🎖️

Ambassadors

The X of PLIX stands for “exchange”, and we are always looking for new ways to work with our librarian partners to make sure that ideas travel both ways.

In that spirit, the PLIX Creative Learning Ambassadors collaborate with us to act as advocates for creative learning.

They take on a leadership role in their local community as well as in PLIX online workshops:

  • Co-facilitating offerings from PLIX— online courses, community meetings, and workshops.
  • Supporting colleagues in their library systems or regions in how to engage PLIX activities.
  • Introducing peers to the PLIX approach to creative learning.
  • Engaging with others and posting about creative learning on social media and the discussion forum.
  • Talking about their work with PLIX activities at conferences and other professional gatherings.
  • Remixing PLIX activities with patrons and documenting the experience.
  • Getting to know one another, sharing updates and ideas, and discussing/planing activities with regular, online meetings.

This group shares our passion for hands-on creative learning programming and a keen desire to spread their love of what PLIX is doing. Together, we are building a network of library professionals who advocate for PLIX and creative learning in communities, library systems, and libraries across the United States.

2023-2024 PLIX Ambassadors

image
Azra Tahirovic Environmental Science Program Coordinator azratahirovic Queens Public Library, Long Island City, NY
image
🍄
Bella Holloway Outreach Coordinator bellah Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library, Benton, AR
image
☺️
Brook Fischer Youth Services Librarian bfischer Garland County Library, Hot Springs, AR
image
👀
Cela Janiec Studio Specialist cela Anythink Libraries, Thornton, CO
image
🎖️
Connie Roberson Children’s Librarian constanceroberson Poplar Bluff Municipal Library, Poplar Bluff, MO
image
🤠
Coley Mixan Information Systems Specialist astro Berkeley Public Library, Berkeley, CA
image
🤷🏼‍♀️
Clara Hendricks Staff Librarian - Youth Services clarahendricks Cambridge Public Library, Cambridge, MA
image
🤣
Doria Ramos Senior Library Technician - Youth Services dramos Santa Ana Public Library, Santa Ana, CA
image
🥹
Emily Hutchinson Experiential Learning Associate Ehutchison Lexington Public Library, Lexington, KY
image
Emily Souza Youth Services Librarian emme Rockport Public Library, Rockport, MA
image
🤪
Heba Thiele Young Adult Services Librarian heba Gretna Public Library, Gretna, NE
image
🥳
Jane Sawyer Teen Services Librarian Jane West Orange Public Library, West Orange, NJ
image
😁
Janea Coker Program Coordinator janea Barry-Lawrence Regional Library, Monett, MO
image
😳
Jean Daley Assistant Director Jean_Daley Erving Public Library, Erving, MA
image
🙂
Lesa Cole Youth Services Librarian Lesa_Cole Iola Public Library, Iola, KS
image
😅
Mallory Parsons Children’s Specialist MalloryP Jackson County Public Library, Ripley, WV
image
🥰
Olivia Clayton olivia.clayton International Falls Library, International Falls, MN

image
🙃
Rachel Johannigmeier Youth Services Director rjohannigmeier Kirkwood Public Library, Kirkwood, MO
image
🥶
Seth Gray Youth Services Coordinator sgray Kenai Community Library, Kenai, AK
image
😽
Shelly Cook Branch Manager scook Delaware County Library, Jay, OK

2021-2022 PLIX Ambassadors

image
😻
Alan Ly Librarian Alan Utah State Library Salt Lake City, Utah
image
👽
Alessandra (Allie) Affinito Senior Children's Librarian aaffinito New York Public Library Chatham Sq. Branch (Chinatown) New York, New York
image
🤠
Amanda Geske Children's & Teen Services Librarian amanda.geske Saint Paul Public Library St. Paul, Minnesota
image
🎖️
Athanasia (Athy) Fitos Branch Manager/Librarian athyfitos Kendale Lakes Branch Miami-Dade Public Library System Miami-Dade, Florida
image
🤣
Carine Greene Library Assistant Carine Cora J. Belden Library Rocky Hill, Connecticut
image
🎖️
Chris Dorman STEM Librarian Chris_Dorman Maine State Library Augusta, Maine
image
🎖️
Christopher Kyauk IT Knowledge Manager ckyauk Santa Clara County Library District Campbell, California
image
👌
Clara Ortega Adult Services Coordinator Claraeliza Columbus-Lowndes Public Library System Columbus, Mississippi
image
🎖️
Cora Schaeff Children's Department Head cschaeff Alice and Jack Wirt Public Library Bay City, Michigan
image
🤩
Francesca Passiglia Teen Librarian, future Maker Space Librarian Francesca Greenfield Public Library Greenfield, Massachusetts
image
🎖️
Hope Decker Director Hope_Decker Wayland Free Library Gunlocke Memorial Wayland, New York
image
❤️
Jacqui Viale Community Program Specialist on forum: JacquiV Long Beach Public Library Long Beach, California
image
🐼
Jennifer McCulley Youth Services Coordinator jmcculley McPherson Public Library McPherson, Kansas
image
👩🏾‍🌾
Keisha Parks Youth Services Librarian bibliosongburd007 Cleveland Bradley Co. Public Library Cleveland, Tennessee
image
🎖️
Lisa Lewis Library Services Manager LisaLewis Show Low Public Library Show Low, Arizona
image
🎖️
Mary Gazdik Executive Director mgazdik Middletown Free Library Media, Pennsylvania
image
🐍
Melissa Sprenne MakerSpace Facilitator and Supervisor LissaMonster Richland Library Ballentine Irmo, South Carolina
image
🐸
Rebecca Ballard Regional Children's Services Coordinator RebeccaSunshine Athens-Clarke County Library, Athens Regional Library System, Athens, GA
image
🎖️
Renaté Elliott Accessibility Services Supervisor Renate_Elliott Cobb County Public Library Charles D. Switzer Branch Marietta, Georgia
image
⛸️
Sam Lucius Digital Services Librarian sslucius08 Wiggin Memorial Library Stratham, New Hampshire
image
🌻
Sami Kerzel Community Librarian sami.kerzel Deschutes Public Library Sunriver, Oregon
image
🎖️
Sammie Betler Assistant Director Sammie_Betler Casey County Public Library Liberty, Kentucky
image
🙃
Sasha Neri Librarian III / Makerspace Coordinator SashaN Chicago Public Library Chicago, Illinois
image
🎖️
Tara Thomas Children's Librarian dclibrarian DC Public Library MLK Jr. Memorial Library Washington, DC

The 24 Ambassadors represent a wide range of library professionals—in the roles they perform, the size and setting of their libraries (some tiny rural branches, others huge urban systems), and the depth of experience in librarianship and/or STEM topics. The Ambassadors program is made possible with funding from the IMLS Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program.