Andrea Stineback, director of Fulton County Public Library, stands beside a life-size replica of founder Dolly Parton to celebrate the beginning of Imagination Library. Every child who signs up will receive a free book in the mail monthly, from birth until their fifth birthday. Photo provided by Andrea Stineback.

By Laurie Lechlitner
InkFreeNews

ROCHESTER — “I love my job as director of the Fulton County Public Library,” stated Andrea Stineback. “There’s always something new and exciting at the library. Not only do we have the usual things like books and DVDs, but we also have activities including crafts, painting classes, teen programs, story time, and so much more.”

Stineback earned an English degree from Indiana University, Bloomington, with a minor in music studies. “Some of my favorite classes covered rock and roll history,” she said. “The Beatles class was amazing.”

Stineback has worked at the library for 16 years. She started her FCPL career as a circulation clerk at the Aubbee Branch in Leiters Ford, which is Stineback’s hometown. She eventually took on Teen Services at the Rochester Branch and was later promoted to Reference/Adult Services Librarian, all while working on her master’s degree in library science from IUPUI. Stineback has been the library director since May 2016.

When asked about a typical day, she replied, “Every day is different. Some days I am getting things ready for the monthly board meeting; other days I am focused on checking in with staff and problem solving. There are days I am out in the community working on projects and attending meetings. I love that my job gives me the opportunity to help improve the community.”

She considers the library staff its greatest resource. “I could not do my job without the library’s excellent staff. They are patron-oriented and knowledgeable. If you are looking for something, they are willing to go the extra mile to help.”

Stineback is excited about a new project she has been working on with Lindsay Barts from The Ladybug Foundation. “We both worked diligently to gain funding to get Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library up and running in Fulton County. Every child that signs up will receive a free book in the mail monthly from birth until their 5th birthday. Lindsay and I are so thankful for the support we’ve received.”

As part of the Fulton County Leadership Academy, Stineback and her group decided to install StoryWalks in Fulton County. “Our first StoryWalk was installed at the Woodlawn Hospital trail and our second one is in Kewanna. Our future plans include StoryWalks in Leiters Ford and Talma.”

StoryWalks allow families the opportunity to exercise while reading. “The book pages are placed in metal frames and are installed on posts along a trail. Each panel features an activity prompt that gets people to engage with the story.” The first bilingual book Senorita Mariposa is featured at the Woodlawn StoryWalk. It takes readers through the life cycle and migration of the Monarch butterfly. Each book will rotate to the other StoryWalk locations.

On the home front in Rochester, Stineback is engaged to Timothy Roe. They have two greyhounds, Rosie and Lily. They also have two felines: a black cat named One and a creamsicle tabby named Pip, short for Pippi Longstocking. Stineback loves to cook, bake, hike, and visit botanical gardens. She is also the assistant treasurer for Fulton County Habitat for Humanity.

Stineback concluded, “If you haven’t been to the library recently, stop in and see some of our new offerings. I think you will be pleasantly surprised to find that the library has become a dynamic place where the community can grow and learn together.”