Yorktown Hires Young Adult Services Librarian

May 7, 2024 – The John C. Hart Memorial Library has a new young adult librarian who will serve teen patrons.

Colin Russell arrived at the Hart library on March 25. He is an educator and librarian with a track record of creating a successful library program at the New Visions Charter High School for Advanced Math and Science II in the Bronx.

His accomplishments at the New Visions school included revitalizing a decrepit and outdated library space; introducing new e-resources to the school community; and using private and public connections to secure grants and donations that enhanced the school library’s book collection.

“Young people are pretty much the same everywhere, although they might face unique challenges depending on where they're from or their backgrounds,” said Russell. “Nothing of what I understand about the young people in Yorktown really differs from my lived experience of teaching and working in the South Bronx. Just the setting is different.”

Some of the immediate teen drop-in after-school programs he will institute include board games and crafts.

“Colin comes to us with a great deal of experience and deep understanding of how to best serve this age group. In his first month, he is already creating relationships in the community, and he has already begun to update the entire Young Adult book collection in the library,” said library director Yvonne Cech. “He will focus on creating a welcoming physical space and designing programs that appeal to this population. We are thrilled that he has joined our team.

Russell’s efforts in the Young Adult collection follow recent renovations. The library’s community room has a new floor, more seating, sound barriers to minimize noise from the ventilation system, a new ceiling and new lighting.