#CPLStaffSpotlight | Chapter 3
Meet Young Park, Librarian and Assistant Manager of the Popular Library at Harold Washington Library Center!
Did you grow up in Chicago and how long have you been working at CPL?
I immigrated to Chicago from Seoul, South Korea in July 2002 and arrived in the Albany Park neighborhood on my very first day in America; I still discover new things every day. Since July 2005, I’ve worked in various positions at Chicago Public Library over the past 20 years, starting as a part-time library page and now serving as assistant manager of the Literature, Language and Popular Library of the Harold Washington Library Center.
What did you study in college, and how did it shape your path to becoming a librarian?
I studied chemistry, creative writing/literature and performing arts in Korea. As a chemistry major, I was trained to repeat precise experiments and check for error verification to achieve the desired results. While studying creative writing, I was fascinated by the beauty and power of the creativity demonstrated by past, current and future writers.
In graduate school, I earned my Master's and PhD (candidate) degrees in theatre studies. I studied comparative Eastern and Western performing arts and taught drama and theatre production to undergraduates; this is where I experienced the joy of collaborative creation and gained project management skills. I earned my Master's in Library and Information Science (MLIS) from the Dominican University, ultimately leading me to a fulfilling career that blends my diverse interests and expertise: Librarianship.
What is your favorite thing about working at Harold Washington Library Center’s Popular Library?
The Popular Library (POP) is a welcoming space and information hub conveniently located on the first floor near the State Street entrance of the Harold Washington Library Center (HWLC). My favorite part about working at the POP is the daily opportunity to connect with many people, both patrons and staff members.
Because POP is located right at the entrance of HWLC, we see a wide range of visitors: people searching for new books and media, patrons picking up holds, tourists from around the world, and familiar faces who spend their days sheltering in the POP’s alcoves. I also love connecting with colleagues from across HWLC as they stop by to pick up items for themselves and their families and share about their favorite books and new subjects.
You’ve made the Popular Library a truly welcoming space. What are some ways you’ve worked to make the environment feel inclusive and engaging?
The POP team diligently creates and maintains an inclusive and engaging environment. Over the last three years, the POP team focused on accessibility to our collections and created user-friendly spaces. We developed, deselected, rearranged and redisplayed POP collections working with various departments across HWLC.
We removed outdated materials, bookshelves, posters and refreshed all signage in collaboration with the Marketing Department to ensure materials are easy for patrons to locate. Additional improvements included: repainting all walls and creating a more spacious public area; adding new, comfortable, movable furniture; installing a community board for the public and a program flyer rack for HWLC staff; adding a digital display monitor for CPL initiatives and HWLC programs; installing a charging station, self-checkout desk and floor outlets; updating lighting and repairing the floor and workroom speaker system; creating an open program area and updating exhibition cabinets.
Above all, POP’s diverse and dedicated staff work together to foster an inclusive culture by installing multilingual signage, offering programming tailored to the interests and needs of patrons and staff, smiling at all patrons and staff across departments and making sure they feel a welcoming and receptive environment when they ask questions.
You’ve built such strong ties through outreach and partnerships — what inspires you to connect with the community in this way?
I have built strong relationships through outreach and partnerships everywhere I have worked because I have always seen the service community as family, and libraries as the heart of the community. Over the years, I worked at the Albany Park Branch for 15 years, Bezazian Branch for two years and Harold Washington Library Center for three years. Each branch serves diverse populations and is surrounded by civic, social and community organizations offering tailored resources for the community. These organizations’ enthusiasm and commitment continuously inspire me to become more involved in my community daily. I work to provide library space for outreach tables for them, build collaborative programs and organize tours to connect community members with services they need.
Some organizations I have partnered with include City Council offices, House of Representatives offices, North River Commission, Albany Park Community Center, Northeastern University, Hana Center, Argyle Night Market, Erie Neighborhood House, among local schools, parks and artists. I’m also inspired by my colleagues at CPL who model meaningful community engagement—Tom Stark at Budlong Woods Branch, Mark Kaplan at Uptown Branch, Lala Rodgers at Sherman Park Branch and Daylily Alvarez at Lozano Branch are just a few examples of staff doing remarkable outreach.
To inspire other colleagues across the country, I have presented at the Illinois Library Association (ILA), Public Library Association (PLA) and American Library Association (ALA) conferences, offering insights on building strong relationships with CPL’s diverse communities.
