Michael “Mick” Stafford now has 14 years experience working in every type of library, but the most exciting has been at the Harris County Public Library’s Lone Star College–CyFair Branch, where he was recently named Library Director.
“I have never worked in a more exciting library environment. The place has a buzz about it,” said Stafford, who relocated back to Texas from upstate New York in 2003. “I had read about joint use, public and academic, libraries and thought they were the cutting-edge libraries. Now I know Lone Star College–CyFair Branch Library really serves as a cultural center for both college and community patrons.”
As a joint use facility, Lone Star College–CyFair Branch Library provides services and resources to college students as well as programming and services for community members of all ages. There is something for everyone, such as storytime for children and youth activities for teens as well as free computer workshops, Learning, Inspiration, Fellowship and Enrichment (L.I.F.E.) workshops, English as a Second Language events, numerous book clubs and more. There are study rooms, a testing center, language labs and tutoring available for students as well as career counseling, mediation and small business development consultation services, which are also available to community members.
“Our vision has always been to make the library a welcome and relevant place for community and college,” he said. “The Lone Star College–CyFair and Harris County Public Library, both excellent organizations, has provided the resources to make this vision a reality.”
Stafford said this library staff is the best he’s ever worked with and that they make his job easier. Library staff not only makes access to resources seamless, they are constantly looking to improve existing programs and offer new programs.
“I am really proud of the programs currently offered here. I’ve never seen anything like the Summer Reading program, which draws thousands of participants, and the variety of programs offered to customers of all ages is remarkable,” said Stafford. “This library is truly a center of lifelong learning.”
Stafford had worked at Austin Community College, Galveston Community College, Highland High School, New York; and State University of New York at New Paltz before starting as a founding faculty librarian at the Lone Star College–CyFair Branch Library, where he also served as the Assistant Library Director for Adult Services and Staff Training in 2003 and then as Interim Library Director since February 2006.
Stafford was also the recipient of a Lone Star College–CyFair Innovation Grant to create a Reader’s Advisory space in the library and coauthored a New York Historical Society Grant, “Alexander Hamilton, The Man Who Made Modern America”, which was on display at the college from December 2006 through February 2007.