A new children’s librarian has begun working at the Heartland Regional Library System. Dawn Payne of Waynesville, began working at Heartland on November 4 and will be working with youth at all of the library branches.

Heartland Library Director Lisa Garro, who was working in a dual role of library director and children’s librarian, said currently Payne is training for her new position. She recently did a Veterans Day program for some young Maries R-1 students. Garro said she “jumped in and did it.”

They hope to be able to provide more programs at the Iberia Branch, Garro said, and plan to begin with Head Start and the preschool.

Payne has an associates degree in early childhood and a bachelor of arts degree in leadership. She has worked at jobs where there is a need for community involvement and communication. She has experience in planning, marketing, implementing, public speaking, networking, program development, grant wiring and more. Garro said Payne is enthusiastic.

She and her husband have been in the military. She has a rich baseline of diverse cultural experience. She has knowledge of working with developing and implementing programs for families.  Garro told the library board she thinks Payne will be a great asset to Heartland Library in growing programming and community involvement.

Payne, 52, is originally from Nebraska and she has family in Arizona, which is where she met her husband of 25 years, Mike Payne. He spent 22 years in the Marines and the couple has two grown children and one grandson, all who live in Texas. She said they chose Missouri because it is a mid point between their families. They moved to the Ft. Wood area in 2010 and enjoy the Lake of the Ozarks.

Payne said the new job is “going great” and she’s presented several programs. As an early childhood person, working as a children’s librarian is her passion.

She enjoys reading both fiction and non-fiction, likes biographies and novels by John Grisham. Her favorite children’s book author is Mercer Mayer. About her new job, Payne said she is “elated and excited.”

Also in her director’s report to the library board at the October meeting,  Garro said the Big Library Read is an opportunity for those with a valid library card to read the same digital title at the same time without any wait lists or holds. Participating in this event allows the library to offer a new simultaneous use title for community-wide access from he library at no cost. It’s a worldwide digital version of a local book club, and an opportunity for the library to generate more interest in the digital collection beyond the bestsellers. Many libraries have already enjoyed great success engaging new and current users with the Big Library Read through Overdrive.

Heartland Library has been approved to receive a Workforce grant of $2,400. The grant stipulates the library order print, video, or digital materials in the workforce development area. Eligible topics include small business support, skills development, vocational-technical training, adult and continuing education, workplace performance, apprenticeships, etc. Garro said she has ordered books on business start-ups, tax information for businesses, books on computer software for businesses, careers, and more.

The library received four puppet theaters from Penworthy as prizes for ordering books from them. There are several puppets at the Vienna branch that all the branches can use. Garro said they have a list, complete with pictures, in the Notion program. She hopes to get high school or college students to perform some puppet theater shows next summer. There is a summer grant from MOYAC that offers to pay for this type of thing.

The board approved a new 60 month copier contract with GFI at a monthly cost of $942.

On the library board, Carole Cobb’s position remains open until a Miller County resident agrees so join the board. Also, Maries County board member for many years, Rita Henderson, is stepping down at the end of 2019. Maries County Library Board President Carole Wagner spoke with Eleanor Terry who at one time was attending the meetings as a member of the public. Terry agreed to take the board position that will come open in January when Henderson leaves the library board.