-Daily Freeman-Journal photo by Anne Blankenship Melissa Perkins is the new reference librarian at Kendall Young Library.

One might find Melissa Perkins helping a Kendall Young Library patron at the reference desk or she might be found behind the scenes working on cataloging new pieces of the collection.

She began her duties at the local library as a new reference librarian and cataloguer Sept. 3.

Originally from Georgia, she comes to Webster City by way of Pennsylvania where worked as a cataloging librarian for a local business.

She had been hoping to move into a public library setting and was thrilled when the opportunity came about at Kendall Young Library.

“This is an absolutely gorgeous building,” she said as she chatted with the Daily Freeman-Journal beneath stained-glass dome of the building. “It reminds me of the capital building in Atlanta as you walk into the rotunda.”

Her duties are divided between cataloguing and helping patrons at the reference desk. She catalogs new books as they arrive at the library and refreshing the cataloging of older materials in the collection that may have had call numbers changed or their position in the library has moved.

She also helps patrons who stop by the reference desk who maybe looking for a particular book or piece of information.

Perkins favorite part of being a librarian is that she continues to learn everyday.

“You continue to learn all of the time. Nothing is ever the same, every day is a little bit different, especially here at reference desk,” she said.

When she’s not working, Perkins said she enjoys reading, drawing and cooking.

Perkins said she’s found Webster City to be very welcoming.

“I’ve met a lot new people and they’ve all been very friendly,” she said. “Everyone has been just been wonderful and very gracious.”