Naples Library Update: Winter 2021-22

Highlights from 2021

From left: Kendyl Litwiller, Jessica Winum, Allyson Makepeace, Danielle Tcholakian

If you have visited the Naples Library lately, you may have noticed some changes in our staff. In July 2021, Kendyl Litwiller was appointed as the new Naples Library Director. We also welcomed Danielle Tcholakian as a Part-Time Library Clerk/Teen Services Coordinator, Jessica Winum and John Heinis.

Do you all remember the fun and felt-filled Story Times? Starting in January we will be welcoming back Allyson Makepeace, our Youth Services Coordinator, who specializes in providing programming for kids age birth through 11. Stay tuned to hear what she has in store! One of our favorite moments from last year was Summer Reading. We had 48 kids sign up and participate in our self-guided program.

Teen Advisory Board

By Danielle Tcholakian, Teen Services Coordinator

The newly-formed Naples Library Teen Advisory Board is open to all Neapolitan teens, ages 13-18. The Board meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of every month from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. This is an opportunity for teens to tell the library what programs and events they’d like to see, or even put on themselves. So far we’ve established a book club/discussion group and are planning a speaker series. Come to a meeting or stop in after school sometime and talk to Danielle if you’ve got ideas to share!

Welcome, Kiddos!

September each year is Library Card Sign-Up Month, and this year we tried to get as many kids in the Naples Library as possible. Our Library Director was able to collaborate with the Naples Elementary School Librarian, Gretchen Pulver, to develop a plan to get kids excited to be in the library. With the help of the Friends of Naples Library, we were able to purchase small prizes for kids that signed up for a library card in September and in October. All said and done we had 35 kids sign up for library cards! Part of this success was due to having the third graders come on a Library Field Trip. Kids visited 3 days in October and they learned about the rules of the library, how to find the books they want, what other resources we offer and were able to check out books that day!

We want to extend a HUGE thank you to Mrs. Pulver, all of the third grade teachers and aids as well as the Friends of Naples Library for making this possible!

Have you heard?

a note from Kendyl Litwiller, the Library Director

Many of you may have seen us during the 2021 Naples Grape Festival, fundraising for our Accessibility and Expansion Project. Thanks to the Friends and Trustees that volunteered, we were able to raise over $600 in two days!

We are so excited to be able to make much needed improvements to the library building, the biggest one being the addition of an elevator. This project is helping us meet our strategic goals of increasing accessibility and creating a space specifically for teens.

If you would like to learn more about our project, come visit us and check out our informational display. Library staff will be happy to answer your questions, and point you in the right direction if they can’t. I am so excited to be able to lead our library through this project, and create a space so we can better serve you in the future.

Watch for updates about this project to be shared on the Naples Library website and Facebook page.

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