Community Corner
The People in Our Neighborhood: Martha Vines, Children's Librarian
Well-loved and well-known, Mrs. Vines touches countless lives through storytelling at the Emmaus Public Library
Name: Martha Vines
Town in which you live: Lower Macungie, but Emmaus is where her heart is.
Current job: Children's Librarian at Emmaus Public Library
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How long have you been in your current job? Vines began at the Emmaus Public Library in March 1980 as a volunteer. She started on the staff in 1988, and has been the children's librarian since August of 1991. Vines said, “I feel like I've watched half the town grow up!”
What do you like best about your job? Vines loves being able to help people at the library. She also loves reading about the new children's books, ordering them, and being the first to read them!
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What do you like least about your job? She hates running out of her budget money.
What's one thing that no one knows about you that you wish people knew about you? Vines said a lot of people do not realize that theater is her other great love. She used to act, sing and dance on the stage with MUNOPCo. (Municipal Opera Company of Allentown). She also was a stage manager.
What's your favorite book? When it comes to books, Vines said, “Haven’t you heard? My favorite book is ALL of them, even the ones I don’t like!” She said she loves some old ones, like “Gone with the Wind” and “To Kill a Mockingbird.” She also likes some new ones like “Mockingjay” and “Book Thief” in the Young Adult section of the library. Vines added that she enjoys Agatha Raisins (M. C. Beaton) and Goldie Bear mysteries (Diane Mott Davidson) and other thrillers and mysteries.
Favorite children's book? According to Vines, her favorite children's book depends on the day. She did think of a couple to which she is partial: “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” (Mo Willems) and “all” the Harry Potters (J. K. Rowling).
What do you do to relax? Vines jokingly responded, “Relax? Me?!”
What do you like to do when you aren't working? She added that she enjoys watching college basketball, playing bridge and seeing movies.
What's the best advice you ever received? Vines said, “I can still hear my mom saying, ‘Anything worth doing is worth doing well.’” Having grown up in the South in the 1960s, Vines often heard "act like a lady even if it kills you."
Vines wanted to add that her favorite program at the Emmaus Public Library is Community Heroes Night. This year it will be on the afternoon of Saturday, September 10, 2011. The program allows anyone to meet the people who take care of the community from the local police, ambulance corps, fire department and fire police. It is a reaction to the events of September 11, 2001, she said.
Every Friday the Emmaus Patch will help you to get to know another of the many people who make our hometown such a wonderful place to live. If you would like to recommend someone for us to highlight in the future, please tell us in the comment box or email jennifer.marangos@patch.com.