Teen Librarian of the Year

Tualatin's Aimee Meuchel was named Teen Librarian of the Year at the 2015 Oregon Library Association conference. 

Aimee Meuchel, Teen Librarian at the Tualatin Public Library, received the OYAN You’re Excellent Award at the 2015 Oregon Library Association conference. The Oregon Young Adult Network [OYAN] gives this award to recognize an individual or organization that has made a positive and significant contribution to teens in Oregon libraries. 

In their letters nominating Meuchel for the award, Tualatin teens shared these comments about Meuchel:

"It was because of Aimee that I began to actively seek out leadership opportunities and become more involved in my community. Without her guidance and support throughout the years, I would have never grown out of my shell or realized how much I enjoy helping others." 

"Aimee is always smiling and having fun, which influences me and some other teens to smile and have fun with life, because you can't let the past or a bad day bring you down and ruin fun. ... Aimee honestly has the most creative mind in the world, and is the funnest person I have met." 

"I have learned from her the meaning of leadership and responsibility ... and she taught me to trust myself. ... I have never met someone older than me that understands how teens feel; she relates to us, and that is why she is a friend to me." 

"I would never have become to person I am today if it weren't for talking to that special little red-haired librarian." 

Meuchel is responsible for developing and presenting programs for teens; selecting books, DVDs, and other materials for the Library's collection; and working at the Information and Teen Room desks. Meuchel also oversees the Teen Library Committee, a volunteer group that coordinates and presents library programs for teens and elementary-age children and gives input on teen services. In 2014, Meuchel and TLC led and effort to repaint and to update the gaming and audio-visual technology in the Library's Teen Room.

Because of Meuchel's efforts, Tualatin Library has a highly successful teen program. The Library presents more than 200 programs for teens each year, including weekly drop-in gaming and movie nights. The Teen Room regularly has more than 600 visits each month. 

Meuchel has worked at the Tualatin Library since 2006, starting as a Children's Librarian. When the Tualatin Library was expanded in 2008, Meuchel became Tualatin's first Teen Librarian and was instrumental in the development of the Library's dedicated Teen Room. 

As part of the award, Meuchel received an engraved plaque and a monetary donation of $100 to support teen services at the Tualatin Public Library.