Flint Township View

Collins named new librarian at Genesee Valley Center branch


Kevin Collins

Kevin Collins

FLINT TWP. — The Genesee District Library (GDL) has named Kevin Collins as the new Genesee Valley Center librarian.

Collins started his career with GDL by volunteering at the Davison Area Library. He was hired as a page in 2012, and then as a library assistant in 2015. He also served as a temporary librarian at the Montrose-Jennings branch twice.

Collins has a vision for the Genesee Valley Center Library. “I want to build on our social media presence, have a strong collection of diverse and interesting materials, and provide a high level of service in helping our patrons find the resources they need,” said Collins. “I hope to create an inviting space where everyone can come in and find something related to their interests.”

According to Collins, the role of the public library is to be a place of continuing education for people of all ages and backgrounds. People can come in for cooking classes and cookbooks, check out language learning materials, read graphic novels before the next big superhero movie, or just find the best sellers. Additionally, he believes that the library must be a location where people can feel confident in the accuracy of the information that they are receiving, and it’s the job of library staff to help prevent the spread of misinformation.

A strong level of one-onone assistance is the most important thing that libraries offer to patrons, according to Collins. “Anything from finding that perfect film for movie night, to helping a jobseeker build a resume and apply for a job,” said Collins.

“My strongest skills are technology and locating information. I take great joy in helping people to better use tools like the internet, smartphones and tablets, and seeing them become confident enough to use them on their own,” said Collins. “I also have a strong passion for research and puzzles and adore when I get an unusual reference question that makes me think outside the box in order to find an answer.”

Collins holds a bachelor’s degree in Experimental Psychology from Tiffin University in Tiffin, Ohio, and a Master of Library and Information Science from Wayne State University. — G.G.

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