Driving around Grand County, one often sees bumper stickers reading “Came for the Peaks; Stayed for the Libraries.” This perfectly sums up Sarah Greenberg, Director of Library Resources for Grand County Library District (GCLD). In short, Sarah is responsible for choosing the books, DVD’s, and resources that you find on the shelves of the Grand County libraries.

Sarah grew up in an international neighborhood just outside Washington, D.C. One of her earliest memories is of the arrival of Matthew, her newly adopted baby brother from South Korea. The excitement on the day he arrived at the airport was almost unbearable. Sarah remembers showing off for the baby, turning somersaults and cartwheels. Needless to say, Matthew, at 10 months, was too young to appreciate his new sister’s antics. Since that time, Sarah’s family has continued to adopt. Two others siblings arrived from opposite sides of Russia. Their cities of origin are actually eight time zones apart. Sarah credits her parents’ philosophy of generosity for giving her empathy and understanding for others—both characteristics important for her work now.

Vacations were an important part of her family’s traditions. As her father is an avid outdoorsman, she remembers traveling to remote areas to hike and canoe. One particularly vivid memory is of an RV trip to the national parks in the western United States when she was twelve years old.

The books Sarah read as a child were primarily mysteries like Encyclopedia Brown and Nancy Drew. She also really enjoyed the Misty of Chincoteague series by Marguerite Henry which were set in nearby Virginia. Sarah attended a small liberal arts college in Ohio, majoring in English and History. From there she went on to graduate school in Wyoming, obtaining a Master’s Degree in American Studies.

In answer to the question, “So, what brought you to Grand County?” Sarah tells of her trail work in the James Peak Wilderness Area Youth Corps. The young people lived outside in tents, working on the trails and enjoying the vistas of the Rocky Mountains. Sarah had found her place! The big city life on the east coast had come to an end. She loved seeing the expanse of the skies. Sarah believes that the open landscape allows one to think differently, to make new connections, and to live a more balanced life.

Her interest in the outdoors led her to Winter Park. After a stint as a volunteer, she became a full-time member of the Fraser Valley Library team. Sarah discovered a love for connecting people with books and thoroughly enjoyed the personal interaction with customers. Her four years at the Fraser Valley Library gave her an understanding of what people want and expect from their local library.

When asked what makes her heart sing, she responds “Making the library second nature to people—their “go-to” place.” Sarah’s lifelong love of reading and empathy for people translate into a joy for creating a vibrant collection. Community interests and patron requests come to Sarah from the Branch Managers. For instance, in Hot Sulphur Springs many people enjoy science fiction.

It is important to Sarah that the library district stays on the cutting edge. Today’s library patrons use reading apps on their smartphones and download e-books and eAudiobooks at no personal cost. The one thing that Sarah would like every Grand County citizen to know about GCLD is “Libraries are now mobile; they are not just buildings with books! You can download audiobooks onto your phone, read magazines on your iPad, or learn a new language online—all for free, from anywhere.”