The Arizona Library Association has honored David Brown, the youth services librarian at the Vista Grande Public Library, with the 2016 Youth Services Librarian of the Year award for the State of Arizona. In the last year, Brown was awarded a $25,000 grant to build the Vista Grande Public Library Makerspace: an art, science, and technology center, which regularly holds art classes, 3D printing demonstrations, video game design classes and more for residents of Casa Grande. He has also developed a collection of circulating educational toys, telescopes and birdwatching kits for children in the community. He has also added Minecraft computers and iPads in the children’s area, as well as a creative writing station and Nook reading tablets.
During October 2015, Brown was awarded the Horner Fellowship for the State of Arizona and had the privilege to study puppetry and library services for children during a three-week stay in Japan.
Brown has a bachelor’s degree in television production from California State University Northridge and a master’s degree in the field of library and information science from San Jose State University. He has worked in both academic and public libraries over the course of his seven-year career in the field. He has also worked as a video editor for shows on the Food Network and HGTV and is a trained puppeteer, having worked with performers from Sesame Street and the Muppets.
Brown is also an aspiring children’s author and member of the Society of Children’s Book Authors and Illustrators. When he is not busy writing or working to improve his community, Brown enjoys wrestling with his miniature dachshund Robocop, traveling and playing bocce ball.
Come and say “hello” to David Brown at the Vista Grande Public Library to learn more about all of the great library programs for children, like Code Club, Maker Mondays, 3D Printing Classes, story times and more coming in spring 2017.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
David Brown
Youth Services Librarian
Vista Grande Public Library
(520) 421-8652 x5111
David_brown@casagrandeaz.gov
