"Before I worked here I was a patron here. When we moved to Buda my youngest daughter was just entering fourth grade. I was a home school teacher at the time. The library was the first place we sought out in the community. From walking in the door, this library always felt like home.”
Assistant Library Director and Children’s Librarian Martha Sanders is celebrating 14 years as an employee of the Buda Public Library
Martha remembers the day it all started.
“I just happened to be in the library and someone said we have a part-time position open. At that time we didn’t have a human resources department and so they handed me the application. “
Needless to say, Martha got the job. At the time she was hired as the youth coordinator.
“It was April of 2004 and I was tasked with coming up with an awesome summer reading program. My background had been in education and I had no library experience at the time. I knew a lot about children. I just used my school models and created a really fun summer reading program and we have been using that model ever since.”
And it is a model that works.
“Now I have students that have graduated and have gone on to college. I still have some of them come back to the library saying what a difference that I made. That is always so wonderful to hear.”
Martha went back to school in 2006 and earned her Masters of Library Science Degree. She was later promoted to the position she holds today.
“I’m responsible for selecting the books for the children’s department. I now have several staff members under me.”
In fact, Martha has three people in the library’s youth department. She’s looking forward to moving into our newly constructed library in July.
“It is also just having the space to spread out and be able to have more books and program spaces. I feel like the resources that we are able to offer will be tremendous. As Buda grows we just need a place where more people can come and now we’re going to have that.”
And while she says it will be bittersweet leaving the current library, she says the staff will make the new space feel like home.
“I very much love the people that I work with. I really enjoy presenting story times and planning story times. I enjoy working in an environment that promotes literacy at all levels."
VIDEO VERSION: Employee Spotlight - Assistant Library Director Martha Sanders
