By Ed Pierce
Samantha Cote believes that a public library is more than a luxury, it’s a necessity in the Windham community.
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| Samantha Cote has worked for the Windham Public Library for the past four and a half years as is currently serving as the Children's Librarian, overseeing all library programming for children up to age 12. SUBMITTED PHOTO |
“It’s summer right now, so we’re offering a program almost every day. I spend time talking to kids and families to see if the library has what they are looking for, and making recommendations on books, apps, and other media for families,” Cote said. “I’m also part of the RSU 14 Early Learning Collaborative, and I look for opportunities to collaborate with other area organizations on programs. I also manage the library’s unofficial mascot, Pearl the Unicorn.”
She’s worked for the Windham Public Library for four and a half years and in her opinion, one aspect of her job stands out above all the others.
“Working with the kids is the best thing about what I do in my job,” Cote said. “I love talking with them and finding out what they are interested in and helping those interests grow. If those interests are also some of mine such as pop culture, anything glittery and sparkly, singing loudly, and dancing, even better.”
According to Cote, the most challenging aspect of her work is trying to balance conflicting community beliefs and making sure everyone feels welcome at the library.
“I wonder about who we aren’t reaching and how we can better serve them,” she said.
As far as the biggest misconception that people might have about her job as children’s librarian, Cote says she’s heard several things.
“People seem to believe that librarians read all the time, or that our spaces are getting less use. I usually have time to review books before story time, but not much reading time other than that,” she said. “Also, we’re busier than ever now.”
She grew up in Saco and graduated from Thornton Academy. Cote then earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Smith College in Massachusetts, majoring in Women’s Studies with a minor in Public Policy, and then she obtained a masters’ degree in library science from the University of South Carolina.
Wanting to work for Windham Library Director Jen Alvino Wood led her to apply for a job with the Windham library.
“When this position opened, I knew I wanted to work for her. I was also looking for library jobs further south, to be closer to my parents, and Windham was about as far south as I could go that would be a reasonable commute for my husband and I as he works in Augusta,” Cote said. “I was also looking for a position where I could focus more on one topic. My last two jobs had involved multiple departments and a little bit of everything, which means I have an idea of how many different parts of the library work, but I felt like I couldn’t give my full attention to any one department.”
Previously, she worked in youth services at Baxter Memorial Library in Gorham, the children’s room at McArthur Public Library in Biddeford, served as the Assistant Director at the Jackson Memorial Library in Tenants Harbor, and the Youth Services and Technology Librarian at the Winslow Public Library in Winslow.
Her family supports her career and is [proud of her work.
“I don’t think my family is too surprised to find me in a library,” Cote said. “I always loved books as a kid. My mother says telling people that her daughter is a children’s librarian always gets a positive reaction.”
She said to be a great librarian, you want to be a librarian, you need to love people as much, if not more, than the stuff in the building.
“Being a librarian is about helping people find the information they need, emphasis on the people,” Cote said. “Having a sense of humor and being flexible, even if your initial reaction is not, go a long way.” <
“Working with the kids is the best thing about what I do in my job,” Cote said. “I love talking with them and finding out what they are interested in and helping those interests grow. If those interests are also some of mine such as pop culture, anything glittery and sparkly, singing loudly, and dancing, even better.”
According to Cote, the most challenging aspect of her work is trying to balance conflicting community beliefs and making sure everyone feels welcome at the library.
“I wonder about who we aren’t reaching and how we can better serve them,” she said.
As far as the biggest misconception that people might have about her job as children’s librarian, Cote says she’s heard several things.
“People seem to believe that librarians read all the time, or that our spaces are getting less use. I usually have time to review books before story time, but not much reading time other than that,” she said. “Also, we’re busier than ever now.”
She grew up in Saco and graduated from Thornton Academy. Cote then earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Smith College in Massachusetts, majoring in Women’s Studies with a minor in Public Policy, and then she obtained a masters’ degree in library science from the University of South Carolina.
Wanting to work for Windham Library Director Jen Alvino Wood led her to apply for a job with the Windham library.
“When this position opened, I knew I wanted to work for her. I was also looking for library jobs further south, to be closer to my parents, and Windham was about as far south as I could go that would be a reasonable commute for my husband and I as he works in Augusta,” Cote said. “I was also looking for a position where I could focus more on one topic. My last two jobs had involved multiple departments and a little bit of everything, which means I have an idea of how many different parts of the library work, but I felt like I couldn’t give my full attention to any one department.”
Previously, she worked in youth services at Baxter Memorial Library in Gorham, the children’s room at McArthur Public Library in Biddeford, served as the Assistant Director at the Jackson Memorial Library in Tenants Harbor, and the Youth Services and Technology Librarian at the Winslow Public Library in Winslow.
Her family supports her career and is [proud of her work.
“I don’t think my family is too surprised to find me in a library,” Cote said. “I always loved books as a kid. My mother says telling people that her daughter is a children’s librarian always gets a positive reaction.”
She said to be a great librarian, you want to be a librarian, you need to love people as much, if not more, than the stuff in the building.
“Being a librarian is about helping people find the information they need, emphasis on the people,” Cote said. “Having a sense of humor and being flexible, even if your initial reaction is not, go a long way.” <
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