My name is Jazmarae Collinsworth. I frequently get asked if there is a cool story behind my name. I’ve thought about making a new story up each time, but the truth is, there isn’t one. I have been working for BCPL for seven months now as the Community Events Liaison. I spend my time planning and booking all the outside presenters across our branches for adult programs. This includes anything from concerts to blood drives to resume workshops. My position is system-wide. While I am based at the Main Library, I have come to recognize a few familiar faces across the branches. I am originally from Wolfe County, KY, but moved to the Cincinnati area for school in 2022. I graduated from NKU with a Bachelor’s in Marketing in December 2025. I plan to return for my MBA in January, and my goal is to graduate before turning 23!
My favorite part of this position is seeing the positive impact it has on the community firsthand. I love seeing people dancing together at concerts, patrons calling to tell me how much they loved a program, and people leaving programs with a smile. I enjoy crunching the numbers to see what the community loves and where we can improve. Of course, I also get to enjoy a lot of our cool programs. Petting therapy horses and making crafts at work are pretty wonderful. The people I work with have been really welcoming and great too!
Of course, since I work at a library, I also enjoy reading. I don’t really have a favorite genre, but if someone asks, I just say I love sad books. Books like The Glass Castle, Normal People, and They Both Die in the End are in my top ten reads. I am currently reading Tin Man and A Little Life. If you know any other books in my “sad” category, I love growing my TBR list! I mostly read physical copies, but am not opposed to audiobooks.
Outside of work, I love cooking and baking. I enjoy making food for others and trying out new recipes, too. Some of the fall dishes I have made so far include potato soup, turkey chili, tomato soup, and pumpkin cream cheese muffins. Potato soup is my boyfriend’s and my favorite. We also just adopted a cat named Luna, so I love spending time with the two of them watching Marvel shows and movies. Other hobbies include collecting, seeing waterfalls, and thrifting! My collections (for now) include Pokémon cards (Sprigatito is my favorite!), crystals, vintage postcards, and vintage decor. However, my favorite collection and the one I am most proud of is my vintage strawberry kitchen collection. I spent years collecting everything from pans to paper towel holders to oven mitts to glassware, almost everything you can imagine that belongs in a kitchen. Some of my favorite waterfalls are Honeymoon Falls, Cedar Falls, and the small, unnamed one just up the road from my grandparents’ house. As for thrifting, I love searching for vintage pieces to add to our apartment. A few of my favorite vintage finds include a Tiffany lamp remake, a jewelry box with a kitten painted on the top, and, of course, some books.
Our newly adopted kitty, Luna, has a big personality. She thinks she owns the couch and jumps in the empty bathtub so she can hear her meowing echo. She loves her freeze-dried treats and pom-pom toys. She also has a doggy sister, Chloe, but she lives in my hometown with my dad, so she has a big yard to play in whenever she pleases. Chloe is the sweetest dog ever. She loves treats, couch naps, and squeaky toys. They both make life brighter.
Looking ahead, I hope to continue growing in my role and building new community connections. The library truly is a treasure, and I feel so fortunate to be a part of it!
