Meet Your Local Children's Librarians

Macaroni Kid asked each local children’s librarian to answer a short questionnaire so we could get to know them. Here are the three questions for each librarian and their responses:

1.  In college I worked at the university library and fell in love with library services. When I attended library school I decided I wanted to work in Children’s Services.

2.  Many people think we have lots of time to read books but we are way too busy to have time to read and we don’t go around “shushing” people.

3.  My favorite books:

• Picture book- The Retired Kid by Jon Agee
• Chapter book- The Graveyard book by Neil Gaiman
• Nonfiction- The Good Fight: How World War II was won by Stephen Ambrose

1.  When I was a college student in Cincinnati, I worked as a library assistant in a small,  urban branch. It was a big library system with 40 branches! Because I wasn’t positive what I wanted to do after college my boss encouraged me to go ahead and get a master’s degree in library science so I could be a librarian.  I did and I f specialized in Children’s Librarianship. 

I also became a librarian in the bigger picture because I believe in the power of words and books. The United States is blessed with a great resource in our libraries and I wanted to help people become lifelong learners. I want people to see that the library is a fun place with something to offer every age. It’s really remarkable!  But I think this quote sums it up best: “The more you know, the more you grow. The more you know, the smarter you grow. The smarter you grow, the stronger your voice when speaking your mind or making a choice.”

2.   Here’s a fun fact…did you know there are more libraries in the U.S. than there are McDonalds? But other than that, I would love for the public to really take a look at the resources libraries have, even beyond books. Libraries have Literacy stations, movies, ebooks, free databases, meeting rooms, and sooo many events! For FREE!  

3.  It’s impossible to pick a favorite book but I love any animal book so I’ll say The Circus Ship, Owen and Mzee, and Out of the Blue(a picture book about children who save an beached octopus).

Kristen Rubenstein – Central Library  **no picture**

1. I became a librarian because the library and librarian in my hometown had such a positive impact on me as a child.  My goal is to hopefully have the same impact on others by sharing my love of books and reading.  I have the best job ever!

2.  I wish more people knew about our digital collection for children.  We may have that popular book you are looking for as an e-book.  I also wish more people knew about our digital reference collection and Galileo.  We have great online databases to use when doing your next research project or when you need help finding a good book, and they are all free!

3. I have so many favorites! My list is always changing but here are some especially good ones that I love!


Aime Scarbrough – A. Mitchell Powell, Jr. Branch Library

1.  After staying home for ten years with my children I had hoped to find a job to keep me busy and I was a frequent visitor to the library, when a job presented itself at the library I applied immediately. I love to read and wanted to share my passion for reading to others.

2. I wish more people knew that the programs we provide for kids and adults are free, most people ask how much they cost or how much a library card costs.

3. I average reading about 80 books a year so I have many favorites, but my favorite book to read for story time is “The Wide Mouth Frog” by Keith Faulkner, my favorite teen book recently is “TheIimpossible Knife of Memory” by Laurie Halse Anderson and my other favorite teen and a classic is “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury.


Rachel Rausch – Grantville Branch Library & Senoia Branch Library

1. I have always had a love of reading, and to be able to help children develop that same love is wonderful.

2. I wish more people realized how many craft programs we do with kids at the Grantville and Senoia branches.

3. My three favorite books, that's hard!  I love so many, but let's see: Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein, Bridge to Terabithia by  Katherine Paterson, and Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal.



Christine Barnett – A. Mitchell Powell, Jr. Branch Library

1. I used to be an elementary school teacher and loved working with younger aged children.  As a teacher, I enjoyed using children’s books to teach concepts in all subjects.  I decided to change directions and became a librarian because it involved two of my favorite things: children and reading!

2. Many people are surprised to learn about all of the programs the library offers.  Every month our calendar is full of activities that are offered for ages birth to adult and they’re all free!

3. I have so many…….I love all of the Laura Numeroff books: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, What Mommies/Daddies Do Best, and also the Bear books by Karma Wilson. One of my favorite juvenile chapter books is James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl.  It is hilarious!  My favorite young adult book is The Giver by Louis Lowry.  She has also written some great children’s chapter books such as Number the Stars and the All About Sam series.