We are excited to share that Grace is OCPL’s Employee of the Month! Grace's dedication and kindness shine through in all she does, as she generously offers her time, skills, and eagerness to assist colleagues and patrons alike. She organizes and presents an engaging Korean bilingual storytime each month that continues to attract a growing audience. Her positive energy, creativity, and ability to involve attendees through singing, dancing, and crafting make the storytimes a hit. As a member of the Outreach Committee, Grace is a key player in numerous events, effectively promoting OCPL and our services and encouraging patrons to engage in system-wide activities. She truly represents the spirit of excellence and service that we value at OCPL.

Congratulations to Olivia, OCPL’s employee of the month! Olivia's team-player mentality is evident in her proactive approach to sharing knowledge and building collective expertise. She actively invites colleagues to participate in her programs, anticipating future needs and providing valuable hands-on experience.  Olivia willingly takes on various projects and readily volunteers during periods of coverage gaps. Her reliability and eagerness to support the team contribute significantly to the smooth operation of her branch library and systemwide events. Beyond her professional contributions, Olivia stands out as a supportive and approachable team member. Always willing to lend an ear and serve as a sounding board, she creates an inclusive and open atmosphere where colleagues feel comfortable discussing ideas and challenges.

Emily is a librarian with OC Read, OC Public Libraries’ literacy department, a program designed to support adult learners by providing foundational tutoring for Orange County adults who want to improve their reading and writing skills. Literacy programs have the power to change people’s lives and Emily works on the frontlines of literacy. She works directly with learners and tutors, and she lets her passion for literacy shine in all that she does. Emily strives to make a positive impact on the community by serving with patience, empathy, and enthusiasm. You can find Emily managing tutor-learner pairs, working with literacy curriculum, conducting outreach in the community, providing literacy-based programs, writing grant reports, and more! Emily is also the co-chair of OC Public Libraries’ Charlie Cart Committee; this committee celebrates food literacy and nutrition education through hands-on cooking programming. Emily has an incredibly strong work ethic which is recognized and appreciated by all her co-workers and the community she serves.

Congratulations to the Employee of the Month, Will from the OCIT team!

Will's unwavering commitment to his role in supporting OCPL is truly commendable, as he consistently goes above and beyond to ensure the success of the team. Will collaborates seamlessly with OCPL staff and colleagues, fostering a positive and productive work environment. His diligence is not only reflected in the quality of his work but also in his efforts to find innovative solutions that contribute significant cost savings for OCPL. Will's ability to identify and implement efficiency measures has had a tangible impact on the organization's financial health. His work ethic, combined with a genuine passion for his responsibilities, makes Will an invaluable asset to the team, and a deserving recipient of the Employee of the Month recognition.

Congratulations to the OCPL Employee of the Month, Carl!

Carl brings laughter and good will in with him every day! His Music and Movement Storytime is one of the highest attended regularly scheduled programs at Tustin. He also does an Enrichment Storytime for adults with unique needs. His Adult Enrichment Storytime provides weekly engaging services to adults with special needs, and he has expanded his language skills by assisting with the Bilingual Chinese Storytime. Carl is always looking for ways to make work fun and inclusive.

 Not only is Carl’s joyful personality a pleasure to work with, but his willingness to go above and beyond makes him a valuable team player! He enthusiastically volunteers to assist with large author visits, including events featuring Daniel Silva, Nancy Horan, and Tiffany Haddish, where he engages with audience members, creates library card accounts, and promotes future events. His charming personality shines in all his interactions, bringing smiles to the patrons around him. His prominent role in the programming at the Tustin Library demonstrates his creativity and courage to try new things. Carl’s determination to provide his support and expertise in any situation makes him an instrumental part of the OCPL team and we are lucky to have him!

Congratulations to Leticia, our OCPL Employee of the Month!

