Children's Librarian Appointed to National Committee

Ashley Waring is the Children's Librarian at the Reading Public Library and was recently appointed to the Liaison with National Organizations Serving Children and Youth Committee. The national committee is part of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), which is a division of the American Library Association (ALA). 

Waring is thrilled about her appointment, but is still unsure of exactly what to expect as she does not start until July. Throughout her two years on the committee, she will work with other librarians from around the country to explore what other national organizations are doing. The goal is to partner with those organizations, such as Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and promote awareness of the work ALSC is doing and vice versa.

Waring became a member of ALSC a few years ago and "wanted to become more involved." So she applied to the Liaison with National Organizations Serving Children and Youth Committee and expressed some areas of interest, including services to under served populations, such as special needs children; book reviewing; early childhood development; and early literacy. She happily accepted her appointment and is looking forward to getting started in July.

She has been involved at a more local level with the Massachusetts Library Association, she said, but "it’ll be exciting to be more involved at a national level."

Waring has been working at the Reading Public Library for seven years. She graduated from Simmons College with a master's degree in library science. 

"Ashley Waring has been a wonderful part of our Children’s Room team since
she joined the Reading Public Library since 2006. Her experience,
thoughtfulness and initiative consistently give Reading children, parents
and educators a meaningful library experience," Library Director Ruth Urell said. "Ashley has developed and contributed to a wide range of children’s programs such as Sensory Storytimes and the annual Best Books For Children evening, in addition to finding time to publish a recent article in the Horn Book magazine. We are very proud she has been appointed to this prestigious national committee."

Waring lives in Lexington with her husband and two children. Her oldest son is autistic, which is why she has an interest in special needs and runs monthly Sensory Storytimes involving sensory play.