Library Turns a Page

Along with the new month come some changes at the Moorpark library. Not the least of these is new city librarian Heather Cousin.

Cousin—who came to the Moorpark library from the Arcadia public library, where she was the children’s services librarian—has actually been on the job here since the end of January, though she was just introduced to the community at a recent City Council meeting.

She decided to make the move because of the proximity to her home in Thousand Oaks, but distance wasn’t the only reason.

“Living in Thousand Oaks, I was familiar with Moorpark and like the diversity of people and its great small-town atmosphere,” she said. “The library was just the right size for me to take on the role of administrator while still being close to the community.”

The position opened, in large part, because of changes at the Camarillo Library. When it left the county library system, Camarillo contracted with Library Systems and Services, or LSSI—the same company the city of Moorpark works with to manage its library. Then-librarian Barbara Wolfe was brought over to be the interim librarian for Camarillo, after which she will oversee programs for three LSSI-managed libraries, said Mark Smith, LSSI West Coast vice president.

Cousin has been working in libraries for about 11 years, starting in the Riverside Public Library before moving on to work as a children’s librarian at Rancho Cucamonga’s Biane library and then Arcadia. She said the common thread has been the bonds she’s formed while working with community members wherever she’s been.

“Children’s services is central to most libraries and, although work in this area is focused primarily on the child, there is a great opportunity for library staff to work with parents, caregivers and teachers,” she said. “Those connections often help forge great partnerships and networks for the library in the community as well as providing a wonderful resource for those adults in the child’s life.”

In addition to personnel changes, new programming has been planned at the library.

“Initially, adult programming will be a big priority,” said Cousin. “We have a very enthusiastic and committed group of library users and supporters and programming is something they’d like. It also gives us the chance to offer something different for those who think of libraries as just places to get books.”

To that end, the library is starting a book club for adults. The first meeting takes place at 2 p.m. Sunday. Those present will discuss possible titles and topics for future meetings.

Longer term, Cousin would like to explore ways to expand collections beyond the city library’s walls. 

“Whether through community partnerships, online collections or by making connections with other libraries, we certainly are not, nor should we be, isolated,” she said.

LSSI's Smith said that connecting libraries was a possibility down the road. Because LSSI contracts with a number of Southern California cities, the company might be in a position to help facilitate inter-library lending policies, he said.

There will also be two new programs for children at the library, beginning this month.

On Saturday, the library will host the 4 Paws Book Club, in which children can read to dogs provided by Paws 4 Healing. Children will receive a sticker and bookmark for their participation. This will be an ongoing program scheduled to take place from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month.

The library will also initiate a Saturday story time for young readers, from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. on the third Saturday of every month. This month’s meeting will take place March 19. The program will include interactive stories, songs and jokes with youth services librarian Meg Thackoorie—known as Mrs. T by the children of Moorpark—and puppy puppet pal Booker.

Cousin hopes library patrons will share their ideas for other types of events or activities they would like the library to sponsor, but so far, she likes what she sees.

“I continue to be impressed with how much is done in such a small space by so few people–both in the city and the library,” she said.  “I keep saying to people who ask me to describe the library, ‘We’re small, but we’re mighty!’ ”