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Settling in as children’s librarian

Lambert enjoys position in Weyauwega

By Angie Landsverk


Margo Lambert brings a variety of experiences to her position at the Weyauwega Public Library.

That includes working at other public libraries, as well as at a library in a hospital.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity,” she said of being the new children’s librarian in Weyauwega.

She began working at the library last spring.

“I started right before the summer program,” Lambert said. “It was interesting to see how it runs, and to get to know the patrons and the rhythms.”

Lambert grew up on the northwest side of Chicago, and remembers visiting her local library as a child.

“We read before bed,” she said. “It’s a relationship thing. It’s snuggling with your grown-up.”

She loves learning about people and graduated from Chicago’s Loyola University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

She was working full time in banking when she decided to pursue a master’s degree in library science.

Lamber did so at Dominican University, in River Forest, Illinois.

“I had a family friend who worked at a public library in the Chicago system,” she said.

The work interested her.

Her first public library position was in Palatine, Illinois.

“I got it right before I graduated,” she said. “The library was organized by type of material. Information Services was the name of the department. It was basically nonfiction and reference for third graders and up.”

About a year later, she became a children’s librarian in Algonquin, Illinois.

She was soon promoted to head of youth services, and gained her widest range of experience during that time.

Lambert worked there until November 2005, which is when she and her husband Ken moved to Waupaca.

“We just loved it here,” she said of their decision to head north.

Her family had visited the area since the 1970s, and her parents had moved to the area in 2000.

While Lambert wanted to continue working in children’s services, her next position was at a hospital.

She was hired as the consumer health librarian at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, in Appleton.

Lambert worked there until that library closed in October 2012.

She considered different career paths, including cosmetology and being a medical assistant.

Lambert was working part time at the Waupaca Area Public Library when the children’s librarian position became available in Weyauwega.

That happened after Kelly Kneisler became the interim director of Weyauwega’s public library, following Kristi Pennebecker’s retirement from the position.

Lambert interviewed for the children’s librarian position and was offered it.

Her first day on the job was May 15.

Since then, she has been getting to know the children and families who visit the library, as well as the staff.

“We all have our gifts, but we all chip in,” Lambert said. “That’s something that’s been very profound in the short amount of time.”

She enjoys partnering with teachers and wants to incorporate singing into some programs for children.

“I think kids deserve to have a variety of things,” she said. “I want people to be comfortable, to feel they can be themselves.”

Lambert’s goals include helping others gain confidence and find achievements, and being a positive role model.

“I think all kids need adults who care about them,” she said.

Books help children gain language skills and develop empathy, Lambert said.

“If you live in a place where you don’t see people from different culture, you can read about different families and diversity,” she said.

Lambert likes reading mysteries, and the books she chooses often have a female protagonist.

She enjoys spending time with her husband, including hiking, listening to music and visiting communities and art festivals with him.

They also have a dog.

“I am trying to help my dog become a good dog,” Lambert said. “His name is ‘Jake,’ and he’s handsome. But he’s young.”

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