Carly Lemire
Carly Lemire grew up in Southbury, Connecticut, the daughter of Alexander and Catherine Rencsko and sister to Peter Rencsko. Her enthusiasm for children and teaching began at a young age, influenced by her mother working as an aide in the local elementary school. She was a lifelong patron of her local library, so it was no surprise that her first job was in the Circulation Department of the Southbury Public Library.
After graduating from Pomperaug High School she headed up to Vermont where she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree from Saint Michael’s College in English and Elementary Education. More importantly, she also met her biggest supporter; future husband, Benjamin Lemire.
Even though she had accomplished her childhood goal of obtaining a teaching degree, she was unsure of her career path. Something kept pulling her back to the library. She moved back to Southbury and accepted a part-time position in the Children’s Department of the library. Here she pursued a Master Degree in Library Science from Southern Connecticut State University and spent the next five years working her way up to a full-time position as the Teen Librarian.
In 2010, she applied to and accepted the Youth Services Associate Librarian position at the James Blackstone Memorial Library. From day one Carly has expanded the number of programs being offered to the community. Her love for the early years has been seen in the creation of 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, a reading incentive program that encourages families to read 1000 books to their children before they reach age five! With the help of Branford Early Childhood Collaborative and Branford Exchange Club, she has been able to create Baby Bundles, which are essentially diaper bags filled with social services and child development information for new and expecting parents.
Her dedication to expanding access and introducing new technologies came in the form of a Mobile MakerLab provided by the Friends of the James Blackstone Memorial Library and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. With the help of Development and Outreach Librarian, Katy Dillman, Carly has been able to use these resources to create a series of programs dedicated to middle school students. They also won a Connecticut State Library grant that purchased additional maker equipment and made it possible for them to run a series of maker workshops taught by professionals in programming and design. The MakerLab and its uses have expanded beyond middle school students with a programming club for 3rd and 4th graders as well as family based workshops that have parents and children coming together to create 3D projects.
Carly’s extensive work with the public schools includes: coordinating library card drives, delivering materials to teachers and students as well as tours and research workshops at the Blackstone. She promotes the summer reading program with an interactive skit at all three elementary schools with the help of Stephanie Carvin, the children’s librarian at the Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library and has been asked to celebrate each child’s summer reading achievements by returning in September. The Youth Services Department is also a job site for the high school’s community outreach program, allowing students with disabilities to enhance their resumes with real life work experience. Every year she works with Kin Volkens, the school district’s English as a Second Language (ESL) coordinator, to host a spring open house at the Blackstone. These have been a huge success.
Over the past seven years, she has been blessed with the opportunity to collaborate with an amazing staff as they provide programming for all ages, explore new technology and expand the reach of the library throughout the local community.
After graduating from Pomperaug High School she headed up to Vermont where she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree from Saint Michael’s College in English and Elementary Education. More importantly, she also met her biggest supporter; future husband, Benjamin Lemire.
Even though she had accomplished her childhood goal of obtaining a teaching degree, she was unsure of her career path. Something kept pulling her back to the library. She moved back to Southbury and accepted a part-time position in the Children’s Department of the library. Here she pursued a Master Degree in Library Science from Southern Connecticut State University and spent the next five years working her way up to a full-time position as the Teen Librarian.
In 2010, she applied to and accepted the Youth Services Associate Librarian position at the James Blackstone Memorial Library. From day one Carly has expanded the number of programs being offered to the community. Her love for the early years has been seen in the creation of 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, a reading incentive program that encourages families to read 1000 books to their children before they reach age five! With the help of Branford Early Childhood Collaborative and Branford Exchange Club, she has been able to create Baby Bundles, which are essentially diaper bags filled with social services and child development information for new and expecting parents.
Her dedication to expanding access and introducing new technologies came in the form of a Mobile MakerLab provided by the Friends of the James Blackstone Memorial Library and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. With the help of Development and Outreach Librarian, Katy Dillman, Carly has been able to use these resources to create a series of programs dedicated to middle school students. They also won a Connecticut State Library grant that purchased additional maker equipment and made it possible for them to run a series of maker workshops taught by professionals in programming and design. The MakerLab and its uses have expanded beyond middle school students with a programming club for 3rd and 4th graders as well as family based workshops that have parents and children coming together to create 3D projects.
