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New DeKalb Public Library Director Wants To Promote Community Involvement, Versatility

Jessie Schlacks / WNIJ

The DeKalb Public Library welcomes its new director this week -- Emily Faulkner.

It follows a recent wrap-up of a multi-year, multi-million dollar makeover. Faulkner's favorite part of the renovation is the children's room; the DeKalb-native says the Lego walls and view through the windows makes her feel like she's in a treehouse. 

She's taking the place of retiring director Dee Coover. 

Faulkner earned a master's degree in librarian studies in England. She's had years of experience in different settings, like a multi-use library near Fort Lauderdale. She most recently worked at Chicago Public Library. 

Faulkner says she sees libraries as community gathering centers. 

"There's a real difference when you actually get out into a group face-to-face and are maybe learning a new art technique or understanding how to do your own beer or gardening -- those kinds of things," she said. "When you actually are sitting next to somebody that maybe you haven't met before and you can have a real conversation, I feel like there's a real value to that."

So, Faulkner says she wants to promote DeKalb Library's versatility to different age groups. 

"If your kids aren't school age, maybe you don't think about it as a place for you, but I think that it really can be a place for everybody," she said. "So I'm hoping to really show off what exactly is available and give back to the city."

Credit Jessie Schlacks / WNIJ
Renovations of the "teen room" at the DeKalb Public Library.

Faulkner says she wants to hold events like community festivals and have speakers on various topics. 

emilyinterviewweb.mp3
Listen to the full interview with Emily Faulkner

Interview Highlights

On her experience studying in England

"So you learn about the different ways that things are organized, the way libraries work, a little bit about the history of them, sort of how to classify things – basically how to help people connect to information as efficiently as possible. A lot of people think that once Google came on board, there wasn’t as much need to know how to do that because the search engine will do it for you. But one of the things that you learn in library school is how to put together a search that really will effectively get you to the information. So you don’t spend all your time poking through ads or looking at stuff that doesn’t apply."

How to keep reading and libraries interesting for young people

“The other thing that keeps it going for young people, especially for teens and for children, is that there’s just been a real revolution in the last five or 10 years for young adult fiction. There’s an amazing array; a lot of people who used to be writing adult fiction now are writing specifically for teens, and it’s amazing. The stories are fast and they’re funny, and they’re really relevant. And I like to read them; I actually started a book club for adults reading teen fiction in Chicago because I wanted someone else to talk about it. And it’s really taken off. People love to come in. Everyone who is past their teen years can remember that and relate [to] these books. Because it’s not so much about the trappings of what’s popular or cool; it’s sort of coming into yourself and learning who you are.”

On her long-term vision as the library’s director

“So I really hope that we can find ways to really maximize our use of this space -- make sure that every room is being used, every resource is being advertised and publicized, so that people really know what they have supported, and what we can continue to support. And then I’d like to add more programs, add more opportunities, and add more ways to get out in the community and invite people in. I think a lot of people, maybe, haven’t been to the library in a while because it was a smaller building. And if your kids aren’t school age, maybe you don’t think about it as a place for you, but I think that it really can be a place for everybody.”

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