Laura Bush 21st Century Librarians Honored at NJLA Conference
Monday, May 3rd, 2010The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program was established to support the development of library leaders, to recruit and educate the next generation of librarians, to attract high school and college students to consider careers in libraries, and to assist in the professional development of librarians and library staff. Through a grant received under this program in 2006, the New Jersey State Library and its partners, the NJ Library Association, Thomas Edison State College, the School of Communication and Information at Rutgers University and the Central Jersey Regional Library Cooperative, recruited individuals to become librarians or further their education with the idea of creating a “Multicultural, Multilingual Library Staff.” Those recruited to obtain an undergraduate degree attended Thomas Edison State College; those pursuing an advanced degree attended Rutgers University.
At the NJ Library Association Annual Conference in Long Branch, the 28 scholars whose educational goals were supported by this grant were recognized for their accomplishments.
AA Degree
Terri Carpenter, Bridgeton Library
Shileen Shaw, Newark Public Library
Elias Vazquez, Ocean County, Lakewood branch
BA Degree
Aurelia Rodriguez, Newark Public Library
Violet Valentin, Gill Memorial Library
Audrey May Samuels, Plainfield Public Library
Ellen Rice, Jersey City Public Library
Lisa Morris, originally from Trenton Public Library
MLIS Degree
Sharon Shrieves-Ward, Trenton Public Library
Thomas Michael Eck, Mt. Holly Library
Michele Dupey, Jersey City Public Library
Paulette Doe-Williams, Willingboro Public Library
Alice Caffrey, Cumberland County Library
Tonya Badillo, Long Branch Public Library
Rosary Van Ingen, Hoboken Public Library
Nicole Gardner, Vineland Public Library
Christal Blue, East Orange Public Library
Janice People, Plainfield Public Library
Megan McCarthy, Monroe Public Library
Degrees in Progress to be finished by 11/2010:
Lolata Greggs, AA, Newark Public Library
Malakia Oglesby, BA, Asbury Park Public Library
Thalia Sweet, BA, Long Branch Public Library
Sandra Jones, BA, Atlantic City Public Library
Jamie Vigue, MLIS, Atlantic County Library, Pleasantville branch
Angelica Mullen, MLIS, Atlantic County Library, Pleasantville branch
Theresa Michelle Rausa-Campbell, MLIS
Edith Beckett, PhD, New Jersey State Library
Hannah Kwon, PhD, Rutgers University (originally from Newark Public Library)
Photo: Megan McCarthy (left) of the Monroe Public Library with Michele Stricker, deputy director of the NJ State Library’s Library Development Bureau.











