Diana started volunteering at the Library in late March 2024 and has contributed nearly 110 hours. She volunteers regularly at the Brentwood Library, assisting with the displays, shelving, and shelf reading. In addition, she is an integral member of the adult programming team, helping with multiple Lit Chats, Writer's Labs, and Author Talks at multiple branches. If that wasn’t enough, she enthusiastically volunteers at Library special events, such as Jax Book Fest and Preschool Palooza, and at community events with the Bookmobile. Her infectious smile and personality brighten everyone's days. In her spare time, Diana is a member of the US Navy, stationed at Naval Station Mayport.
What inspired you to volunteer for the Library?
I was inspired to volunteer for the library because I have moved around so much in the military that it has been hard to maintain a community. When I saw the opportunity to pour into the community at the Brentwood Branch Library, I took that as an amazing opportunity to volunteer at a place that I have loved and visited since I was little. Brentwood gives me a consistent place to volunteer at that also gives me a routine, which I enjoy.
What is the most rewarding part about volunteering for the Library?
I think the most rewarding part is getting to see the kids, especially when they’re reading and not playing Roblox. It just makes me a little bit happier that way.
Is there anything you've learned about the library since becoming a volunteer that you wish more people knew about?
There is so much work that goes into managing a library. Keeping it organized, planning activities, and even the amount of work that staff do and how hard they work were surprising. I also think the amount of resources we have available, such as free tax booklets, are awesome and maybe not super widely known about.
Have you read any good books recently?
I recently read “Love Your Life,” a cute romance about a girl who wasn’t expecting to find love and found love on a retreat. There was also a cute little dog involved that made it better.
What is your favorite library service?
My favorite service is placing holds on books on the app and never having to actually look for them.
Tell me a bit about your cats.
Their names are Ophelia and Francisco. They are cute and like to play fetch. Yup! Pretty simple creatures overall.
