Shelly Krueger Finds Joy In Making Community Better
MENTONE — Shelly Krueger, Mentone, was recently named the new circulation manager at the Syracuse Public Library this summer. However, her new position does not even begin to scratch the surface of her various roles and community involvement.
As the circulation manager she is responsible for making schedules, handling money and overseeing how the circulation desk is run. She is still learning the Evergreen system allowing library patrons to check out and return books at other libraries also using the system, as well as offering online renewal and book requests. For her, taking care of the library patrons is her key role.
Before moving to the Syracuse Library she worked at Bell Memorial Public Library, Mentone, for 17 years. She began her work there as a page, but with so many children at home, she chose to quit and focus on her family. Once her children grew older and another position became available, she quickly applied again and started at the circulation desk. Later she became the young adult/adult programming coordinator. This allowed her to get much more involved in the community, creating the library’s first young adult department and building the collection, starting a library newsletter and webpage and organizing teen summer programs as well as adult programs.
When it comes to her home life and children, Krueger is the mother of eight, most of whom she home schooled until ages 10-12. She stated she enjoyed home schooling her kids because it gave them one-on-one attention and individualized learning methods she was able to adapt to each of their personalities. She also believes this greatly aided in their “confidence, self-esteem and ability to handle peer pressure.” Home schooling also had its benefits for her, allowing her to teach herself things like sewing, crafts and gardening. Always having wanted a farm table she even researched how to build one and made herself her own farm table for her home.
Krueger’s multiple flower gardens seem to be a real passion as she stated they almost fill her backyard. She enjoys growing a wide array of flowers and shrubs and, in the spring, will even sell them at the Mentone Farmer’s Market.
Mentone Farmer’s Market was started by Krueger after gaining permission from the town board. She began by advertising in the newspaper and they currently have five main vendors coming each week. She wanted the market to be simple with no fees and no rules. She wanted fresh vegetables to be available in town instead of having to drive to Warsaw.
Krueger has gained experience working as a Mentone Town Board member as well. She is currently on her fifth year. Her husband encouraged her to run and election day she was considering not going out to vote due to illness, but again her husband told her she should vote. That night she was informed she had won the election by one vote. Since being elected she spent a year writing up a police policy that has since been passed and is still currently working on writing a personnel policy.
Krueger seems to find the most joy in her family and in helping the community and making others happy throughout multiple aspects of her life.