Come to Standley Lake Library on weekends, and you'll find Kaitlin shelving holds. Kaitlin joined Jefferson County Public Library's volunteer team in 2025, and her organization skills and logical mind have quickly built trust with the staff team.
"Kaitlin makes a difference," Standley Lake Operations Manager Natalie says. "She is always willing to help wherever needed. Kaitlin's positive attitude and kindness toward our staff make her a pleasure to work with."
After graduating with a degree in public administration and criminal justice, Kaitlin pivoted to a career in software testing. Her work is mostly independent and in front of a screen, and she felt something a missing sense of connection, so being at the library is a welcome change.
"It can be hard for our generation to get involved in the community outside our close-knit group of friends," she explains. "Now, volunteering feels like the highlight of my week. I like being of service in some way and taking the load off the librarians. They are such essential resources that if there’s anything I can do to help keep them from being burnt out, that feels rewarding."
Kaitlin’s circle of community also includes her three beloved senior pets: Toby, a 15-year-old "morkie" (half Maltese/half Yorkie), Roxie, a 12-year-old dachshund, and Andee, a 17-year-old cat. "I definitely have a senior home," Kaitlin says with a laugh.
Age is just a number for Kaitlin’s dogs, who accompany her for daily walks, park time and patio hangouts. "It’s important to us to take them out and involve them in everything we do, and one of the dogs requires it — you have to take him everywhere!"
When she has time, Kaitlin loves to bake, especially bread, biscuits and anything she can freeze part of to enjoy later. She also loves to travel, particularly when she can visit her grandmother outside Vancouver. "We just like to sit and hang out. When I visit, I like to go searching for fun snacks to bring home that we don't have here. I always get ketchup chips, and you can find much better chocolate than we get in the U.S."
Kaitlin also loves to read and has discovered many great authors while volunteering at JCPL.
"One of the staff at Standley Lake has the same taste in books as I do, so I always check their staff picks," she says. "It feels impossible to come to the library and not check out a book."
Kaitlin also enjoys listening to audiobooks on her long commute, but only memoirs. "I like it when the author is reading the book. I try to do fiction on audiobook and zone out — I start picturing what's going on and then I miss many pages."
When reading a physical book, Kaitlin’s taste runs the gamut, though she is a sucker for a nice, feel-good rom-com. She recommends Atmosphere: "It’s a gay astronaut love story. It’s an easy read, but also touching. Easy in the sense that it’s about space, but not so heady you don't understand it."
Thank you, Kaitlin, for all you do to support Standley Lake Library!