

Kim Brown had no intention of leaving her position as an attendance secretary at Crestview Elementary School.

But then Wolfforth City Secretary Debbie Perkey called and made an offer she couldn't refuse - although she did spend several weeks thinking and praying about it.

Brown is the new director of the Wolfforth Library, a position that Perkey said she was particularly suited for because of her ties to the Wolfforth community and her enthusiasm for both reading and libraries.

"A huge portion of the library position is community knowledge and community cheerleader," Perkey said. People visit the library for both information and company, she said.

"It's sort of a feel for the community, and she had the ability to provide that," Perkey said.

Lynda Knight, secretary at Crestview Elementary School, worked with Brown in the school office.

"Kim is amazing, and she is so good with people," Knight said. "I hated for her to go, but I know it was the perfect job for her."

Knight said she hopes the Wolfforth community will realize what a great asset they have in Brown.

"She is so proud that she knows Wolfforth, that she went to school there. She's vested there," Knight said.

Brown also has great people and computer skills, Perkey said.

"I've always had a passion for libraries. I don't know that it's what I wanted to do," Brown said.

She had considered a career in nursing at one time, but she started her position at Crestview in 2008 so she would have more time with her three sons. But she said she and her brood visited the Wolfforth Library for summer reading and on cold winter days.

"I read passionately. I have since I was old enough to read," Brown said.

Waving a hand toward the fiction section at the Wolfforth Library, she said, "I've probably read a majority of the fiction books here."

She said she sometimes assisted Andi Powers, the former library director, with whom she was close.

Brown, a 1998 graduate of Frenship High School, is a lifelong resident of Wolfforth. Her husband, Phillip Brown, is president of Frenship Youth Baseball. Because spring baseball will soon start, Brown jokingly refers to herself as a baseball widow.

Her hobbies include watching her sons' sporting events, involvement with dogs and reading.

When asked about those hobbies, she responded with, "Golly Pete," before replying.

Brown has both immediate and long-term plans for the library. In the short term, she said library visitors have asked to have science fiction and Christian fiction separated from the main fiction offerings in the library, and she will be doing that. She also plans to have a novel section for juveniles.

As a long-term goal, she said, "I am going to actively search for a grant to have e-books."

The expense of licensing e-books has been a concern, she said, but grants could help.

One thing that will stay the same is the presence of 16 computers in the library, free for public use.

"We're going to keep that technology up to date. We're going to keep that resource always readily available," Brown said.

She said there are visitors every morning who come specifically to use the computers.

"A lot of them are job seekers," Brown said.

Another immediate plan Brown has is to continue Powers' fundraiser for March of Dimes. She will have candy available for $1 donations through April 26, and the money will be given to Team Powers for March of Dimes.

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