Mary Lapointe Email & Phone Number

After graduating, I worked as a substitute teacher in Livingston County, Michigan. I worked at a learning center where we tutored students to assist them in achieving grade level, or to sharpen test taking skills or study skills evenings and weekends.My library job came when the City of Brighton opened their new library. I applied to work in their children's department. I did not have my masters in Library Science at that time but was able to talk them into hiring me on a part time basis, as I explained how I possessed the skills needed by virtue of my education degree and experience. After a few months I was full time, then I eventually did a job share with the senior librarian at the time in heading the children's department. I loved going to that job everyday, and really appreciated the outlet to use my creativity in planning programming. My name was specifically mentioned in a large bequest to my department because the woman enjoyed bringing her grandchildren to the library for my story hours and programming. I successfully fought a challenge to the Harry Potter books by locating articles written by religious scholars that said that these books were a classic story of good versus evil. Soon we offered the first upper elementary programming; based around the first book in which the students arrive and are sorted into houses. We divided the kids into houses and served our version of foods that were mentioned as being eaten in the grand hall. Then a HP trivia challenge was started between the houses. I visited a library that was doing infant story times and brought the lap sit story time program to our library. I hosted a mother/daughter book club for our YA patrons and their mothers. When the director was looking for someone to go and speak with the Optimists Club about our library and how we serve the committee I was the only one to volunteer. I came back with a donation for programming. I was very good at securing donations for things we wanted to implement but didn't have the funding for.

• Media Teacher

  Hartland Schools

  Aug 2000 - Present