Michelle Zilli is a long-time employee at the Timberland Regional Library system. In the last year, her duties at Naselle expanded into leadership at the Ocean Park branch and recently she also took over at Ilwaco. Her role is changing to spearhead public outreach.

Michelle Zilli is embracing life’s only constant — change.

As a 25-year veteran of the Timberland Regional Library System, she is a familiar figure at the Naselle branch.

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Timberland Regional Libraries

https://trl.org

Ilwaco Public Library, 158 First Ave., Ilwaco, open Tuesday through Saturday. 360-642-3908.

Ocean Park Library, 1308 256th Place, Ocean Park, open Tuesday through Saturday. 360-665-4184.

Naselle Library, 4 Parpala Road, Naselle, open Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 360-539-3327.

All three branches allow people to sign up for expanded access hours which enables patrons to check out materials outside regular opening hours.

The Anywhere Library van will make stops at the Peninsula Senior Activity Center, 21603 O Lane, Ocean Park, 10:30 a.m. July 10; Bay Center Food Bank, 2 Main St., Bay Center, 4 p.m. July 12; St. Joseph Parish and Holy Family, 2800 Highway 6, Raymond, 10 a.m. July 16; the Raymond Senior Center, 324 Jackson Ave., Raymond, 11:30 a.m. July 18; and the United Methodist Church, 35 Second St., Bay Center, 3:30 p.m. July 18.

Children’s summer programs are planned Wednesdays in July at Ilwaco (11 a.m.) and Naselle (3 p.m.) beginning July 10, Fridays at Ocean Park (3 p.m.) beginning July 5. Art lab projects with a take-home kit will be available every week starting Aug. 5, while supplies last.

About a year ago she was put in charge at Ocean Park. Earlier this year, she added Ilwaco when its library manager, Tania Remmers, took over her hometown libraries in Raymond and South Bend.

“It is very challenging, but super invigorating,” Zilli said. “It is interesting and exciting to be doing this. I loved being in Naselle and had a wonderful time, but now I am doing something entirely new.”

‘Great’

Along with the addition of a third branch, Zilli said her role is changing to focus her emphasis on spearheading public outreach in south Pacific County.

To accommodate this, Naomi Fisher, librarian at Ocean Park, has been named operations supervisor for the three branches to handle issues like staff supervision, scheduling and facilities.

“We are still figuring out these roles, but it will enable me to spend more time in the community,” Zilli added. “And the staff are great and can generally handle everything that comes up.”

Zilli noted that the library system is seeking to foster closer links with groups like the Ocean Park Area Chamber of Commerce and the merchants associations in Long Beach and Ilwaco. She plans to be a visible presence at these and other gatherings. “I will be the library person there.”

Staff dovetail with programs through the Dylan Jude Harrell Community Center; appearances are planned at farmers markets and other events. The library already makes “pop-up” appearances at the Chinook School Food Bank on the first and third Thursdays of the month (1-3 p.m.).

Summer is a busy time for the libraries. Details are updated on the Timberland website at https://trl.org. Children will have opportunities to attend visits from a reptile show, comedian and a magician. Local musicians are being invited to perform at Ocean Park and Naselle during August.

In addition, book clubs and story times continue. A summer reading program with rewards is available for adults as well as children through Aug. 31.

‘Fun’

Zilli graduated with a teaching degree from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff then shifted in another direction, earning her master’s degree in library science from the University of Washington.

Her zeal for juggling multiple, overlapping programs is evident, as is her enthusiasm for new tasks.

“It’s like a mid-career shake-up that has been so much fun,” she added. “It is certainly challenging, but it has been so much fun to do something new and different and challenge myself and see what I can accomplish. That has been great!”

She said the rewards of library work motivate her.

“I like working with people and figuring out what we can do to help them find out what they need or want,” she said. “And just getting to know people. I have loved doing this for 25 years.”