Haddonfield library’s emerging technology librarian, Cathy DeCampli, has incorporated her skills into making the library a unique learning opportunity for residents.
Haddonfield library’s emerging technology librarian, Cathy DeCampli, has incorporated her skills into making the library a unique learning opportunity for residents. However, DeCampli also provides people of all ages a myriad of skills, whether it is teaching youth to utilize specific tools in the Makerspace or an older demographic learning to use iPhones.
DeCampli obtained her bachelor’s degree in political science from Trinity in Washington, D.C., finishing her educational career with a master’s degree in library and information science from Drexel. Among her many accomplishments, she has worked worked for the Senate Page program in D.C., helping teenagers on the House floor learn more about government while working under politicians such as Nancy Pelosi, Rob Andrews and Henry Waxman as an intern from 2002 to 2004.
“I was proud of the work I did in Washington,” DeCampli said.
As impressive as her track record is, she has taken her skills from D.C. to Haddonfield. Today, DeCampli can be found on a national committee, Best Fiction for Young Adults, through Young Adult Library Services Association with an estimated 16 members.
Publishers send hundreds of books for age-targeted groups, 12 to 18 years of age, for the committee to review. At the end of the year, the members will have the opportunity to nominate preferred books. The chosen books go through a review process, including a second review and a published blog about the book. If everything checks out, the book can be distributed for teens in libraries across the country, according to DeCampli.
DeCampli is also responsible for picking teens for the library’s advisory board, with members varying month to month but usually between 10 and 15 registered kids from Haddonfield. The members come up with new initiatives for the library and always come up with great ideas, according to DeCampli.
Holding classes periodically throughout the month, DeCampli’s focus is on providing classes for anyone who may have questions about technological devices, whether it be their Android and Apple products or other devices.
“She is extremely eager for people to come in and explore the new technology she brings to the library,’’ her husband Jason said. “’I think she has had a lot of success so far.”
When DeCampli isn’t working on committees, she has been busy welcoming the new Makerspace that was scheduled to open Sunday, Feb. 4.
“We are starting slow, opening an hour and a half on Mondays and Wednesdays,” DeCampli said. “They (residents) just have to sign up through the website and select which tool they want to use.”
DeCampli and library employees are also planning for New Jersey’s Makers Day on March 10, which will be celebrated at the library, where people can make bath bombs, makedos and paper circuits, among other things.
Married, with a baby girl named Josephine, DeCampli hopes her daughter will love reading as much as she does and perhaps even visit the Haddonfield library when she gets older.
“I want her to read a lot. It’s the key to success,’’ DeCampli said.
