Today we’d like to introduce you to Lesley Lard.
Hi Lesley, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My Library journey actually began as a kid; my Mom would frequently take us to the Library, and eventually worked at both our school Library and our public Library. Fast forward to 2008; I was engaged and moving to Cleveland with my husband for his job. I had graduated from UMKC, and was not quite certain what was next. I finally thought that I’d like to follow in my Mom’s footsteps and become a Librarian. I enrolled at Kent State University to get my Master’s in Library and Information Science. While in Cleveland, I worked at a few different libraries and a book store while working on my degree. After graduation, I started my first professional job as a Teen Librarian. I really enjoyed it, but I also became very homesick for my family in Kansas City, especially when my twin sister was going to have her first child. So we began the process of moving back, and my next job was as an Assistant Branch Manager for Mid-Continent Public Library. While I learned a lot at that job, I realized I still really wanted to be working with children and teens. I eventually applied for the Youth Services Librarian position at the Bonner Springs City Library, and I’ve now been here almost 13 years! It is the perfect fit for me and I have grown to love the community. Our Library has a small town feel, and I know so many of the people that come in our doors each day. I also visit the local schools and preschools in both Bonner Springs and Piper, where my family lives. My whole family helps with our Library events now, and my son has grown up being a part of this Library. I have the best Director and co-workers, and they’re never afraid to jump in on whatever crazy idea I come up with!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not always been a smooth road. While I lived in Cleveland, I was laid off from my first Library job; it was a hard time to find jobs in libraries after that, which is why I started working at a bookstore. It was also a challenge finding a job I truly loved once we decided to move back to Kansas City. I realized that working in a large library system was not the best fit for me. My first professional job in Ohio was in a small town, and I liked the freedom to plan things for just one branch. So when I finally landed in Bonner Springs, it was the perfect fit, being close to my home and community and getting to come up with all of my own programs and events.
My next struggle came when I lost my Dad in 2021. Anyone that has lost a parent knows that it totally changes your life, and really you, in ways you could never imagine. Shortly after that, my incredible friend and coworker that did our early childhood programming at the Library retired too. I was still dealing with the grief of losing my Dad, and now losing my coworker that I worked with most. However, the timing ended up creating a new opportunity for me to transition to early childhood programming and try something new, which was just the thing I needed during that time. Missing my Dad will always be part of me, but I am grateful to have turned that struggle into an opportunity for me to grow.
I often tell people that I plan to retire from the Bonner Springs Library because I love it so much, and I’ve worked so hard to make our Library what it is today. We are a destination for many people from all over the KC area because of our outstanding children’s programming and activities.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m the Youth Services Librarian at my Library, which means I oversee all children’s and teen programming, outreach, collections, and our Summer Reading Program. We have multiple events each month for a variety of ages, including Storytime, school-aged programs and programs for teens. We also have several large events throughout the year, including Boo Bash and our Young Child Fair, which sometimes have 500-800 people attend. I have amazing co-workers (and volunteers) that plan many of these programs and help me as well. Over the past three years, I’ve transitioned to running more of our early childhood programs, while still visiting all of our area preschools, elementary schools, middle and high schools. I also run our Library’s social media, plan fundraising events, participate in various community events and on committees, and do my best to always advocate for the importance of libraries.
I’m most proud of how our Library has truly become a part of the community and is welcoming to EVERYONE. I often tell people that libraries are one of the few places that anyone can come into, anytime that we’re open, without questions or expectations. We do everything we can to promote literacy far and wide; I love going out in the communities I serve and being recognized as “the Library lady”!
I also believe our reputation precedes us; we have people that come to our events or participate in our Summer Reading Program from all over the metro area! We often hear that people were told we have the “best children’s programs” or the “best Summer Reading Program”. I always say that people should visit ALL the libraries, but I’m proud to know that people choose our Library because of the quality of our services and programs. We have a great team in Bonner Springs, led by our incredible Director, and the Library really is the heart of our community. We love that so many people call our Library “home”.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t know if I’d say luck has played a huge part in my career; I’ve worked hard to get to where I am, and I had to work at a few places along the way that I didn’t love before I found my place. I would say my luck comes from having an amazing family. I was lucky to grow up with the best parents who have always been encouraging and supportive, still to this day. I don’t know if we ever grow out of wanting to make our parents proud, and it’s a great feeling knowing that they’re still supporting me. I also have an amazing husband and son, who are always willing to help with my job in any way that they can. My husband is a DJ, and has volunteered for many events; he’s also been our Grinch at our annual Grinch Party! My son also volunteers at the Library whenever I need him, from running games and our Spook House to attending outreach events with me. I feel very fortunate to have my family and friends, and also for the team I have to work with at the Library.
When it comes to luck though, I would say my son is the one that seems to have luck on his side! Anyone that knows him would agree; great things just seem to come his way. From meeting athletes to winning contests, he has this personality that seems to draw people to him. The biggest story people are familiar with is the Salvy’s Sandlot story from last August; Royals player Salvador Perez stopped in our backyard and joined my son’s wiffle ball game! I posted the video to Twitter and it literally went viral over night, showing up on the local news, ESPN, and even the Today Show! It all ended with Salvy receiving a Musial Award last November and my son and his friends presenting it to him on national television. So even though I might be “famous” in my Library community, my son is truly the star in our family! That experience has also put our Library on the map in the Royals community too.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bonnerlibrary.org
- Instagram: @bonnerspringscitylibrary
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bonnerlibrary
- Twitter: @LibrarianLesL
