Sada Mozer
Senior Librarian, Baldwin Hills Branch
Los Angeles Public Library
Primary Service Roles:
Children’s programming and storytimes, collection development of English/Spanish juvenile materials, reference service to patrons, outreach to schoolsand preschools. Handling daily branch operations, maintaining building and library equipment, enforcing library policy, library staff supervision, budgeting, works with community stakeholders and government officials.
How does your work align with services to Latinos and the Spanish speaking
community?
My entire library career has been spent working in Spanish speaking communities .It is vital to let our patrons know the library is here for them. It takes getting out into the community as no two neighborhoods are the same. If you listen to the stakeholders and never assume you know what is needed, you can build a strong and trusted relationship between the library and the community.
Favorite Aspect of Your Work:
Our library encourages staff participation in professional organizations. I have been a Reforma member since 2015. I am also a member of BCALA, on the Board of Directors of ALSC, support JCLC, APALA , a member of the ALSC Notable Children’s Books Committee for 2019/2020 and served as its 2021 Chair and I am not done yet. It is vital that we connect, mentor and support each other both professionally and
personally.
Words of Advice to other Librarians and present and future MLIS students:
Outreach! I cannot stress enough the importance of outreach. You cannot serve your community if you do not engage your community. There are no cookie cutter shortcuts to service due to the uniqueness of each and every neighborhood. Attend Council meetings and school events and go to barbershops and churches. You will acquire the information you need to develop collections and design programs that your community wants. As a Senior Librarian, I encourage staff of all classifications to participate in outreach. Also, take advantage of internships while you are obtaining your degree. It will be the most vital experience you can get. That is the chance to see if you are on the right track and to put yourself out there. I did two internships while in school!
Programs that I’ve done:
As a Children’s Librarian I have done many ( I think) fun programs: Science programs, holiday programs, bilingual storytimes, meet and greets with the police and fire departments, weekly movies,etc. My most favorite program was developed while I worked at a branch in South Los Angeles. I placed a large sheet of butcher paper on the wall and asked kids to write down what they wanted most in the library. The overwhelming response was Legos. With that, I applied for an LAPL grant to create a weekly program where I could teach kids how to build structures that could withstand an earthquake. Happily, the grant was approved and I was able to purchase specific (used) pieces online. Trust me, I am not a Lego geek but I wanted to give the kids what they wanted. We had a great time! Every week, we built a different structure. I still have photos of the kids holding their creations with big smiles on their faces. Absolutely my favorite program!
Personal Hobbies
I love to travel and meet as many people as possible. I’d been to South America, China, Australia and Spain before I was sidelined by the pandemic. OMG, I can’t wait until it is safe for everyone to travel again! So for now, I am homebound and addicted to watching Korean dramas and I read incessantly. I love doing Reader’s Advisory! Right now, I am reading the Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. I’ve got a list a mile long!