Staff
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.
Casey Groll
Teen Coordinator
Meet Casey, Cat Enthusiast
Casey and her husband are new residents of Erwin and she is living her dream of working at a library in a beautiful mountain town. In her free time, you can find her curled up with her cats, reading books, knitting, playing board games, cooking, scrapbooking, learning French, going to trivia nights, or taking long walks around town with her dog, Senna. As a long-time library lover, she is thrilled to get the opportunity to partner with the community and build relationships with folks. She believes that libraries truly are the jumping point for endless opportunities, resources, connection, and community involvement. Her goal as our Teen Coordinator is to provide young people with the opportunity to fall in love with books and work together to make the library a fun, dynamic place.
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!
Nidia Emil
Library Clerk
Meet Nidia, Miss Energetic
Nidia loves music, cooking, and taking care of people. She says that “The UCPL is such a great place to work because of my co-workers.” Her goal is to get people to read more and try new things. She teaches a wonderful Spanish class and when she is not working at the library, she is trying new recipes.
Story
Library Royalty
Meet Story, Our Library Cat
Meow, meow meow meow. Meow meow, meowzers. Meow meow meow meow. Meow. Meow, meow meow meow meow meow. Meow meow meow meow. Purr, purr, purr.