Who”'s Who at the Franklin Library

Albert Einstein tells us that “the only thing that you absolutely need to know, is the location of the library.” That”'s easy; our Library is at 1314 East Franklin Avenue since 1914. Twenty-four years previous it was within the A.J.Bernier Building-17th and East Franklin Avenue.

Newly arrived, Cassie Warholm-Wohlenhaus, delves into service and archives

Cassie Warholm-Wohlenhaus

By Erin Thomasson

“This is your library,” says Cassie Warholm-Wohlenhaus, “and we”'re here to serve you, the community.” Cassie is Franklin Community Library”'s newest librarian, having joined the staff in March of this year. She is passionate about Franklin Library and the community it serves ”“ young and old, Native and non-Native, immigrant and long-time resident alike.

“Franklin was my top choice of libraries to work in,” explains Cassie. “It”'s a well-used library, with a collection of books and other materials in languages relevant to the local people, including Somali, Oromo, Spanish and Arabic.” She especially appreciates the Library”'s location in the midst of the Native American community. Cassie recently attended a back-to-school resource fair at Little Earth of United Tribes to promote library services, and would like to see more programs and partnerships with both the Native and Somali communities.

Cassie is also excited about working with young people, and she staffs the Franklin Teen Center in the evenings. “I see a lot of positive changes in the youth who come to the library,” Cassie remarks. Working with youth at the library builds on her experience as a Peace Corps volunteer from 2008-2010, when she taught at a village school in Armenia. Her time in the Peace Corps deepened her commitment to public service and social justice.

“One day I woke up and just knew what I wanted to do with my life,” she remembers. “I suddenly realized that I wanted to be a librarian!” After completing her time in the Peace Corps, Cassie studied at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, graduating with a Master”'s Degree in Archival Administration.

Her experience working with library archives was put to use almost immediately at Franklin Library as staff there have been preparing to celebrate the Library”'s 100th anniversary. Cassie has been working on an historical exhibit, combing through 100 years of annual reports written by Library staff for interesting stories, photos and details about life in the Phillips community during the past century. She can”'t wait to share what she and the other library staff have uncovered at the 100th Anniversary Open House, to be held at Franklin Library on Saturday, October 11.

Cassie and the staff of the Franklin Community Library encourage the community to celebrate its 100th Anniversary and “claim the Library as your own!”