved story times and presenting to groups,” Faust said.
She said over the years the library became more involved with other community agencies that worked with children.
“That really became a passion for me. I have enjoyed that a lot and I am proud of the programs that we have worked on as a larger community. We want children to find that joy of reading by interacting through library programs. There are so many things you can find information about that you are interested in at the library,” Faust said.
She also has worked with the Family and Children First Council and the United Way of Trumbull County.
She said it is important for children to be good readers or they will struggle with all school subjects.
Events that have been hosted by the library have included Family Book Day, kindergarten transition fair and the Candyland event at the holidays.
Faust said three years ago, a grant was obtained to purchase a pop-up library van and the library administration created a community engagement department to focus on outreach in the community.
“Because of what I had done in the community and my connections, I decided to take that position,” Faust said.
She said the outreach includes taking materials and going to many area daycare centers, farmers markets, festivals and different events all over Trumbull County.
In the summer, when the Warren City School District was providing free lunches for children at Highland Terrace, the pop up library was also there.
Faust said books have been made available to local nursing homes, senior residences and area schools through depository collections.
“We are finding ways to reach people who wouldn’t be able to use the library. We also try to get as many Take Two cards into the hands of children and emphasize that with the card they can utilize library resources with downloadable books, audio, music and movies,” she said. “It has been a great team working here. I have always loved the public service and getting the right book in someone’s hands.”
Faust said a main highlight of her career was serving on the Newbury Award committee selecting the most distinguished children’s book published in 2010.
She said she also was involved with the planning of the renovation of the library’s main branch, which expanded the children’s and teen’s departments.
“I never thought I would work here long enough to see that happen. That made the children’s department so much larger,” she said.
Faust said she will always remember what Ellen Finan, former children’s librarian, said when she retired and Faust took over the job.
“She said to me ‘this is going to be a good career for you’ and she was right,” Faust said.
After retiring, Faust plans to stay busy as a member of the Warren Library Friends and serve on the board for the Warren Library Association. She and her husband Mark will travel and are awaiting the birth of their first grandchild in Massachusetts, where they plan to visit often.
Faust also enjoys playing clarinet and piano and has an undergraduate degree in music.