While saying goodbye to a friendly face is always hard, the Mahomet Public Library welcomes Colorado native Neal Schlein as the new Youth Services Librarian this week. Schlein replaces Kim Oslawski, who finished her last week at the Mahomet Public Library before Thanksgiving in order to prepare for her first child due in January.
“It’s bittersweet right now,” Oslawski said. “I will miss the library. It’s been a wonderful job. I just feel like this is such an important time to watch (the baby) grow and teach her.”
Oslawski said watching children grow during storytime has been the best part of her job as a Youth Services Librarian. Last week, she watched a young boy sit up for the first time, and last year she got to be with a boy as he learned to walk.
“That’s the fun part, really,” she said. “Just seeing them change and grow, and thinking I’m a tiny part of that.”
Although she is leaving the library staff, Oslawski plans to stay in touch with the families she has worked with at the Mahomet Public Library, and even come to storytime once her daughter is big enough.
While she will not be working at the library this week, Oslawski will help Schlein at the Make-and-Take Ornament event on December 6 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
During that time, she hopes to say goodbye to some of the children who have grown out of storytime, and introduce library patrons to Schlein. She will probably also mention that he plays the cello.
“I don’t consider myself a musician, but I also believe music is something everyone can create, participate in and should create or participate in regardless of their skill level,” Schlein said.
Schlein fell in love with libraries when he worked at The Seay Music Library at Colorado College. Because the library is small and contains many sought after materials to support the school’s music program, Schlein learned the ropes of customer service and library management while employed there.
After studying folklore in Oregon, Schlein returned to Colorado where he became a Youth Librarian at the Westminster Public Library and Poudre River Public Library. After working in a library in Arizona for a year, Schlein and his wife relocated to Central Illinois last year so she could continue her studies at the University of Illinois.
As the Youth Services Librarian at the Mahomet Public Library, Schlein hopes to bridge the gaps between community and library by developing programs that will help people learn, create and explore.
“I’m really interested in making the library a social center for the community,” he said. “I particularly like things that are a little off the grid, especially for libraries,” he said. “I think that’s where we can specialize.”
Because Oslawski has told so many people Schlein plays the cello, he has also started taking cello lessons again.
Schlein said he always bring his guitar to storytime, and likes to get kids involved in the stories through puppets or dances.
He also hopes to engage children of all ages through board games, which are available at the library after school on Mahomet-Seymour early out days. While he realizes how important classic board games are, Schlein wants to introduce children to alternative board games that will teach both basic concepts and strategy.
Schlein understands one of his biggest tasks as Youth Services Librarian will be to reach the tween and teenage group of students, so he is interested in hearing from the community about programs, materials and displays that may be of interest to this age group. The Mahomet Public Library will also host Finals Study Week December 14 to 18.
“I’m also interested in reaching outside of the library,” he said. “We have this wonderful building, and it’s a great resource that we have, but in my mind the entire community is a resource. If someone wants the library to come do a program, they should contact me.”
