“My mother read to us every night before bed,” says Fillamay Cowell. She loved helping her mother with the displays at the elementary school. Her desire of becoming a librarian herself began in middle school. Despite discouragement from teachers and counselors Fillamay followed her dreams. The reason of their discouragement was due to it not being a well paying job. Fillamay notes while not a high paying job, it can be a very rewarding job.
Fillamay became the Children’s Librarian in Russell County Kentucky in 1991, and served thirty years. She loved bringing stories to the children at the library, in schools, and even in daycares. Fillamay said she tried to do ten programs weekly.
“I loved being a Children’s Librarian. To me, it was the best job I could ever have.”
As a Children’s Librarian, she was not included in the administrative part of running the Library. However, she shares some words of wisdom for others in this field.
“First, the money for the library should be used wisely. Following that is advice that could be widely used.
“Work together, and listen to each other’s ideas.”
Fillamay’s next words could be found helpful as well.
“Depending what your position is in the Library, you need to try to excite the people who you serve into books and reading about new things. Try to be knowledgeable about different kinds of books. Not all people read the same thing or for the same reason.”
Fillamay shares she found young children love Pete The Cat, Clifford The Big Red Dog, silly and colorful books, and rhyming books. Diary Of A Wimpy Kid was popular with older children. Some of them enjoyed nonfiction. The interests of older children included a wide range. With adults romance, mysteries, police and FBI, and biographies were good check outs.
What were Fillamay’s favorite books as a child?
“As a child, I read every horse book there ever was,” says Fillamay.“
I still read horse themed books but high adventure and mysteries are my favorites.Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (who write together and separate too), Tony Hillerman, Anne Hillerman and Margaret Coel, Gary Paulson are some of my favorite authors.
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