Word on the Street: Know Your…. Public Library!

Cynthia Diminture, the Director of the Newburyport Public Library, is pictured in the Director's room. This portion of the library is was originally the Nathaniel Tracy house, and before its transition to a public library, the Tracy Mansion was used as a hotel, a bowling saloon, and a dentist office.

Diminture, before becoming the Director of the Newburyport Library, worked as an Assistant Director at The Arlington and North Reading Public Libraries, and has been in her current position since January 2009. She received her Masters in Library Science from Simmons after receiving her teaching degree and substituting for a few years.

Giselle Stevens, the Assistant Director of the Library, is pictured here answering telephones at the Main desk in the Library Lobby.

Stevens says that the best parts of her job are “helping people, working with colleagues, the variety of the job, and being part of such a wonderful institution with a great history of service.”

Andrea works most of the time in teen services, works in reference as well. She has been working at the Newburyport Library for almost two years, and was drawn here by the “vibrance of the Newburyport community.”

Caroline, a 5th grader, and her tutor, Leigh, both from the Molin Elementary, meet every Tuesday in a sunny nook at the NPL to study and do homework.

Overlooking the Teen Loft.

Sam and Basil, both in the 9th grade at Newburyport High School, come to the NPL occasionally after school. Sometimes they do homework, sometimes they read magazines, but mostly, they come to the Library because there aren't many places for young people to hang out in Newburyport.

Officer Teddy Rice periodically stops by the Library while walking the Downtown beat. Rice, a Patrolman in the Newburyport Police Department for over 30 years, likes to walk through and “be seen” as a preventative measure. He is pictured here perusing books in the lobby.

Rebecca has been a volunteer at the Library since December. After working at the Library at UNH for all four years of college, she decided to volunteer at the Newburyport Library because she likes the “idea of making someone's day simply by helping them.”

Mikayla, Anna, and Jared are “just hanging out” in the teen loft. All three are students at the Nock Middle, and come to the NPL to read magazines, pursue “educational fun,” and to simply have a place to hang out.