Staff

We take our work seriously, just not ourselves.

Suzy Bomgardner

Library Director

Meet Miss Suzy, Librarian Extraordinaire!

Suzy has a degree in Literature with her Masters in Library Science and has been a librarian for the last 20 years, working in both public libraries and as a school librarian. She is thrilled to be a part of this special community and to help match folks with books that foster a sense of wonder. She is a mom to three boys and her favorite color is yellow. Suzy also has an extensive PEZ collection and is a big reader of fantasy and science fiction books.

Hannah Garst

Circulation and Children’s Coordinator

Meet Miss Hannah, Little Lady with a Big Personality!

Hannah Garst wears both of the hats of Circulation and Children’s Coordinator and loves doing story times on Tuesdays. Some tidbits about her: she has one daughter, adores music and hiking, reading, board games and making ice cream. She is a part-time youth minister and believes libraries are vital to communities because they serve as bridges, connecting individuals to resources. Libraries provide information, language learning, programs, opportunities, and connection with others. Her favorite part of working at a library is getting (and keeping) children excited about reading.

Genisa Concepción

Operations Manager & Homebound Services Coordinator

Meet Genisa, Miss Fix It!

Genisa is a lifelong book fanatic and library enthusiast. She wears glasses because she spent so many years reading by night light after her parents put her to bed. She firmly believes that libraries are meant to enhance the community and is dedicated to equalizing information access for everyone. When she’s not busy with UCPL Outreach, she enjoys sharing birding memes and obscure movie references with her husband. She also spends time engaging in elaborate pretend play with her daughter, which includes naming the houseplants and backyard birds. She is of the mind that the ambiance of a room is vastly improved by a shelf filled with books, a candle, and plants or fresh flowers. She still stays up way past her bedtime reading.

Haven Travis

Library Clerk

Meet Haven, Miss Eclectic

Haven is from Chattanooga, currently pursuing her degree from ETSU. She has been an avid reader from a young age, but now gets to enjoy her fantasy novels from among her personal forest of succulents. You’ll often find her in her spare time writing stories, caught up in a painting project, or dancing around to oldies rock when no one is looking. Haven is overjoyed to get to work at UCPL and meet the Erwin community, helping people to be as excited with a new book as she is.

Laura Elliott

Library Clerk & Tech Services

Meet Laura, Miss Community Spirit!

Laura was raised in beautiful Unicoi County where she, her amazing husband, and her three wonderful boys currently live. Aside from landing her dream job here at UCPL, Laura divides her time between homeschooling, spending time with her family, reading (of course!), crocheting, painting, and giving back to her community in any way she can. If you ask her why she does what she does, she will reply “It is a blessing to make someone smile, and I love seeing people happy!” Some of Laura’s favorite things are the office supply aisle (it’s true – just ask her husband), watching clean rom-coms, the color blue, and CHRISTMAS!

Mikaela Langley

Library Clerk

Meet Mikaela, Miss History!

Mikaela is originally from Nutbush, TN (hometown of the wonderful Tina Turner) and is a musician that graduated from ETSU with a major in Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Roots Music Studies and a minor in Appalachian Studies. Her main instruments are fiddle, banjo, guitar, and mandolin, and can sing (just a little bit). Her interests are in all things Appalachian: music, culture, history, geography, geology, folklore, and just about anything else you could think of (she can even sport full colonial wear). She has an extensive rock collection and loves to go digging through the dusty avenues of an antique store. She is grateful to live here in this beautiful place and to be part of this happy little family at the UCPL!