PBS' Roadtrip Nation recently featured The Linda Hall in their documentary Beyond Books!
Join us for a screening of a Roadtrip Nation documentary episode following Maryan, Jenny, and Isabelle—three aspiring librarians as they embark on a road trip to explore the many possibilities within the library profession.
As they travel across the country, they discover the diverse communities libraries serve and the vital role these institutions play in connecting people with knowledge, resources, and one another. This documentary offers a fresh perspective on librarianship and the many ways a career in libraries can make a meaningful impact.
Following the screening, Sara Mawhirter, Reference and Instruction Librarian at The Linda Hall and one of the librarians featured in the documentary, will share her personal experience and career journey. She will discuss her path into librarianship, her work at the Linda Hall, and the role the Library plays in supporting the exploration and advancement of science and technology.
At Roadtrip Nation, they knew what it was like to feel lost, because they've been there. That's why, in 2001, they hit the road to get advice from people who'd found fulfilling work. Their wisdom taught us there's no "right" way to build a career—that there were actually endless unique paths we could take forward. Now, their stories will guide you toward work you care about, too.
Sara Mawhirter is the Reference and Instruction Librarian for The Linda Hall. Before she joined The Linda Hall, Sara spent 10 years working at the Kansas City, Kansas Public Library working with kids, teens, and their families. Starting as a part-time associate, she eventually worked her way to managing the Youth Services Department at the Main Branch of KCKPL. There she led initiatives to increase youth literacy, community engagement, and library resource usage.
During her four years at The Linda Hall, Sara has worked to expand educational visits to the library; from school groups and educator professional development to life-long learners and international guests, she has helped library visitors learn about our unique collection while creating lasting memories of their time here. Sara has also worked to highlight engaging material within the general collection through collaborating on the newly established Casual Reading Collection to curating rotating monthly displays. Sara continues this work by establishing The Linda Hall's Summer Reading Challenge where she hopes to encourage both new and regular library users to discover new interests and find their next favorite book.
Sara received her Master of Arts from the University of Missouri - Columbia in 2019 in Information Science and Learning Technologies with an emphasis in Library Science.
