Ever since her youth, Lauren Burris has been connected to the Guernsey County Library. She recalls her first experience at a library going to a reptile program when she was in elementary school. Then when she was a teenager, she began going to the Guernsey County Library to get books to read for fun. She attended a Twilight program with a group of friends and still has the bracelet she made that evening.
While Lauren began work at Guernsey County District Public Library in 2021, she first worked at Newcomerstown Public Library for about five years starting as a circulation worker and then the head of their Youth Services Department. After earning her Masters in Library and Information Science, she worked for a short time at Muskingum County Public Library.
Now, Lauren has a passion for creating programs for ages 0-17 as she knows how important they were in her life. She does the programming herself and supervises the planning and performance of all programs. These include early literacy storytimes, and programs for kids, teens, and families both in the library and throughout the community. Not only does Lauren enjoy working with the young people, but she is a big favorite of theirs, as makes the library a place they enjoy visiting.
Large family programs such as the Egg Hunt, Summer Reading Kickoff, Boo Bash, and Jingle Bell Bash are fun to plan. She ensures that all of the programs serve the community according to the American Library Associations’ guidelines by checking standards for each program they provide.
Lauren heads up the Summer Reading programs and sets reading incentives for ages 0-17. Her position puts her in charge of purchasing books from board to picture, chapter, and young adult books for all three locations and the bookmobile. She makes sure all their collections are up-to-date and cover a wide range of topics and genres. She also purchases program supplies and departmental supplies.
Work outside the library includes visiting the schools and participating in the community by serving on boards and helping organizations with youth activities. She plans and supervises crafts at the Salt Fork Festival as well as during Dickens Victorian Village special events.
When Lauren’s not busy with library events, most of her time is spent being a mom. She coaches both of her older kids’ soccer teams and volunteers on the leadership team at her church. Singing is also something she enjoys as well as some quiet time crocheting at home.
Lauren’s favorite part of her position at the library is that she gets to make a positive impact on the community. She enjoys meeting people from all walks of life and knows that she’s part of providing services that are free and open to everyone.
According to Lauren, “Building relationships with our patrons has been a huge blessing. And I do not take lightly the responsibility of providing services to our community’s kids and their families.”
Last Updated on October 19, 2026 by AVC News
