Seen Around Town: Jennifer Cochran
Cochran
September 28, 2016
Julie Pruitt
This week, Jennifer Cochran, a lady who wears many hats, is featured as our Seen Around Town star.
Jennifer is Branch Supervisor for the Eagle Rock and Shell Knob Libraries in the Barry Lawrence Regional Library System which consists of 10 branches. She is very knowledgeable and remembers most of her customers and their favorite genres and authors. Many times, a patron will come into the library and Jennifer will say, “Hey, I saved a book I knew you would like.”
She also organizes the adult programming, supervises two staff members that plan children’s activities, helps patrons with the computer and orders items in from one of the other branches. If Eagle Rock doesn’t have what you want, Jennifer will have it for you in a matter of days. As you can imagine, Jennifer’s favorite part of the job is the people. She said, “Every day is something different and I really am a people person. This job gives me the opportunity to be involved in two great communities.”
Jennifer was a stay-at-home mom, but when her youngest started kindergarten she thought the library job would be perfect. It would be fun, interesting, with good hours to allow plenty of time to be involved in her children’s lives. She has been here for seven years, starting as the part-time clerk, then she was promoted to supervisor and youth services. Last month, she was offered the opportunity to manage the Shell Knob Branch, so, even though she loves the children, she relinquished her youth service position to Tracey Crook and started working on making the two little libraries even better than they have been. Getting to know the patrons at Shell Knob has been a new experience, but she is looking forward to expanding the opportunity of another great community relationship between the patrons and the library.
Jennifer is originally from Webb City and Carthage. She graduated from the same school as her dad, just 20 years apart. Then, she and her mom moved to Eagle Rock where she later met her husband, Bryndon. They bought a house in Eagle Rock almost 20 years ago and have enjoyed raising their three children: Brett, a freshman at College of the Ozarks; Sam, a freshman at Cassville High; and Wyatt, a seventh grader at Cassville. They love the small town attitude of Eagle Rock.
Jennifer loves reading, of course, and attending Cassville football games to support her two sons who play along with their friends that are like family. Jennifer said, “What’s better than a football game anyway?”
Jennifer has many memorable moments, but her favorite is being blessed to have the great community of Eagle Rock to raise her family. When her daughter, Brett, left for college, the Cochran family’s world changed, but the community stepped up to take care of the whole family. She said, “Not a day goes by that we don’t get a call, text or message making sure the entire family is okay.”
Eagle Rock is a small community in the middle of nowhere, but the library and ERCA definitely step up to the plate providing events for children and the whole community like a big happy family.
Jennifer is definitely right for the job with her people personality. In fact, her dad always told her she had never met a stranger, and so far, that has proven true. This is a true asset for the job because it allows her to visit with people and find out their interests so she can help them find a book, movie, or information.
Jennifer Cochran is an energized and fun lady, so stop by the Eagle Rock Library and let her help you a good book.
Julie Pruitt
This week, Jennifer Cochran, a lady who wears many hats, is featured as our Seen Around Town star.
Jennifer is Branch Supervisor for the Eagle Rock and Shell Knob Libraries in the Barry Lawrence Regional Library System which consists of 10 branches. She is very knowledgeable and remembers most of her customers and their favorite genres and authors. Many times, a patron will come into the library and Jennifer will say, “Hey, I saved a book I knew you would like.”
She also organizes the adult programming, supervises two staff members that plan children’s activities, helps patrons with the computer and orders items in from one of the other branches. If Eagle Rock doesn’t have what you want, Jennifer will have it for you in a matter of days. As you can imagine, Jennifer’s favorite part of the job is the people. She said, “Every day is something different and I really am a people person. This job gives me the opportunity to be involved in two great communities.”
Jennifer was a stay-at-home mom, but when her youngest started kindergarten she thought the library job would be perfect. It would be fun, interesting, with good hours to allow plenty of time to be involved in her children’s lives. She has been here for seven years, starting as the part-time clerk, then she was promoted to supervisor and youth services. Last month, she was offered the opportunity to manage the Shell Knob Branch, so, even though she loves the children, she relinquished her youth service position to Tracey Crook and started working on making the two little libraries even better than they have been. Getting to know the patrons at Shell Knob has been a new experience, but she is looking forward to expanding the opportunity of another great community relationship between the patrons and the library.
Jennifer is originally from Webb City and Carthage. She graduated from the same school as her dad, just 20 years apart. Then, she and her mom moved to Eagle Rock where she later met her husband, Bryndon. They bought a house in Eagle Rock almost 20 years ago and have enjoyed raising their three children: Brett, a freshman at College of the Ozarks; Sam, a freshman at Cassville High; and Wyatt, a seventh grader at Cassville. They love the small town attitude of Eagle Rock.
Jennifer loves reading, of course, and attending Cassville football games to support her two sons who play along with their friends that are like family. Jennifer said, “What’s better than a football game anyway?”
Jennifer has many memorable moments, but her favorite is being blessed to have the great community of Eagle Rock to raise her family. When her daughter, Brett, left for college, the Cochran family’s world changed, but the community stepped up to take care of the whole family. She said, “Not a day goes by that we don’t get a call, text or message making sure the entire family is okay.”
Eagle Rock is a small community in the middle of nowhere, but the library and ERCA definitely step up to the plate providing events for children and the whole community like a big happy family.
Jennifer is definitely right for the job with her people personality. In fact, her dad always told her she had never met a stranger, and so far, that has proven true. This is a true asset for the job because it allows her to visit with people and find out their interests so she can help them find a book, movie, or information.
Jennifer Cochran is an energized and fun lady, so stop by the Eagle Rock Library and let her help you a good book.