By KANDACE MCCOY
kandace.mccoy@register-news.com
MT. VERNON — Sharon Yearwood is no stranger to the children’s department at the C.E. Brehm Memorial Library. After all, she used to take her students there when she taught for Mt. Vernon District 80 Schools.
Now Yearwood is getting a different view of that department as the new children’s librarian, replacing Jacque Ross, who had been with the library 35 years. Yearwood began her official duties on Nov. 3.
Yearwood’s journey to a place that has always been dear to her heart began when she retired from the Primary Center after 32 years of teaching. She began teaching fifth and sixth grades, but the last 17 years of her tenure, she taught first grade. When she retired, she turned to the library.
“I came here part time in June 2006 and worked between the first and third floors — in circulation, genealogy and the children’s department,” she said. “I used to bring my classes here and knew Jacque well — she was very gracious. When I came on here, occasionally I’d do programs for her and then she let me do the bulletin board.”
Yearwood added her love of books and teaching gave her the “best of both worlds.”
“I just liked doing the bulletin boards and programs and I still got to be with the children.”
On Thursday, Yearwood spent the day reading non-fiction as well as fiction books about Thanksgiving for the library’s Thanksgiving Story hour. She said she hopes to continue to do what she began as a teacher — instilling the love of books and reading in children.
“It’s always exciting to find that one book for a reluctant reader,” Yearwood said. “But I would also like the community as a whole to be more aware of what the library has to offer. They may not know what’s here for them and their children. And because we are tax-funded, it all goes to the library — to them. With the (B. Dalton) bookstore closing and the (FYE) music store closing, this is the best deal you can get for that because the library cards are free.”
Other programs on tap for the children’s department includes a presentation on Monday at 10 a.m. featuring Sid Milliner and Chief Lame Wolf in an interview with Bob Pemberton. On Dec. 4, Donna Rounsaville will present a Little House on the Prairie Christmas.
For more information about C. E. Brehm Memorial Library, its children's department or other departments or its programs, you may call 242-6322.
