Susan Banwnart
Branch & Outreach Services Manager
La Porte County Public Library
Milestones
My road in life took a while to figure out.
6th grade I decided I was going to college.
8th grade I was able to get my grades up enough to get into college prep classes.
Accepted at Purdue University as a math major but switched to education.
Graduated college but struggled to find full time teaching job.
Got into banking and was heavily recruited to stay in banking but decided to pursue my masters.
Enrolled in Masters program for library science.
Got a position with my hometown library system.
Promoted over ten years and now serving on Library's core management team.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
New Prairie
New Prairie
Career
Branch & Outreach Services Manager
Oversee the operations and staff of six library locations as well at our library system's outreach services.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Education
Non-Profit Organizations
Helping People
Day to Day
I work in a library which is a career that is vastly misunderstood. Much of my job now is related to communication and project management. Organizing people and resources is a daily job. Working with other colleagues to develop procedures or policy that impact employees as well as users. In any given day, I can write an article for a website, update the website, go out to a meeting with community members, negotiate a contract for services, resolve customer or staff issues, answer emails.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for college students
Grow your people skills. Know how to communicate. Know how to plan and implement projects. Work in your community and be active and engaged with community organizations that you believe in.
Recommended Education
My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Society in General:
"I'd say there were three main roadblocks in my path that could have caused me to move in a different direction. Lack of opportunity, bad advice from other professionals, and encouragement from others that almost kept me from pursuing my ultimate goal. "
Challenges I Overcame
First-Generation College Student
