Stella is all about the public she serves. She has been especially helpful to her ESL patrons and has more than a few thriving Conversation groups. She herself, provides all the adult programming at her branch including multiple bookclubs and a monthly Writer's retreat. Stella was also instrumental in bringing Genealogy programming to OCPL and offered many of the programs herself.
Stella's creativity and sense of innovation, is best described in her efforts to keep the ESL classes going strong at her branch. Stella recognized the growing need for ESL in Lake Forest, as well as the need to keep the momentum going with the existing students. As soon as virtual book groups became available, she had her ESL classes Zooming away!
When bookclubs had to stop meeting due to COVID, Stella maintained communication with those members for whom the bookclub was the highlight of their month. One member who was so sad to move out of state, has now rejoined the group via Zoom. Simply put, Stella is an empathic, committed professional who is passionate about librarianship.
