Denise Campos was selected to be the next Soledad librarian, replacing long-time Librarian Angie Lopez, who recently retired.

Campos’ position of Code Officer in the building services department at the Salinas Government Center was eliminated. Because the County has a commitment to keep employees within the County system, she became part of the County’s placement program that involved signing up with a coach, updating the resume and securing interviews.

Changing careers is not new to Campos, as her professional background is varied but relates well in her new position of librarian.

“The first thing I’d like to do is to get to know the community and get ideas as to what the community would like to see in our library,” Campos said. “We will do some public outreach where we will be asking patrons if they are finding what they need and help them cultivate the use of the Library.

“We want to encourage people to ask questions and let them know we are here to help them. We would be open to give tours of the library in a group or a class to see what all we have to offer.

“I would like people in the community to come in and meet me. I want to see our partnership with the community to grow,” she added.

The background Campos brings to the library begins with her stint in the Learning Skills Center at Hartnell, where it served the non- native and native speakers, and where she taught in a writing lab that served students from the ages of twelve to eighty.

“The patron base is similar with the Library patronage,” she said.

“This was the most gratifying position because of the impact on lives,” Campos said.

Campos also previously worked as a legal assistant for the Department of Child Support Services.

After Campos, who grew up in the Spreckles area, graduated from Cal State East Bay with a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communication, she went to work in an advertising agency in direct marketing as the production manager.

“I was a liaison between the graphic arts, copy writer’s and the company we were contracted with for direct mailing,” she said.



For the complete article see the 07-28-2010 issue.

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