HSL has a new Youth Librarian! Meghan joined our team in January and we’re so excited to have her as part of our Youth Department!!
Welcome Meghan! We can’t wait to learn a bit more about you. We’ve got some questions ready so let’s dive right in. First, we have to ask, what’s your favorite genre of book or movie?
I would have to say that fantasy and romance are my favorite genre of books (it’s pretty equal), and I love romantic comedies.
What hobby would you get into if time and money weren’t an issue?
Rehabbing old houses. Every home my husband and I have purchased we’ve completely remodeled, repainted, and redesigned.
What are you interested in that most people haven’t heard of?
Parapsychology and the study of psychic phenomenon. I’m currently reading a book called “Something Unknown is Doing We Don’t Know What” which discusses scientific evidence of cognitive abilities such as telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition.
What form of public transportation do you prefer? (air, boat, train, bus, car, etc.)
I love the train. My family and I took public trains all over Europe while stationed in Germany. It’s my favorite way to see a country.
Would you rather go hang gliding or whitewater rafting?
Hang gliding is on my bucket list. I am afraid of heights, but I think it’s important to do things that scare or intimidate you every once in a while.
Where is the most interesting place you’ve been?
While living in Germany near our small town in Bavaria there was a place called Waldsassen Basilica. In the Basilica are ancient skeletons known as the “Holy Bodies.” The skeletons are Christian martyrs who were exhumed from the Roman catacombs between 1688 and 1765. They are covered in jewels and extravagant 18th century clothing. There are about a dozen of them, but the juxtaposition of the displays are both beautiful and macabre.
What fictional place would you most like to go?
I visited Pompeii while overseas, so I’m very fascinated by “lost cities” and I would have loved to have seen Atlantis, if it ever existed. It is said that it’s a fictional place but who knows, Pompeii was once a lost city too!
What pets did you have while you were growing up?
My step-mother owned an exotic pet store. I grew up with chinchillas, sugar gliders, and hedgehogs (which I love). I also grew up riding horses. My grandmother at one time had five dogs. My Aunt worked for a California Wildlife preserve and rehabilitated wild birds such as eagles, falcons, and owls. I was able to hold a golden eagle and feed a baby great horned owl as a kid. I’ve been very fortunate to be around all kinds of animals my whole life.
What book impacted you the most?
Letter’s to a Young Poet, by Rainier Marie Rilke. There is a line in the book that states, “Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and books written in a foreign language. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given to you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything.” It became my life philosophy. That book and Rilke’s poetry have always resonated with me.
Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
I am what is known as an ambivert. I am extroverted when I am around people I am very comfortable with or when I am forcing myself to be outgoing, but I also need alone time and time to decompress after spending time around a lot of people.