Real Librarians of Chelmsford | Chelmsford Public Library

What is the best way to get to know a librarian? By getting them to dish about books, of course! Each month, we will introduce you to one of the librarians of Chelmsford Public Library. This month, we talked to one of our Reference Specialists, Jill Kenny.

Jill loves a good book and a cup of coffee. She loves to read, talk about books, draw what books she’s read, and hear about what others are reading. When Jill isn’t reading, she is traveling with her family, spending time with her friends, working on various house projects, snuggling with her dog, hiking/walking in the woods, paddleboarding, admiring her daughter’s art or watching her son’s soccer games.

We asked Jill…

What was your first library?

“Kellogg Hubbard Library, Montpelier, VT. My memories of this place are about the building and being in the space. The children’s room was in the basement with multiple nooks with books and I remember there being vines inside, which I thought was magic.“

What is on your nightstand right now?

“1-3 library books at all times. Currently, Billy Summers by Stephen King, Home Winemaking and The Mediterranean Diet. TBR Piles (a couple) of books from used book sale .”

What book do you like to recommend to patrons?

“I have a couple per genre, depending on the patron’s reading preference. This is a loaded question for me! “

What are your favorite books from your childhood?

“The Little Princess, Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, The Wizard of Oz, Nancy Drew, The Secret Garden, Winnie the Pooh, Dr. Seuss, Richard Scarry”

What are your favorite books in adulthood?

“Timeline, The Historian, Shanghai Girls, The School of Essential Ingredients, The Alice Network, Finlay Donovan is Killin’ It, Goodnight June, The Soul of an Octopus, Small Great Things, The Bean Trees, The Shell Seekers, Clan of the Cave Bears”

Why do you love working in the library?

“I’ve always been drawn to libraries, books and the world of information – talking about it, reading about it and learning about it. Being surrounded by books and the quiet calm of a library is one of my favorite things.”