Meet a Member

June 2022

Terry Andrews 

What is your current position? Branch Manager

Where do you work? Smithfield Branch, Blackwater Regional Libraries

When did you first know that you wanted to work in the library field? I have loved the library ever since I was a young child. I became interested in working in the library when my own children were small.

What is your favorite part of librarianship? I love getting children and parents excited about libraries, books, and reading!  Libraries have so much to offer their communities-- I often say that libraries are the best kept secret in town!

What was your first library or library related job? I was a part-time youth programming assistant. I  fell in love with the job and worked in Youth Services for 20 years before becoming a branch manager.

What projects or programs are you currently working on at your library?

We are completely back to all in-house programming after COVID.  Lots of in-person presenters and programs for our youth this summer, as well as story times and STEAM programming as well.  A PAWS to READ program will be held weekly over the summer. For adults, we have a monthly craft day, book club, and a new "CARD PARTY" that starts this summer.  

 "Family Fun Night " after-hours events are popular here. Held quarterly after the library closes, we have hosted the gamut-- magic shows, reptile shows, Family Fort Nights, Haunted gingerbread house buildings, you name it! Our next one will be a Harry Potter event in October.

We have an ongoing partnership with our local tourism office and our downtown merchants to provide story walks downtown on our Main Street- we probably do at least 6 per year.  We also provide monthly "pop-up" community story walks at area preschools from Sept-May. These story walks are extremely popular in our town!

The library is partnering with a local civic group to start a reading initiative in our county schools.  We distribute books and library info at our local food bank on diaper distribution days.  There is also an ongoing genealogy room project that we are excited about. Old paper records are being digitized so that all the records will be able to be viewed online through our webpage.

What issue or topic in librarianship are you most interested in? Early literacy is my passion!  

Why are you a member of VLA and what is the most important reason to you for being a member of VLA? It helps me to stay abreast of current issues and training opportunities, as well as current best practices.  Plus it is great to share ideas and get a glimpse at what other libraries are doing!

Please contact Terry Andrews at [email protected] if you have any questions.