Meet Your YSS Board Candidates - Directors at Large

WLA elections are coming up and YSS has a strong slate of wonderful candidate-members for our YSS board. Today we introduce our candidates for the two year position of Director-at-Large. There are three candidates for two open positions. Watch for your ballot in the next month or so. And don't forget to vote!!

Ashley Borman

Clintonville Public Library

Hi, I'm Ashley Borman. I am currently the Technical Services Librarian at the Clintonville Public Library. I have worked in Libraries for 11 years, working with patrons of all ages. I have too many favorite books to name them all, but I do tend to laugh out loud when reading funny picture books at my desk. I currently am a member of the Children's Book Award Committee and write the monthly weeding posts on the YSS Blog and would like to get more involved. I am interested in working behind the scenes on the YSS Board because I believe that supporting our fellow librarians and providing access to a variety of resources and chances to collaborate and work together are instrumental in our success and ability to provide the best service possible to our patrons and communities. I am hard working and committed to helping us be a great organization. I look forward to working with you and for you.

Murray Johnson

Youth Services Managing Librarian, Marshfield Public Library

My name is Murray Johnson and I am the Youth Services Librarian at the Everett Roehl Marshfield Public Library.  I am currently a member in good standing with the WLA and the YSS.  I have been an active member for five years.  I am currently a member of the Children’s Book Awards Committee.  I graduated from UW-Madison in December, 2018 with a MA in Library and Information Studies.

I have been in Marshfield for two years.  Prior to that I was a Library Assistant for 7 years in the Youth Services Department at the Portage County Public Library in Stevens Point.  

I have a few reasons why I am interested in the Director-At-Large position for YSS.  One, it will enable me to work with peers across Wisconsin and learn what other Youth Services departments are doing in their communities and also what are the struggles and opportunities my colleagues are dealing with on a daily basis.  Two, the COVID 19 pandemic has caused youth and children services librarians to step up to the plate and delivery a variety of virtual programming for young patrons.  I want to be part of the conversation in how we in our section can continue to do that well and to figure out how to serve those in our individual communities who do not have access to internet and social media.  Finally, I believe the section needs to explore what the “New Normal” might be and even need to be for our departments and our libraries once the pandemic ends.  I look forward to the opportunity to listen and to serve you in the coming years.

Jen Puccini

Assistant Director, Burlington Public Library

Youth Services Coordinator, Lakeshore Library System

Hello,  my name is Jen Puccini, and I have been working in the library field since 2012. I started out at the Waterford Public Library in Teen Services then moved on to a full-time position at the Burlington Public Library in 2016 as a Children's Librarian and am now the Assistant Director. I love my job! I have been married for 18 years and have two teenagers (Gabby and Lilly), a wonderful husband (Renato), and an adorable Teddy Bear pup named Cupcake. I love to be outside on the water, hiking a beautiful trail, sitting outside on a beautiful day reading a great book, and mostly spending time with my family and friends.  I want to be a part of the YSS Board, so I can be a part of a great organization that supports youth services. I am the Youth Services Coordinator for Lakeshores Library System, and I feel that my experiences could be beneficial to this board especially when collaborating with others with YS programming and initiatives. 

Julia Lee, Youth Services Manager, Manitowoc Public Library

My name is Julia Lee, and I’ve been the Youth Services Manager at Manitowoc Public Library for 4 ½ years. I have the wonderful job of overseeing Youth services for ages 0-18 and working with some of the best teams  you will ever meet. I want to serve on the YSS Board because I love the support and creative ideas that YSS provides library staff. I love meeting new library friends, sharing ideas, and I want to help make library support for staff serving Youth vibrant and engaging. Now more than ever, it is vital for us to come together to help one another thrive, and YSS is the place to make that happen.