Carly’s extensive work with the public schools includes: coordinating library card drives, delivering materials to teachers and students as well as tours and research workshops at the Blackstone. She promotes the summer reading program with an interactive skit at all three elementary schools with the help of Stephanie Carvin, the children’s librarian at the Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library and has been asked to celebrate each child’s summer reading achievements by returning in September. The Youth Services Department is also a job site for the high school’s community outreach program, allowing students with disabilities to enhance their resumes with real life work experience. Every year she works with Kin Volkens, the school district’s English as a Second Language (ESL) coordinator, to host a spring open house at the Blackstone. These have been a huge success.
Over the past seven years, she has been blessed with the opportunity to collaborate with an amazing staff as they provide programming for all ages, explore new technology and expand the reach of the library throughout the local community.
Mary Lockery
Mary Lockery, daughter of Fred and Jean Sgro, grew up in New Haven, CT, with two sisters. A graduate of Wilbur Cross High School, she married her high school sweetheart, Robert Lockery in 1967. Mary’s experience with children began as a teenager babysitting for her aunts that had eight children each! She learned quickly how to multitask and keep the interest of various aged children. This hands-on experience continued as a mother to Sonya, Robert and Christopher Lockery and has grown to include her five grandchildren: Jessica, Julia, Maria, Angelina and Caroline along with one great-granddaughter, Lilyana.
Mary also understands and shares the value of libraries with her family. When her children were young, she used to travel from one library to the next so that they had the resources they needed in order to complete their school projects. While her kids were in school, Mary worked part-time at Saint Vincent DePaul School in East Haven. During this time, she was also front end manager at T&J Supermarket where she supervised teenagers.
Mary applied for a job at the Blackstone Library. When she heard that it was in the Youth Services Department, she knew that her experience at Saint Vincent DePaul, as well as her seventeen years of serving the public at T&J would make it a perfect fit. After being hired she quickly became known to the patrons of Blackstone Library as Miss Mary and has been delighting families with story time and other fun learning activities for kids ever since! Out of all her duties, Mary most enjoys developing and offering appropriate story time for babies, toddlers and five-year old’s. During these classes, Mary takes the time to get to know her families and creates a warm and welcoming space for children to learn and grow.
Mary helped develop a parent shelf, baby bundles and early literacy backpacks for families and invited specialists and professionals to share information about childhood development, healthy eating habits, proper dental care and other resources in Branford. She helped to prepare children for preschool by reinforcing the importance of sharing, listening, following directions and creating developmentally appropriate story time for babies, toddlers and five-year old’s.
A few of her accolades include: being Branford’s “Person of the Week” and “Community Volunteer” for Catholic Schools week. Mary is continuously striving to learn and grow by taking advantage of statewide workshops and webinars that focus on early learning and story time and learning to understand and incorporate IPads and 3D printers with families.
For many, she is their first organized class experience and that is something families continue to look back on and cherish.
Mary also understands and shares the value of libraries with her family. When her children were young, she used to travel from one library to the next so that they had the resources they needed in order to complete their school projects. While her kids were in school, Mary worked part-time at Saint Vincent DePaul School in East Haven. During this time, she was also front end manager at T&J Supermarket where she supervised teenagers.
Mary applied for a job at the Blackstone Library. When she heard that it was in the Youth Services Department, she knew that her experience at Saint Vincent DePaul, as well as her seventeen years of serving the public at T&J would make it a perfect fit. After being hired she quickly became known to the patrons of Blackstone Library as Miss Mary and has been delighting families with story time and other fun learning activities for kids ever since! Out of all her duties, Mary most enjoys developing and offering appropriate story time for babies, toddlers and five-year old’s. During these classes, Mary takes the time to get to know her families and creates a warm and welcoming space for children to learn and grow.
Mary helped develop a parent shelf, baby bundles and early literacy backpacks for families and invited specialists and professionals to share information about childhood development, healthy eating habits, proper dental care and other resources in Branford. She helped to prepare children for preschool by reinforcing the importance of sharing, listening, following directions and creating developmentally appropriate story time for babies, toddlers and five-year old’s.
A few of her accolades include: being Branford’s “Person of the Week” and “Community Volunteer” for Catholic Schools week. Mary is continuously striving to learn and grow by taking advantage of statewide workshops and webinars that focus on early learning and story time and learning to understand and incorporate IPads and 3D printers with families.
For many, she is their first organized class experience and that is something families continue to look back on and cherish.