Athmar Park

Getting to Know Our Athmar Park Library Staff...

Mar 02, 2005

Athmar library staff:
(top row, left to right) Jen Cotton, Delaine Gallegos, Dan Cedillo
(bottom row, left to right) Celia Schefe, Armand Ciuffo, Rachael Scott, Anne Elias

by Carol e Campbell
Okay, let?’s all just admit it, Athmar Park library patrons were totally spoiled by Roma, Patti, Marie and Susan for years and years and we miss them! Marie and Patti retired, Roma transferred to Bear Valley, and Susan?’s been promoted.

Waaaah! It?’s tough love for bibliophiles at the library ?—no more coddling?—there?’s no one to rescue us if we forget our library card! But wait a minute, some faces are familiar, Betty?’s still there... and lots of the part-timers. I decided to get over it, admit we were entering a new era, and forge some new friendships with the library staff. I think you?’ll enjoy getting to know them better, too...

JEN COTTON, Senior Librarian
Time at Athmar: since Sept-Oct 2004/full time.
Roots: NY originally, she?’s been in Denver ten years.
Hobbies: her kids! she has a 3 year old and a baby, snow-shoeing, gardening, sewing, and poker.
What?’dya like least about the library? Wishes library was open more hours, 7 days a week
What?’s best about the library? the staff!-feels blessed to work with such great people and loves the neighborhood feel. Within a week, Jen says, she felt like a part of the crew.
Interesting fact: She?’s been a librarian for 7 years, 4 years with DPL. Her goal is to provide the BEST customer service with the resources she has, so if someone has a problem, please let her know!

CELIA SCHEFE, Reference Librarian
Time at Athmar: on and off for 4-5 years/20 hours
Roots: lives in Platte Park.
Hobbies: reading, beading, gardening, and woodcarving.
What?’dya like least about the library? not enough space behind the circulation desk.
What?’dya like best about the library? the building design and the people.
Interesting fact: DPS school librarian for 30 years and also works at the Barnum branch.

RITA MONTOYA, Facility Maintenance
Time at Athmar: since January/full time.
Roots: lives by Bear Valley.
Hobbies: saxophone.
What?’s best about the library? the grounds!
Interesting fact: has worked for DPL for 8 years; used to work at Hadley.

DAN CEDILLO, Circulation Clerk
Time at Athmar: on and off for 11 years/20 hours.
Roots: grew up in north Denver & lives NW Denver
Whatd?’ya like least about the library? would like to see more kids reading and doing school research
Whatd?’ya like best about the library? working with people ?” I?’ll do my very best to help- whatever you need!?”
Interesting fact: bi-lingual (Spanish/English).

ARMAND CIUFFO, Shelver
Time at Athmar: on and off for 3 years/20 hours.
Roots: lives in Littleton.
Hobbies: tri-athlete, radio-controlled boats & helicopters.
Whatd?’ya like best about the library? the people, the set-up and that it?’s small.
Interesting fact: a retired physical assistant with Kaiser.

ANNE ELIAS, Circulation Clerk
Time at Athmar: since August/20 hours.
Hobbies: ultimate Frisbee, hiking, and writing.
Whatd?’ya like best about the library? small size, getting to know the patrons, the number of kids using the library keeps things busy.
Interesting fact: taught 5th grade for a year in Adams County.

DELAINE GALLEGOS, Shelver
Time at Athmar: 3 years/20 hours.
Roots: her mom lives down the street and her son goes to St. Rose.
Hobbies: reading, cooking, gardening, and rockhunting.
Whatd?’ya like least about the library? would like to see the library go back to the way it used to be- the ?“old-fashioned?” way when more books were checked out instead of so many DVDs.

CARLOS GOMEZ, Circulation Clerk
Time at Athmar: since December 2004/full-time.
Roots: lives on S. Tejon, south of W. Mississippi
Hobbies: bowling, motorcycles, and grandbabies!
What?’dya like least about the library? ?“I hate telling people that they owe a library fine.?”
What?’s best about the library? working with the customers and helping people.
Interesting fact: bi-lingual (Spanish/English) and worked for the Dept of Corrections for 16 years.

RACHAEL SCOTT, Circulation Clerk
Time at Athmar: 10-12 years, 10 years at Barnum before here.
Roots: lives in SW Denver by Bear Valley
Hobbies: photography, re-decorating & painting rooms.
Whatd?’ya like best about the library? that it?’s a small neighborhood library.
Interesting fact: started working for the library when she was still in high school!

ERIC TORRES, Circulation Clerk
Time at Athmar: on and off for 6 years/12 hours.
Roots: grew up here and lives on S. Navajo.
Hobbies: climbing and reading.
Whatd?’ya like best about the library? Bothering Betty, the customers, and it?’s close to home.
Interesting fact: also works at Byers and Robinson.

BETTY ARNOLD, Volunteer
Time at Athmar: 20+ years/16 hours a week.
Roots: lives on W. Custer; has lived in the neighborhood 45+ years.
Hobbies: Black Hawk fan and shopping.
Whatd?’ya like least about the library? not enough
reading going on; too many DVDs checked out.
Whatd?’ya like best about the library? ?“home?” it?’s my neighborhood.
Interesting fact: also volunteers 3 hours a week at the Hadley branch.