One Kansas librarian has turned her lifelong love for books into a successful career complete with national recognition. Kim Patton is the young adult specialist at the Lawrence (Kansas) Public Library who earlier in life was a full-time mother of three who had dropped out of school. This week she was profiled by the Lawrence Journal-World profiled Patton and noted that she is a nominee to become the next president of the American Library Association's Young Adult Library Services Division. Earning that position will reportedly give Patton a chance to discuss her passion for getting teenagers more interested in libraries. She started working part time at the library in 1990 when she was taking her children to the library's story time, and nine years later, established a children's room there. In 2003, Patton earned her bachelor's degree and is currently finishing up master's degrees in management and library and information science. She has also co-authored a book. "I got another chance to complete my higher education and learn more about the developing and changing role of libraries while doing the job I love," Patton told the newspaper.  |