Meet Your Neighbor: Jami Williams is enjoying library job, life in Shelby

SHELBY — Young residents of Shelby have a cheerleader at Marvin Memorial Library.

Meet your neighbor, Jami Williams, youth services librarian at Marvin Memorial Library.

“This is my first big-kid job,” said Williams. “I have been here for 9½ years.”

The northwestern Pennsylvania native came from a small town.

“I am originally from Titusville, Pennsylvania,” said Williams. “I’ve almost always wanted to be a librarian. I got my undergrad at Clarion University in Pennsylvania. It’s an education degree, but I majored in library science.”

Small town charms of Shelby

“I was applying at all kinds of places," she said. "I applied to a couple of schools, a couple of public libraries, and these people hired me, so here I am!”

“I like it. It’s a small town, so it’s mostly pretty quiet," Williams added. "We’re very community-based and very school-based. It’s all about the kids and families. I like that.”

Williams helps facilitate the library's Teen Advisory Council (TAC).

“The teens are like our ‘teen board,’ she noted. "They help plan and implement and institute all of our teen programming. They help with book purchasing ideas and all that good stuff."

“I do really like this town because they have a really good music program through the city schools," Williams stated. "A lot of my kids are music kids so — between the music and the sports and FFA and 4H — I’ve got a lot of kids that are really busy, so it’s hard to fit into the schedule.”

Williams is proud of her career direction.

“I thought I wanted to be an elementary school librarian, but I ended up in public libraries instead," she said,. "This is more fun. School’s got a lot of stuff going on.”

Away from her job and various community events, you may find her catching a Broadway musical.

“I have season tickets to the Broadway in Cleveland series at Playhouse Square,” said Williams, excitedly. “That is my favorite present I ever got for myself, so I go up seven or so times a year and see a show and get dinner."

Most football seasons, you can find Williams tapping along at the stadium in Shelby.

“I didn’t this year because a lot of my band kids had graduated. I’m picking up a couple new ones, but I have in the past couple of years (bought) season tickets to football games," she said. "I am not a football person. I go for the band. It’s always this really cool experience to be there because almost the whole town comes out and everybody gets all excited."

Public libraries vs. elementary school libraries

“Most schools, you’re stuck with just one age group. Here, I do everybody — birth through 18 through graduation," Williams explained. "Every day is a little different. My mornings are different than my afternoons."

The kids bring her joy.

“We just did trick-or-treat at the library, and I think that was my favorite that we do all year because we trick-or-treat around the library and everybody comes and wears their costumes and it’s a lot of fun,” she said.

Her favorite events?

“Storytimes and my TAC (Teen Advisory Council), between the two of them. It’s regular little kids and regular big kids,” Williams said smiling.

Small-town life as an adult

Williams thinks small-town life gets better with age.

“I think I like it better as an adult because when you’re a kid, you don’t have a lot of options," she commented. "It’s hard to get places. When you’re a little older, you can travel on your own and go places if you want to and need to. You’re a little less ‘stuck.’”

Her parents and younger sibling still call Titusville, Pennsylvania, home.

“I have a sister who’s married, so I have a nephew, which is super fun,” said Williams. “I get to do all the fun stuff, then give him back.”

Her parents, who live only a mile from her sister, didn’t stop her from moving to Ohio.

“Well, I don't think it was their favorite thing I ever did,” said Williams. “I do have some family out in Canton/Massillon, which isn’t that bad of a drive, so it wasn't so much like I planted myself just in the middle of nowhere. But I think they would’ve much preferred it if I’d have stayed home.”

Life as a librarian brings unexpected gifts

“I like that all of my days are different and you never know quite exactly what to expect," said Williams. “I like that we do the same programming a lot. I do story times three times a week. Every story time is a little bit different. Each story time has different kids. The whole environment is just a little bit different."

“Everybody does story time a little bit differently," she pointed out. "I don’t do a lot of singing, but we always read four to six books and we play two different games. We do a lot of talking about what we’re reading about, what we’ve already read.”

“I run a 2-5 (age group), which is always a mixed bag, because you never know if you’re going to get more younger kids or more older kids," Williams added. "I run a kindergarten through third grade (story time). That one’s fun because you get to do a little older stuff, like next level stuff. This year we’re doing the ABCs, so every week we do a different letter.”

Her feet are planted

“I felt like I was really welcomed into the community — not just the library, but the outstanding community," said Williams. "The longer I am here, the more I’ve built relationships.

“I think this is the best job ever," she added. "It is so much fun."

Correspondent Joe Di Lullo can be reached at jp.dilullo0926@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Jami Williams enjoying her job as a librarian and living in Shelby