Roddretta Waxton combines her love for literature and children as head of children's services for Lake County Public Library.
Waxton was promoted in January, previously serving as the librarian for the library's St. John branch. She holds a bachelor's degree from Indiana University in Bloomington and a master's in Library Science from IUPUI.
As head of children's services, Waxton coordinates children's programming with the 11 library branches.
Currently, the focus is on the upcoming summer reading program, "Make a Splash, Read!" It begins June 7 and runs through July 31 for youth 2 through 11.
Waxton works with children's librarians at each branch to make sure they have brochures for school visits and punch cards to record books being read. She also plans events throughout the summer program, beginning with a local bubbleologist who will visit the Central library at 1919 W. U.S. 30 in Merrillville on June 7 to kick off the program.
The Merrillville Fire Department will be on hand June 17, Ronald McDonald pays a visit June 24 and McAffee Animal Hospital is scheduled to present a program July 15. Throughout the summer reading program there will be separate story times for ages 2 and 3 and ages 4 and 5, with Mother Goose programs for children 6 to 23 months with a caregiver.
Waxton also works with the branches to promote library card month. At the Central branch, she schedules staffing for the children's department and is involved in collection development along with Ingrid Norris, head of branch operations.
"The library is a good fit for me," Waxton said. "I like working with children and planning programs. I like working with the staff and I like working with our patrons," she said.
The Lake County Public Library's Central branch in Merrillville is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, and 9 to 5 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call (219) 769-3541 ext. 360 or visit www.lcplin.org.
Waxton and her husband, David, live in Merrillville and have two children.
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