Rose Iwan               Library Director

Rose Iwan has been the Library Director for the City of La Vista ’s Public Library since September of 2001.  Accomplishments have been co-writing and writing grants for various areas of the library; special programming like genealogy; the library collection; and support training.  Rose supervises and ensures the budget is utilized to its full capacity.  This is accomplished by seeking various vendors who offer discounts or the best services for the library’s magazine subscriptions, book orders, and media.  The library also supports the Metropolitan Community College (MCC) Sarpy County , so Rose works with the MCC library staff concerning materials for MCC students, faculty and staff.  Before working for the City of La Vista , Rose was the Head of Collection Development for the University of Nebraska Medial Center’s McGoogan Library of Medicine.  Previous to UNMC, Rose was Acting Dean of Instructional Design of Development as well as Library Director for Clarkson College .  Public Services/Outreach Librarian at Bellevue University was her first professional position in the state of Nebraska .  Her fir job after receiving her masters was as the Director of Learning Resource Center at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas .

This position is currently open.

Jean Hurst is the  Computer/Reference Services Librarian for the City of La Vista's Public Library.  She started in August of 1979. Job duties have changed over the years as the City and the library have grown. With the addition of computers, she became responsible for the care and upkeep of the library’s computer and technology resources.  This includes selection, recommendation and installation of software and hardware, updating and maintaining the library’s website, training for staff and library customers in the form of computer skills classes, and trying to keep current on the latest technology for libraries by attending conferences and reading current  information.  Another function of Jean’s position is co-managing the Reference Area of the library.  This includes recommending reference materials both print and on-line sources, assisting customers with reference questions (finding the "hard to find" answer is always the best challenge of this position).  Jean also works with Metropolitan Community College (MCC) Sarpy Center staff with both technology issues and resolving overdue material issues.  The corporative agreement the City has with MCC is beneficial to the students of MCC and the citizens of La Vista.

Marjorie Shaw is the Cataloging / Technical Services Librarian.  She joined the library staff in November of 2000. The major focus of this position is the classification and cataloging of materials. Each book, video, etc. has a unique record in the OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) --  what used to be the card catalog. This record identifies the material so a patron can determine which one to look at--large print book, paperback, DVD, etc. Each new record includes certain information -- who wrote it, the name, what it is about, if it is part of a series, and where to find it. While cataloging, she determines how to classify the material so it can be most easily found, which usually means putting it with other books on the same topic. Another part of Marjorie's  position is leading storytime, using her background in Child Development and Early Childhood Special Education. Four times a week, ten toddlers (18 months to 3 years) and parents or other adults meet for a story and related songs and fingerplays. Lapsit has been added to Thursday mornings for children 6 - 18 months.  This group includes a book, music and supervised playtime.  Puppets, stuffed toys, and flannel board pictures are all part of the fun. For many of the children, storytime is their first group experience, a goal is to sit and listen to a story or participate in the songs.  Sharing and taking turns is also practiced. In addition, Marjorie has been able to offer sessions for a local support group for families with special needs children.