In honor of National Library Week 2025, we are getting to know the library staff. Last up is Laura! Laura is the library director. Her office is 100C in the library.  Laura has been working at the CIA library in a variety of roles since August 1998.

Laura started at CIA as the Slide and Reference Librarian in 1998. Eventually slides became digital images and she moved from reference to serving as the coordinator of the library's instruction program, so her title shifted to Instruction and Image Librarian. In August of 2016, she became the Library Director. She has a BA in English and Art History from James Madison University and an MA in history & art history from Cleveland State. She earned her MLS from Kent State.  

She lives with her family in Olmsted Falls. She loves listening to music loudly, reading, knitting, and playing golf very (very!) poorly.  

What’s your favorite thing about working at the CIA Library? 
I really love the people at CIA and love helping them with their research. A lot of people don't understand the breadth and depth of research and inquiry conducted by artists and designers. It's always something new and surprising!

What’s your favorite way to spend a day off?  
I’m learning to play golf, so if the weather is nice I would choose that. Otherwise, I’ll be reading, knitting, playing games, and listening to music. If it’s summer, I enjoy going to the pool for a long swim.  

What three fictional characters do you identify with most?  
Henry, the penguin from Oswald, is the only one that comes to mind, but it’s really the best answer.

What’s your favorite book/movie genre or your all-time favorite title?  
The Beartown trilogy by Fredrik Backman is currently my favorite.  I read a lot and I read almost every genre. Right now, I’m reading a lot of women’s fiction (which is a terrible term).

What’s your favorite board or video game and why? 
I’ve been playing Animal Crossing games for years because they are very relaxing to me and I like to have the ability to make the world around me exactly as I’d like it to be.  

What is the last song you sang along to?  
Out of Time (Bea Miller & Zedd)

Where have you lived and what brought you to your current city? 
I grew up in a small town in southern New Jersey, went to college in Virginia, and then came to Cleveland for what I promised everyone would be only two years. I have been here for way longer than two years.  

What is your favorite hobby, activity, or creative outlet? 
Knitting, reading, listening to music, playing on my phone, learning to play golf, and spending time with my family.  

What’s your favorite line from a movie?   
"They bump you, and when you stop, they mutilate you and take your car." That whole movie is so funny and weird. 

If you were to write a self-help book, what would the topic be? 
Tips and tricks to help you remember where you left your phone, keys, and cup of coffee.