By John Koski
Staff writer
Not many people, much less librarians, can say they grew up on a berry farm. Anna Merry can.
As the new adult services librarian at Matheson Memorial Library, her earliest years revolved around her family’s strawberry farm in Antigo.
Known as Merry’s Berries, people eagerly awaited the announcement in early summer that the strawberries were ripe and ready for picking. This year, it appears they will be ready around July 4.
It would come as no surprise that spending her youthful years around the ripe, red berries would have tempered Merry’s taste for them.
Not so.
“Strawberries are still my favorite fruit,” she said.
After leaving the family berry farm, Merry began her collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish. During that time, she also studied abroad in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
Last month, she completed studies leading to a master’s degree in library and information studies from UW-Madison.
She began working full-time at Matheson Memorial Library shortly after Memorial Day.
“I had thought about getting a master’s degree in linguistics,” she said, “but I realized that linguists often spend an entire career studying just two vowels. That didn’t much appeal to me.
“I enjoy being a librarian because I get to do a lot of different things every day,” Merry continued. “I get to help people who are doing research and to help readers find a book that appeals to their specific interests.
“I truly enjoy helping people find what they need,” she added.
With her coursework in information studies, Merry said she understands how information is organized – both electronically and on the shelves – and can help people save time in finding what they are seeking.
“I also have an opportunity to work at the circulation desk, purchase books and plan programs,” she said. “I really enjoy the diversity of activities that my job entails.”
Being bilingual in English and Spanish is something Merry said she would like to incorporate into her position at some point.
“Right now,” she said, “I’m spending my time getting used to my position as adult services librarian.”
In her leisure life, she enjoys ballroom dancing and playing the French horn and piano. She has also been a Brownie Girl Scout troop leader for the past two years.
At Matheson Memorial Library, Merry will be leading the Page Turner’s Book Club and all adult summer programs, including the adult summer reading program.
For more information, Merry can be reached at amerry@elkhorn.lib.wi.us, or (262) 723-2678.
