I’m Melissa McCollum. I love being the Community Library Manager at the County of Los Angeles Public Library’s Lawndale Library because of the range of people who visit the library to connect with books, technology, and each other. My colleagues and I are proud of the services and programs we provide at our modern and innovative library. One of my favorite recent projects is community creation of the Lawndale Ocean Friendly Garden to teach residents about water conservation, reducing urban runoff, and growing your own food.

I previously worked as an audiovisual librarian at the Manhattan Beach Library and a photo archivist for Twentieth Century Fox. I received a Master of Science in Information from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College.

I’m excited to meet dozens of other California librarians at the Eureka! Leadership Institute. I hope the experience will help me become a better librarian, supervisor, and library advocate.

When I’m not at the Lawndale Library, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, reading, and taking full advantage of living in a gigantic and vibrant city.