She may be a new face to the children’s department at the Orion Township Library, but Kristen Cornacchia is no stranger to children.
A mom of two, the new children’s librarian is a former Clarkston elementary school teacher who was looking for a new challenge after being a stay-at-home mom and Gymboree teacher for four years. Cornacchia started at the Orion Library in early July.
“I was an elementary teacher in Clarkston for six years,” she said. “I live in Lake Orion now but I just moved here from Waterford.”
Cornacchia, 33, grew up in Birmingham and earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Indiana University. She received her first master’s degree from Oakland University in Reading and Language Arts. She is currently attending Wayne State University for her master’s degree in Library Science.
“I love kids and kids’ books,” she said. “I was an avid reader as a child, and I write children’s books, so this is my dream job.”
Cornacchia said she loves her new position and her new community.
“This is the best job I ever could have asked for,” she said. “I get to do story time and I help the kids find books.
“I’m so glad to be here (in Orion),” Cornacchia said. “The people here are friendly and it feels small town, although we’re suburban. I really like living and working here.”
Cornacchia is attending Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church with her children, four-year-old Julia and two-year-old Joe. She said she has met a lot of wonderful people there and at the library.
“The (library) staff is very supportive and welcoming. Katie George is the world’s best boss. The other people I work with are so knowledgable,” she said.
Cornacchia said her favorite part of the job is doing story time and singing songs with the kids.
“I also do puppets…To get them so excited about reading at an early age is wonderful,” she said. “I miss the close communication with the students (as a teacher), with library patrons I don’t see them as often. I’m looking forward to story time in the fall and having my little group.”
Besides story time, Cornacchia also researches and selects children’s books for the Orion Library collection.
“I’m also doing a Time Traveler’s Book Club in the fall, and I’ll be doing other special programs,” she said. “I’ll be telling stories for Barn Daze…my dad and I are both story tellers.”