By SALLY HALE

President, Friends Of The Escalon Library

All in the community are welcome to stop by the Escalon Library on Thursday, Jan. 30, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.; that’s the time that has been set to bid farewell and offer thanks to departing Escalon library staffers. Fondly known as Miss Amanda and Miss Brianna, each has accepted a new position within the Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library, SSJCPL system.

Amanda Clifford is a graduate of California State University, Chico. She joined the SSJCPL team in 2015 as an on-call library assistant and became full time library assistant in Escalon in 2016. She has tirelessly promoted children’s programming, including implementing the weekly Makerspace (now STEAMspace) program, Science Saturdays, Storytime, and seasonal events and crafts. In anticipation of her graduation from the MLS program at San Jose State later this year, she has been promoted to Librarian Trainee at the Mountain House branch. There she will be primarily focusing on teen services and assisting with children’s services.

Amanda admits she will greatly miss this little town, saying, “I have found working with the Escalon community to be a wonderful experience and will miss everyone. Thank you for welcoming me into your community.”

Brianna Anderson graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She joined SSJCPL in 2016 as a library assistant at the Lathrop Branch then came to Escalon as Branch Librarian in May 2018 after receiving her MLS from San Jose State. In Escalon, she took over the existing programs and implemented new programs of her own including Cookbook Club and Teen DIY Studio.

“I would like to thank the Escalon community for giving me my start in librarianship and for teaching me so many wonderful lessons about customer service and thinking outside of the box,” Brianna said. “Thank you for being so welcoming to a new face.”

Brianna’s new position in SSJCPL is as a librarian over the three Stockton micro libraries which are housed in Stribley, Van Buskirk, and Arnold Rue Community Centers. Each micro library focuses on all ages programming, offering a minimum of one program each day.

The Thursday afternoon reception is a community event open to everyone whose lives have been touched by Miss Amanda and Miss Brianna.