YSS Spring Conference Scholarship Recipients

2021

Felicia Cecere: Children's Librarian, Community Free Library

Felicia Cecere is the Children’s Librarian at the Community Free Library in Holley, NY. Felicia previously worked at the Richmond Memorial Library and the Stephen J. Woosley Library, totaling 8 years in Library services since she graduated high school in 2014. Felicia received her master’s degree from Syracuse University in March of 2020. In typical librarian fashion Felicia loves her cat, coffee, and cardigans in that order.

Samantha Mairson-Dougherty: Children's Librarian, Rye Free Reading Room

Samantha Mairson-Dougherty is the Children's Librarian at Rye Free Reading Room in Rye, NY. Samantha has worked as a children’s tutor and daycare provider before becoming a children’s librarian. While attending Syracuse University for her MLIS degree (2019), she worked in academic archives and as a program assistant. Samantha aspires to one day to serve on the NYLA YSS board to help run the conferences.

2020

Cherilyn Wise: Youth Services Coordinator, Cuba Circulating Library

Cherilyn has worked hard in her community to encourage fun and educational programming for children, tweens, and teens. She makes outreach to local schools and homeschool groups a priority and her enthusiasm for building relationships in her community has encouraged many new families to visit the library.

Amy Holland: Children’s Services Librarian, Irondequoit Public Library

Amy has been an integral part of the youth services community both in her home community of Irondequoit and at a state level. Amy has shown great dedication to serving children and families in her community through her enthusiasm to form new, enriching partnerships, providing excellent programming and reader's advisory services, and by making sure each child she speaks with knows they are valued in the library.

2019

Kaitlin Brand: Young Adult Librarian, Smithtown Library

As the sole librarian of her department, Kaitlin has implemented a variety of programs for teens. Several of these programs take the teens outside of the walls of the library and into the community. Kaitlin has a lot of pride in her library and community and it shows in the programs she offers to youth.

Lauren Strong: Youth Services Coordinator, Riverhead Free Library

Lauren has made outreach to her community a priority with her mobile programming in schools. She encourages youth to have involvement in the library and in their community with her Study Buddies program. Lauren has made it her goal to work alongside the school to provide services to youth.