Christa Funke Email & Phone Number

Colorado Springs, Co, Us

Penrose Library

• Tween Services Coordinator, including leading the Tween programming committee, collaborating with Young Adult Services to coordinate programs for this transitional age group, researching and recommending tween services best practices, and creating training for staff for customer service to tweens, promoting welcoming spaces for tweens in all library locations, and serving as project lead for the creation of a tween dedicated page on the library website.• Founder of the Colorado Tween Interest Group, a monthly informal meeting of library staff around the state who serve tweens.• Project lead for the annual Jean Ciavonne Poetry Contest for grades 4-5, organizing the contest, the awards ceremony, and the panel of judges.• Part of the FCS division responsible for standardizing and streamlining family and children’s programming. Provide support for all ages through reader’s advisory, reference assistance, and connecting them with library and community resources.• Founding member of the district-wide interdepartmental team that overhauled the summer reading program, creating Summer Adventure, revising it multiple times over the ensuing years.• Summer Adventure Lead for ages 0-11, including researching and purchasing prizes for the children’s programs, organizing meetings, and building the game in Beanstack.• Administrator, liaison and lead trainer for the online tracking program Beanstack. • FCS Representative on Menu Redesign Team and Strategic Programming Planning Committee. FCS authority in the menu process, working with representatives from most service areas to create and maintain standardize practices and procedures for the menu.• PPLD Ambassador during media interviews and classroom outreach, as the founder and facilitator of the Colorado Tween Interest Group, and as a member of the newly restarted Public Services Interest Group through the Colorado Association of Libraries.• Staff mentoring, instruction, guidance, and training.

Penrose Library

• Part of the FCS division responsible for standardizing and streamlining family and children’s programming. Provide support for children, tweens, parents, and caregivers through reader’s advisory, reference assistance, and connecting them with library and community resources.• Tween Services Coordinator, including leading the Tween Twist programming committee, collaborating with Young Adult Services to coordinate programs for this transitional age group, researching and recommending tween services best practices, and creating training for staff for customer service to tweens.• Founding member of the district-wide interdepartmental team that overhauled the summer reading program, creating Summer Adventure and revising it the following year. • Summer Adventure Lead for FCS, including researching and purchasing prizes for the children’s programs, organizing meetings, and building the game in Beanstack.• Administrator, liaison and lead trainer for the online tracking program Beanstack. Coordinate with Young Adult Services to create and update online training module for Beanstack and to provide staff trainings. Created the PPLD Beanstack Admin Manual to record PPLD specific procedures, standardizations, tips, and tricks. Serve as the product expert and main trouble-shooter for staff utilizing Beanstack.• FCS Representative on Menu Redesign Team and Strategic Programming Planning Committee. FCS authority in the menu process, working with representatives from most service areas to create and maintain standardize practices and procedures for the menu.• PPLD Ambassador during media interviews, classroom outreach, and book talking

Library 21C Children'S Department

• Served on the district-wide interdepartmental team that revised Summer Adventure. We brought back a paper game card, provided a reading-only option, and emphasized customer service. • Liaison and lead trainer for the online tracking program Beanstack. • Creator and maintainer of the Library 21c children’s workgroup schedule• Create and implement programs for babies through tweens, both independently and collaboratively• Train staff in Booktalking and in using Beanstack and coordinate both services. • Provide readers advisory and reference services for all ages and provided excellent customer service through following and maintaining PPLD policies and procedures • Creator and head of the children's department booktalking team. Collaborated with the teen department to learn booktalking techniques, to create training procedures, and to form a team. • One Book 4 Colorado contact for the entire library district. Liaise with state library to receive necessary number of books and distribute them to locations. Work with publicity department to obtain promotional materials. Collaborate with coworker to create programing kit for parties celebrating One Book 4 Colorado• Founding member of the Summer Reading overhaul committee. Helped research implement changes to summer reading program to make it more experiential, to incorporate 21st Century skills, and to utilize an online registration and badging service. • Member of the homeschool committee, helping with district-wide programs that reach up to 300 patrons at a time. • Member of Storytime 2.0 Committee, working with existing team to encourage use of technology in storytimes and programs• Art display coordinator, working with art teachers at 9 schools to provide artwork for display in children's area. Plan and provide monthly art receptions for students whose artwork is displayed, reaching up to 150 students and their families and friends monthly.

Ruth Holley Community Library

• Served as person in charge during assigned times. Responsible for safety and wellbeing of coworkers and patrons, enforcing rules and handling patron complaints and problems. Worked closely with security officers to maintain safe and welcoming atmosphere and submit incident reports when necessary.• Oversaw opening and closing procedures on a regular basis, including counting out cash drawer, reconciling monies received with cash register receipt, arming door alarms, and ensuring all patrons had exited the building.• Answered multiple reference and account questions each work day. Actively problem solved to resolve computer issues, information requests, and account inquiries. • Planned and provided upbeat and quality children's programs for toddlers and preschools children and their caregivers, focusing on best practices in early literacy • Envisioned, researched, and created weekly afterschool activity program for up to 30 children ages 12 and under and their caregivers for two years at branch library• Planned and provided bilingual storytime for up to 20 preschool children and their caregivers weekly for one year at branch library• Envisioned, researched, and created special holiday programing at branch library that reached 500+ children and their caregivers over four years• Oversaw branch library's 25th anniversary party, coordinating performers, food, staff, give-a-ways, and other details with the help of a committee• Assisted with planning and putting on all ages programs, including the Black History Month Celebration, the Intergenerational Celebration,and other cultural celebrations• Collaborated with teen specialist to oversee teen volunteers for special projects and programs and for the annual summer reading program at branch library• Oversaw the summer reading program at branch library, encouraging 800+ children each year to continue reading over the summer to prevent reading skill loss• Weeded and maintained children's collection

High Prarie Library

• Provided timely, efficient and cheerful help to patrons at the circulation desk.• Answered multiple reference and account questions each work day. Actively problem solved to resolve computer issues, information requests, and account inquiries. • Maintained professional manner while assisting disgruntled patrons.• Efficient and experienced with multiple aspects of the software Sirsi Workflows, including checking out items, discharging items, issuing library cards, editing items, and placing holds.• Accurately checked out and discharged hundreds of items weekly • Processed items received for patron holds.• Understand and follow library policies for confidentiality, library card issue, billing, fine payment and forgiveness, child safety policies, and library use policies.• Reviewed submissions and posted items on staff and community information bulletin boards • Assessed and updated ephemera

High Prarie Library

• Provided timely, efficient and cheerful help to patrons at the circulation desk.• Started and maintained the lost and found. Instigated project, created log, and trained coworkers on process. Properly disposed of items not retrieved by patrons.• Accurately shelved items by Dewey Decimal system and by author's last name. • Accurately checked out and discharged hundreds of items weekly • Processed items received for patron holds.

• Created and implemented original lesson plans. • Created worksheets and activities.• Received and strategically spent supply fees to enhance learning experience.• Taught information to students following independent lesson plans. • Assessed students' work and progress, provided feedback and grades.• Directed middle and high school students to rehearse, prepare, and perform small productions.• Guided elementary students in writing and performing original skit.• Managed up to 15 students in a class.• Maintained contact with parents to facilitate student achievement.

Master'S Degree, Library And Information Science

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), Theatre/Theater

Activities and Societies: Alpha Psi Omega; Graduated Summa Cum Laude