Madison branch welcomes Campbell as adult services librarian

Huntsville native Amanda Campbell has accepted the position of adult services librarian at Madison Public Library. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Huntsville native Amanda Campbell has joined Madison Public Library’s staff as adult services librarian.

She has been working as a branch clerk in Madison since October. “After completing my master’s degree in library and information science, Huntsville-Madison County Public Library was the one place I checked every day for new, open positions,” Campbell said.

“Public libraries are the heart and soul of the library world,” she said. “I could feel it as soon as I stepped in Madison Public Library.”

Campbell’s work proves the library “isn’t just the physical location anymore.” She manages the branch’s Facebook page and Twitter account. She will learn patrons’ reading habits and their ‘want list’ for the library.

She will write “Behind the Desk” posts and spotlight library materials and services. Campbell will deal with reference questions, collection development and adult programming.

Fond of the reference aspect, she listens to people talk about their interests. Collection development presents “an exciting challenge” to find the right balance of materials … “the ultimate puzzle,” Campbell said.

Because Madison is a technology-rich area, Campbell will use her science education to introduce diverse patrons to potential hobbies or careers. “In ‘Mad Pi Lab,’ I’m using a Raspberry Pi to introduce teens and ‘tweens’ to programming concepts, basic programming languages and simple electronics.” She is planning a similar program for adults.

“I would love to get the 20s and 30s crowd more involved in the library,” Campbell said. She has revived Page Turners nonfiction book club and relocated meetings to The Stem and Stein. “I’m working with a patron to start a sci-fi/fantasy book club, with some tabletop gaming thrown in.”

Campbell earned a bachelor’s degree in physics and mathematics and a master’s degree at the University of Alabama.

A south Huntsville native, she now lives in Madison and “loves exploring my hometown’s neighbor city and local businesses. I already feel at home in Madison.”

She enjoys antique shopping for teapots and Depression Glass, crafting, reading, hiking and participating with Von Braun Astronomical Society.