By Scott Nicholson
Behind a desk covered with yarn, colored cardboard
tubes, plastic bugs, papers and books is the cheerful face
of Judith Winecoff, local children’s librarian.
Watauga County’s
Youth Services Librarian, Judith Winecoff, helps Michelle
Tibbett and other children connect with the love of
words. Photo
by Scott Nicholson |
She’s been in her current position with
the Watauga County Library for nine years, part of a journey
that has always focused on nurturing young children. Originally
interested in public education, her journey intersected
with a fondness for the printed word.
A Connecticut native, her family later moved to New York,
then migrated south to North Carolina in 1971. She “wandered”
into the position of children’s librarian, always interesting
in educating children. She attended UNC-Greensboro and Appalachian
State University, studying education, then left the school
system and worked in an independent bookstore.
“I wanted to be in the mountains where the reception
is closer to God,” she said. “My husband and I
were looking for a really good place to be with our children
on a farm. I guess the idea was to live as far away as possible.”
Seeing an advertised position funded by a grant through
the Children’s Council, Winecoff took the job of outreach
coordinator for three years before becoming Youth Services
Librarian at the Watauga County Public Library.
“It was interesting for me because for the first three
years, I was more of an outreach person,” Winecoff
said. “I took puppets, puzzles, games, and literature-based
activities for the books and visited daycare centers and
preschools.”
Winecoff’s job description wasn’t the only thing
that changed over the years, as the library became more
of an information center than merely a place to check out
books. The libary’s mission has evolved along with
the different media and technologies, and now computer games
are common instructional tools. “It’s almost debatable
whether we should have such material in the libraries, but
nowadays it’s important to have exposure to computers,”
Winecoff said.
The library is also no longer a place where children must
tiptoe around and whisper, lest they risk the shushing of
a severe librarian. Now the library features a number of
storytelling, puppet, and creative activities that are designed
to get youngsters comfortable in the library and to think
of it as a fun community gathering place. Once in the library,
they are exposed to the love of books and are more likely
to check them out and read.
In the summer while school is out, volunteers help organize
programs that help keep the additional young patrons busy.
“We have a wonderful group of teen volunteers,”
Winecoff said. “Every day, I never know what to expect
because it brings in a new insight and perspective.”
This summer’s theme is “Catch the Reading Bug,”
so bug-themed activities, movies, and stories abound. That
leads to bug photos, plastic bugs, stickers and other fun
items.
Winecoff doesn’t always lead a bookworm’s life,
though.
“Gardening is my therapy, along with tai chi,”
she said. “My mother recently moved in with us, but
our life has slightly changed. It’s wonderful to have
her, but we’re a little more reclusive now.”
Her passion for growing extends from young minds to crops
like arugula and eggplant. She’s a flower enthusiast
who enjoys landscaping. “I just like the beauty of
them and the scent,” she said.
Books are Winecoff’s lifeblood and living, but not
all of her time is spent between the covers of picture books.
“I try to read a lot of children’s literature,
but I recently read ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns,’”
she said. “I also enjoyed ‘The Brief and Wondrous
Life of Oscar Wao.’ As far as children’s literature,
I loved the book ‘Thief.’ I think literature teaches
tolerance and compassion and the way people feel and experience
life.”
She relishes watching young readers grow up and evolve into
higher-level reading material, saying some of the children
she introduced to books are now entering college or having
children of their own.
“I just like spreading the joy of literature, the joy
of stories, the joy of life. There’s a lot of satisfaction
in this job,” she said. “We’ve got some wonderful
patrons and some incredible kids that come. The children’s
staff are great people to work with.”
Despite the diversity of the library’s materials, Winecoff
said there may be sectors that aren’t taking advantage
of the available resources. “I think the biggest challenge
is that we have a really strong library community, but we
need to reach the wider community and get the word out that
we have all these services and they’re free. With working
parents who are so busy, I think we need more outreach to
let them know what we have at the library.”
Winecoff works with a number of other children’s agencies
and sees her role as serving a broader social good. The
library has proven the perfect place to fulfill her need
to share positivity and understanding.
“Compassion,” she said. “Small, little things.”
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