Hello Everyone!

My name is Sarah Kumar. (I just got married in late December and am still working on the official name change process!) I live in San Diego, California and have worked in public libraries for over three years now. I started off as a volunteer shelving materials and helping with children’s and teen programs, but I am now employed as a library technician where I am able to get more directly involved in assisting customers (which, as an introvert, is rather surprising that I actually enjoy) and planning programs. I absolutely love my job, as I discovered I have a passion for connecting patrons with library services. I also enjoy creating fun activities for kids, such as scavenger hunts and I SPY and art programs. It’s my goal to keep kids engaged as much as possible. While it can be exciting just looking for books and other materials (at least in my opinion), it is also nice to have something available for kids to do and interact with. I am especially proud of the I SPY wall, where I personally draw characters and creatures and then arrange them into a kind of mural. Developing this activity is honestly life-giving for me, as it allows me to get creative and use my passion for art to create something kids can get excited about and even look forward to during their library visits. 

My personal hobbies include drawing Disney characters and animals; reading; watching movies, TV shows, and anime with my husband; and playing and collecting the Disney trading card game, Lorcana. (I am a huge Disney fan, so I love anything to do with the movies or the parks.) Lately in my reading life, I have been obsessed with the series Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman. I’ve been binge-reading the series in a way I have not found myself doing in a long time. I am kind of a nerd, as evidenced by the title I have chosen for this blog. (Shout out to my fellow Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy fans.) Next month, I am looking forward to going to Comic-Con, where I will hopefully get to meet Dinniman himself. 

I chose to take this course, I think partly because of what I had learned last semester in my INFO 210 – Reference Info Services class. I thought it was really interesting when we briefly discussed some of the emerging technologies and trends that libraries have been adopting in more recent years, and I am keen to learn more about the topic. I do not think the library system I work in has embraced many trends, and I am hoping that through this class I can help, even if just a little, to get more people excited about what my library has to offer.