The Library values the diversity of its staff and the culture and history they represent. This Hispanic Heritage Month, we invite you to get to know some of our Hispanic/Latinx staff members.

Meet Connie, Customer Service Clerk at the Oregon Branch

Connie embodies what it means to be a proud Latina. She is kind, warm, friendly and has an uncanny ability to make connections within the community — not to mention it honestly seems like she knows everybody. I also did the Cumbia so hard at her wedding that my legs hurt for a week. Love you, Connie!

-Becca, Customer Service Clerk at the Oregon Branch

She is very welcoming to all our customers at Oregon. She enjoys helping at school open houses or other community events (pre-Covid, of course!). Connie loves The Ohio State Buckeyes, Las Vegas Raiders and her dog, Spike.

-Veronica, Children’s Librarian at the Oregon Branch

How long have you worked for the library?
5 ½ years

What is your favorite memory/story or part of working at the library?
I’m on the Book Bike committee and my favorite memory was going to the Momentum event downtown and engaging with the community and showing them a library on wheels, lol. I loved it!

Were you born in Toledo? If not, where and when did you or your family move here?
I was born in Toledo at Riverside Hospital in March of 1977.

Where is your mother’s family from? Where is your father’s family from?
My mother was born in Fremont, Ohio in October of 1954 and my father was also born in Fremont, Ohio in November of 1954.

Have you ever been there? What was that experience like?
Yes, I attend the Fremont Fireworks show and carnival every year on July 4^th. They have a beautiful little town and my uncles still reside there ‘til this day. We often have our family reunions there every couple of years and we spend holidays there as well.

What is your favorite family tradition?
Playing Mexican Bingo on the holidays and making tamales with my mother who recently passed. ☹

What is your favorite family recipe/dish/meal?
My favorite family dish is Chicken Mole with rice and potato salad. I don’t know why the potato salad, but it was my grandmother’s recipe and has been a favorite all my life.

Who were your favorite relatives?
My favorite relatives would have to be my Uncle Jim (mom’s brother) and my Aunt Margie (Dad’s sister), who is deceased. She would let all of us girls stay the night even though there were a lot of us. She would take us to Genoa, Ohio where my grandmother lived and would teach us to drive even before we were old enough.

Do you remember any of the stories they used to tell you?
They would tell us stories of how their parents came to America and the migrant fields they would work in. It gives me so much pride to know my great grandparents came here with nothing and managed to build a family, life and still keep their traditions alive to spread through generations.

What is your favorite place in Toledo?
My favorite place in Toledo is the Toledo Zoo, they have so many great things going on for families to do and enjoy. It truly is a gem for our great city.

What is your favorite Toledo restaurant?
My favorite restaurant must be Manhattan’s Pub ‘n Cheer located in downtown Toledo. It’s always filled with a cheerful array of the working-class atmosphere and a pleasant sound of music from local artists. It’s a must-try if you’ve never been there.

Even though there is a lot of stuff we do not like about the pandemic, is there something your family has done during the pandemic that has been fun? A new tradition or a fun safe event?
I will say I didn’t get on my bike as much as I would’ve liked to until this pandemic happened. Now my son, husband and I have been taking rides all around our neighborhood as well as the parks. It is such a relaxing feeling just riding with the wind blowing in my hair, lol.

What is your favorite book/movie/tv show?
I’ve done a lot of reading during this pandemic and none of the books can compare to my favorite, Where the Crawdads Sing. It was such a good read. I recommend it to everyone.

What is something that most people do not know about you?
That I am a grandmother of a soon to be 2-year-old. She is the highlight of my life and a ray of sunshine every day. Her name is Alaia Rose.