Meet Elisia (Lisa), Youth Services Librarian at the Birmingham Branch

Elisia’s kindness and welcoming attitude have endeared her to Birmingham customers. She truly loves her job and is dedicated to our neighborhood. Birmingham youth are lucky to have such an enthusiastic advocate!

-Julie, Manager of the Birmingham Branch

How long have you worked for the library? 3 years

What is your favorite memory/story or part of working at the library? My favorite memory is when I walked into a Kindergarten classroom and a little girl shouted “Yay! It’s the Library Girl!!” My favorite part of working at the library is being able to work with/help so many adults and kiddos.

Were you born in Toledo? If not, where and when did you or your family move here? No, I was not born in Toledo; I was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I moved here in 1997.

Where is your mother’s family from? Where is your father’s family from? My mother’s family is from Dallas, Texas.

Have you ever been there? What was that experience like? Yes, I have been to Dallas. It was a great experience to visit such a large city when I was young. I also liked that my relatives had southern accents even when they were speaking Spanish.

What is your favorite family tradition? My favorite family tradition growing up was Taco Sunday. Every Sunday my family and extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents etc.) would get together on Sundays to spend time together and enjoy a great meal.

What is your favorite family recipe/dish/meal? My favorite family meal is homemade tortillas with potatoes, beans, and salsa.

Who were your favorite relatives? Yikes! My favorite relative! Nope, not going there. Lol : ).

Do you remember any of the stories they used to tell you? Yes, my uncles used to love to tell/scare us with tales of La Llorona. I lived in the country and there was a creek behind my house which made that story extra scary.

What is your favorite place in Toledo? The Toledo Zoo

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? We set up a bird feeder and bird bath. It took a couple of weeks for the birds to visit our new restaurant and spa, but we were so happy when they finally arrived!!

What is your favorite book/movie/tv show?

Current favorite:

• Book – American Dirt
• Movie – Uncut Gems
• TV Show – The Alienist /any of The Real Housewives

Favorites of all Time:

• Book – Anne of Green Gables
• Movie – King Arthur/Hidalgo
• TV Show – The Office

What is something that most people do not know about you? At one time I wanted six children. Being that I was an only child, I loved the idea of having a house full of children. All my relatives who have lots of children always seem to be like a self-contained party wherever they went, and I wanted to have that same experience. I have two wonderful sons, but instead of having six of my own children I was able to have a similar experience by being a teacher and a Youth Services Librarian!!