MINDEN, Neb. — A Fort Hays State University graduate and the first young adult librarian in both Ulysses and Manhattan is now back in her home state as the new library director of Jensen Memorial Library in Minden.
Janene Hill also served as the head of the young people’s department at Dorothy Bramlage Public Library in Junction City in 2012.
Hill started her library career as a work study student for the FHSU Forsyth Library in the circulation and reserves department.
Hill’s new appointment, effective March 31, is featured in an article by the Minden Courier newspaper.
The complete article follows.
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Courtesy Minden Courier
Janene Hill is returning to her Kearney County roots as she takes over as Library Director for Minden’s Jensen Memorial Library. A native of Wilcox, she graduated from Wilcox High School in 1996. She then attended FortHaysStateUniversity in Hays, Kansas where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations and a Master’s Degree in Sports Administration.
Hill began her library career as an undergraduate work study student at Fort Hays State University’s Forsyth Library in the Circulation & Reserves Department. She began shelving books and over four and a half years, worked her way up to office/processing assistant and student supervisor.
After college, Hill worked at Kearney Public Library, then spent a brief stint as a journalist in Aurora, Nebraska before returning to the library world as Young Adult Librarian at Grant County Library in Ulysses, Kansas where she was the first person to serve in that position.
In 2006, she was hired as the first-ever Young Adult Librarian at Manhattan Public Library in Manhattan, KS. There she oversaw the renovation of the Young Adult area of the library, the Teen Volunteer program, creation of Teen Advisory Board and regular Teen programming, and helped grow Teen Summer Reading participation by 120 percent over six years.
She took over as head of the Young People’s Department at Dorothy Bramlage Public Library in Junction City, Kansas in 2012. At Bramlage she oversaw the department’s three library assistants along with all programs, collections, and functions of the children’s department.
In 2007, Hill gained Public Library Certification in Kansas with the completion of the KPLACE (Kansas Progressive Librarians Acquiring Continuing Education) program.
During her time in libraries, Hill has taken part in all aspects of library service and administration. At both Grant County Library and Manhattan Public Library, she was the first person to ever hold the position of Young Adult Librarian.
Hill is excited about living closer to family and long-time friends with her move. Her official start day is March 31 and she is looking forward to becoming a part of the Minden community.
Library Board Chairperson Sue Yant said that the board is extremely excited to have Hill as the new Library Director. “She brings experience in teen and adult programming and will be an asset to our community and the library,” Yant stated. “The future of Jensen Memorial Library looks bright.”