by Sharon Highler, Northlake PL and Kathy Roegge, MLS

Sharon Highler held her first library job when she was a sophomore in college and hasn’t looked back since.  Prior to starting at Northlake Public Library she was the assistant director then director at the Shorewood-Troy Public Library (http://www.shorewood.lib.il.us).    Before working at Shorewood Sharon was at the Brookfield Public Library (http://www.brookfieldpubliclibrary.info) as head of Youth Services.  During her thirteen years at Brookfield she worked part-time as director at the William Leonard Public Library.  She was also working on her Masters of Library Science degree.    Sharon  served for 10 years on the Fountaindale Public Library Board and on the board of the Heritage Trail Library System, now part of the Prairie Area Library System (PALS).

Sharon started as director of the Northlake Public Library on January 18 of this year.  She was attracted to the position because of the diversity of the community it served and the library had recently finished remodeling the building.  During her interview she liked what she saw in both the board and staff of the library feeling the position would be a good fit for her.  The job doesn’t come with any major problems, just the normal challenges that change can bring. She feels the library is well used by its patrons and wants to continue ensuring the library is an integral part of the community.  Sharon’s goal is always for her library to be the best around. 

She does hope to work with the staff on customer service and staff development.  Sharon feels “Not everyone goes to library school, so sometimes staff need to know they are capable of doing the job” no matter their background.  She wants the staff to realize they are doing a great job and are valued by their patrons.  Her goal is to help them deliver on that promise. 

Northlake Public Library has a strong commitment to provide materials to serve its diverse community.   Sharon plans to continue to build on the library’s current strengths.  Presently the staff and she are working on a literacy grant focusing on English as a Second Language (ESL).  The details are still being worked out but the grant will offer activities which include the entire family.
 
Sharon has always like reading and calls herself a “sneak and read” reader.  Times when she was supposed to be doing something else, like dusting, she would be behind the couch reading a book. There were few books in her home but her mother received the Reader’s Digest books so she read those at an early age.  When she visited her library, because she didn’t look her age, the librarians would sometimes question what she was checking out and did not always appear welcoming.

Sharon originally didn’t go to college to be a librarian, Math had been her major when she started.  But she met a librarian from Chicago who indirectly influenced her and she changed her major.   Because of her experience when younger she wanted to create a more open and welcoming environment for patrons.  Especially for children and others who might not feel comfortable in a library setting.  

While still helping part-time at Shorewood, Sharon doesn’t have a lot of free time.    She is married with three grown children, two daughters and a son, plus two grandkids.  When she can she likes to spend time with her grandchildren and travel.  Her favorite vacation is to lay on a beach with palm trees.  For her birthday, at Shorewood, the staff put a palm tree in her office so she could dream.  She is fond of Lighthouses, too.

You can contact Sharon at shighler@northlakelibrary.org.

Published March 24 , 2010 in vol. 4, iss. 6 [View]