How long have you been part of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Committee and what is your favorite part about helping to shape programming for AAPIHM Month?
I have been a part of the Asian American Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Service Committee for 15 years (since 2010), serving in various roles, including co-chair from 2011-2012 and again from 2022-2023. One of my favorite parts about helping to shape programming for AANHPI Month is seeing presenters and artists from Asia, Hawaii and the Pacific Island proudly and joyfully introduce their history, culture and communities with patrons at the library. I experienced firsthand the process of establishing a new identity as an immigrant in the U.S., letting go of my life and all the achievements I had made in my home country.
Starting over as an adult wasn't easy, and there were times when I felt I had to relinquish the values I had known and understood to survive in a new country. Immigrants are key stakeholders and beneficiaries of library services and programs, such as English classes, Citizenship Corner, ESL Book Club, Learning USA Financial system and Legal Services. The immigrant communities I work with are incredibly appreciative of these services, but they really take pride in contributing something unique and different to America. That's why I love to help shape programming for the AAHNPI month, but also love and appreciate all of the cultural heritage months that libraries celebrate all year long, from January to December.
What motivates you to stay involved in so many initiatives, like the Outreach and Community Engagement Committee at HWLC?
CPL is a wonderful organization seeking the best services for the public and helps staff to grow professionally and personally with initiatives. I was involved in many initiatives to provide the most updated and needed service to the patrons. Human Design Thinking (HDT) Working Group, P2PU (Peer to Peer University) Learning Circle Facilitator Group and Virtual Programming Working Group helped me to adapt my services with new technologies. The Adult Services Department also provides various initiatives that allow me to offer the most timely and critical services to my patrons. I was involved in some initiatives to elevate minority voices in the CPL system.
Working for various leadership groups at the library, including the Critical Librarianship, CPL BIPOC Group, Cultural Committee Chair Group, ASID Planning Team and the Speed Hiring Committee, Staff Pick, I have been able to contribute my voice to build up CPL’s DEI guideline and services. My motivation and desire to share my knowledge and experiences with my peers has allowed me to participate in more initiatives including Adult Services Adult Book Club (ABC) Working Group, HWLC Outreach and Community Engagement (OCE) Group, ASID Informal Session Starter Group, HWLC Redesign Workshop Group, and Hybrid Program Peer Learning Group.
What is one thing you wish people knew about the Library that they might not know?
I would like people to know that CPL is where your stories and community histories are meant to be collected, published and preserved. CPL’s special collections are unique and rare public archives, only available at CPL and they are a living collection that continues to grow even as we speak. I have been fortunate to work with my colleagues in the Special Collections Department of the Northside Regional History Collection at the Sulzer Regional Library on the Korean American Archives (KAA) Project, opens a new window which began in 2022. This project was initiated to support the Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History (TEAACH) Act by the state of Illinois and to develop primary Asian American resources in the city. I hope more people will realize that libraries are not just places to store information but also places that produce and share useful information to sustain communal knowledge and history.
Looking back at your journey so far with CPL, what are you most proud of? And what’s next for you?
I am proud to have grown and mentored many of my colleagues through my journey at CPL. CPL was where I started my immigrant life and taught me how language, culture and people shape the fabric of our city and country. Amidst my journey at CPL, I also feel very proud of raising my two daughters in CPL, CPS and community-engaged programs across the city.
I am honored to share that I have been promoted to Librarian IV - Branch Manager. In this new role, my goal is to serve the community with the information and services they need to thrive. I am committed to our patrons, getting them the information they need to access and make new plans that get their hearts beating lively. I will do my very best to make that happen.
What are some of your favorite hobbies or interests?
I love cooking and playing tennis. During the season, I usually compete in mixed doubles league matches with the Chicago Area Tennis Society, playing indoors every other Wednesday night from 9 to 11 p.m. In the summer, I switch to outdoor courts and play casually with friends in parks across the city. I also enjoy cooking Korean food and often invite friends over to share a meal, talk about our traditions and catch up on everyday life.
What are you currently reading?
I usually read 4-5 books at a time, either in English or Korean. Right now, I have two books in my bag: See it & Say it in Spanish, opens a new window by Margarita Madrigal and James, opens a new window by Perceval Everett.
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