By: Gale Viddle
In this “Getting to Know You” article, I want to introduce you to one of the newest members of the Penn State Libraries family, Emily Zimmerman. Emily is the Reference and Instruction Librarian at Penn State DuBois. She just began working in this position in August of last year. She teaches entry-level courses, works at the Reference Desk, and does one-on-one work with
students.
Before coming to Penn State, Emily taught English at Clearfield High School for 10 years to 9th-12th graders and loved it. And if teaching high schoolers wasn’t enough, she also waitressed at a local Italian restaurant for about 15 years. Emily grew up in the sleepy town of Sykesville, PA, where there’s only one stoplight and everyone knows your name. Of course, that can be quite the disadvantage when you’re younger and maybe doing something that your parents wouldn’t necessarily approve! But Emily liked growing up there, along with her three sisters and a brother. She even had her own paper route. For a brief time as a teenager, she lived in New Jersey, and now most of her family resides in New York.
Away from her work duties, Emily loves to spend time with her husband and 3-year-old daughter. Recently, they went to Disney for her daughter’s birthday, and now her daughter is obsessed with princesses and make-up. Emily also enjoys traveling and tries to go somewhere new at least once a year. As a child, she played piano and someday hopes to have a piano and continue to play. On a side note, we discussed that no matter how hard we tried, neither of us could ever learn to play without sheet music or play a fast-paced song. Someday, Emily, someday we will…
Being new in a large community like the Libraries could seem overwhelming. However, it didn’t take Emily long to feel the welcoming atmosphere. She says that “everyone has been so friendly and very helpful.” I’m sure I speak for all of the Libraries when I say, “Welcome and happy to have you here, Emily!”
Ten Random Questions with Emily Zimmerman:
1. Least favorite word? Moist (I’m grossed out even writing it…)
2. Last concert you attended? Kacey Musgraves
3. Favorite food? Ice cream, especially Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (YES!!!)
4. First thing you do if you win the lottery? Buy a beach house
5. If you could only listen to one song forever, what would it be? Wouldn’t want to listen to same song forever
6. Care-a-mel or Car-mel? Car-mel
7. If you could go back to high school, would you? No
8. Cereal—soggy or crunchy? Crunchy
9. Favorite color? Purple (YES!!!)
10. Toilet paper—over or under? Over