Letty has consistently impressed coworkers and staff with her positivity, vibrant energy, and genuine enthusiasm for our programs and patrons. Kids continually look forward to her Family Storytimes on the weekends because she is always adding something extra, such as infusing dance parties and outdoor play with bubbles and chalk, which keeps them coming back!  Letty's eagerness to take the lead in volunteering for outreach initiatives and donning thematic costumes for events, including her notable appearance as one half of the dynamic Piggie and Elephant duo during the Chapman's Lunch at the Library event, truly exemplify her dedication to our communities.  Beyond her contributions as an invaluable team member at our branch, Letty is an integral member of the Senior Services Committee. She actively participates in committee meetings and was a leader on the craft subcommittee that planned the activities at the Senior Get Together programs. Letty also regularly volunteers for outreach and has participated in several tabling events at locations all over Orange County. The past two years the Senior Services Committee has planned Senior Get Together events, of which three are held; one in the South, North, and Central regions. Both years Letty has volunteered to attend each of these Get Togethers and helped to set-up, operate and tear-down. She is an enthusiastic member of the committee, who is always contributing great ideas and working hard to improve our outreach and programs. Letty's wholehearted commitment shines through as she consistently volunteers to be part of each of these events, assuming responsibilities ranging from setting up, to operating and finally, teardown. Her contributions reflect an inspiring level of enthusiasm and drive. 

Congratulations Letty!

OC Public Libraries Welcomes Bestselling Author Karin Slaughter

SANTA ANA, Calif. (August 16, 2023) – OC Public Libraries is proud to present A Slice of Literary Orange, a series featuring keynote speakers throughout the year, in celebration of literacy.

Karin Slaughter, a prolific crime writer, is the author of more than twenty instant New York Times bestselling novels, including the Edgar–nominated Cop Town and standalone novels Pretty Girls, The Good Daughter, and Pieces of Her. She is published in 120 countries with more than 40 million copies sold across the globe. Pieces of Her is a #1 Netflix original series, and Will Trent, based on her Will Trent series, is on ABC (and streaming on Hulu in the U.S., and Disney+ internationally). Slaughter is a lifelong supporter of libraries and library programming.

Karin Slaughter will be in conversation with author and journalist, Samantha Dunn. There will be a Q&A followed by a book signing. Complimentary copies of the book will be available while supplies last. Books will be available for purchase courtesy of Mysterious Galaxy bookstore. Early arrival is suggested.

Daniel is part of the OCPL Mobile Library team. He always demonstrates excellent customer service. The kids love his storytime, the adults, his painting program, and the community always has great things to say about him. Out of monthly crafts? No problem, Daniel can set up a stay and play that makes the kids forget about the crafts. Daniel is always a problem solver, always giving his best to both coworkers and communities. It is for these reasons and many more that it is a pleasure working with Daniel, just ask anyone! 

Congratulations Daniel!

OC PUBLIC LIBRARIES WELCOMES AWARD-WINNING AND BESTSELLING AUTHORS,   NANCY HORAN AND DANIEL SILVA 

SANTA ANA, Calif. (July 5, 2023) – OC Public Libraries presents A Slice of Literary Orange, a series featuring keynote speakers throughout the year, in celebration of literacy. 

 Nancy Horan is the author of Loving Frank, which remained on the New York Times bestseller list for over a year, was translated into sixteen languages, and received the 2009 Prize for Historical Fiction. Her newest title The House of Lincoln was released in June.  

 Daniel Silva has been called his generation’s finest writer of international intrigue and one of the greatest American spy novelists ever. Compelling, passionate, haunting, brilliant: these are the words that have been used to describe the work of award-winning #1 New York Times bestselling author Daniel Silva. Join us for a conversation between Daniel Silva and award-winning correspondent Jamie Gangel.  

 The authors will read from selected works and share their experiences as writers. Additionally, there will be a Q&A followed by a book signing. Early arrival is suggested.   

Congratulations to Employee of the Month, Kristin!

Kristin is a fan favorite at Dana Point! Her fans are children who love her storytime, reading recommendations, and interacting with her in the library. Her fans also include the caregivers who appreciate her two storytimes a week, Young Readers Book Club, Kids Movie and Craft Matinees, and special monthly programs such as Money Smart, Toddler Dance Party, May the 4th, Gingerbread Decorating Open House, and a Spy Camp. For National Library Week, Kristin created 200 art kits for patrons of all ages to return and exhibit at a Tiny Art display in the library lobby. Kristin keeps current with national library trends by attending American Library Association and School Library Journal online workshops and publishing events. She has good connections with the local schools and encourages class visits as well as onsite visits to the schools. Not only is Kristin a patron fan favorite but a staff favorite. She is a leader, group supporter, and a calm and kind in-charge.

Congratulations Kristin!