BY DANIELLE LEGARE

For many of the teens she works with, the library is also the first place they are trusted to navigate on their own.

“For a lot of these kids, this is the first place they go without their parents,” Smith said. “They come with their friends, and they’re figuring out what that freedom feels like for the first time. I always remind staff that, for many families, the library is the place they feel comfortable starting with that independence. There are people here looking out for them, and there are expectations in the building.”

Smith’s work in teen services is rooted in a career path that did not initially point toward public librarianship. As an undergraduate at Buffalo State University, Smith gravitated toward archives, completing an internship focused on digitizing artwork at the Burchfield Penney Art Center.  

She entered graduate school planning to pursue that path, but her perspective shifted during hands-on fieldwork. “I kept thinking, ‘Look at all this cool stuff,’” Smith said. “And there was no one to share it with.”

During her time at GSE, Smith benefited from a learning environment that emphasized both collaboration and service. Coursework introduced her to the many directions a library career can take, while connecting her with peers who were equally invested in serving communities, whether through public libraries, museums or other specialized settings.

“Even if you end up in a special library or a smaller setting, you’re still serving a community,” Smith said. “You still have your people.”

That perspective shaped how she approached the profession as she prepared to enter the field. After completing her degree in 2014, Smith applied widely before accepting a teen services position at Wood Library—the role that would come to define her career.

Now, Smith’s programming is guided by her teen advisory board, which helps shape everything from events to budget decisions. Smith believes that much of that learning happens without teens even realizing it. “They don’t always know they’re picking up skills,” she said. “But they are.”

She also works closely with local schools and fellow librarians, emphasizing collaboration over competition. She credits long-standing relationships within the OWWL Library System, as well as strong partnerships with educators, for helping create a more connected experience for young people across settings.

Over time, Smith’s programming and mentorship have helped teens develop a lasting sense of connection to the library.

“I hope what I leave behind is bigger than just using the library and enjoying it,” Smith said. “I hope people protect it and defend it… I hope the teens I’ve worked with put good out into the world and get that good back. I want them to have fun reading, to tell people what they’re excited about and to carry that with them. And I hope they’re not afraid to grow up!”

“Even when they’re adults, and I’m not here anymore, I hope they remember that the library is still theirs,” she added. “They still get to have a piece of it.”