My name is Kelsey Drifmeyer and I am a Youth Services Associate at the Scheben branch! I started last June, so I’ve been here almost a year. I have a weekly bookworms storytime, a monthly elementary science program and I plan other special programs for kids.
I grew up in Independence, Kentucky, so not too far away. I grew up in a house that was always filled with books–my mom, sister and grandma are all readers (my dad was not). In elementary school, I liked ghost stories and scary stories a lot–I remember sneakily reading a few Mary Downing Hahn books under my desk when the teacher was teaching.
My childhood library is a Mexican food restaurant now, but the current Independence Branch is the first place I drove when I got my license at 16. I also used that newfound freedom to volunteer at the Covington library in High school. Later, in college, I would be a Children’s Library Associate there for 3 years. I adored working at the library, I enjoyed knowing the regular kids and I liked connecting people to great books.
I went to NKU where I got my bachelor’s in Biology, and I am still a big science nerd, which comes in handy for my monthly science programming! I volunteered with a disability ministry throughout college, and that’s where I met my husband. I went on to get my Master’s in Social work from NKU also. While I was in my Master’s program, I did my internship with Starfire Council. I talked to professionals from all over the state of Ohio about how they could provide services to people with disabilities that would facilitate rich and meaningful connections between neighbors. When I graduated I became a school based therapist, then later an outpatient therapist specializing in ADHD and Autism in Cincinnati, where I still work in addition to the library.
When I think about work, I often think of a quote from author and minister Frederick Buechner, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet” and that’s how I feel about both library services and disability advocacy. I love that the library is a place where people with all different backgrounds, experiences and interests can come and learn new things, hear other people’s stories, grow together and be welcomed. People are hungry for stories, connection, safety and knowledge and it brings me gladness to play a role in their search for those things.
My husband is a teacher in Boone county. We have been married for 10 years and have 2 kids. A fun fact is that I work occasionally as an event/wedding florist and also grow a cutting garden in my backyard.
