After working as the circulation librarian at the Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, N.J., Mirielle Vasselli, the new Boone Area Library director, said she was pleasantly surprised when she visited the Birdsboro library for the first time.

"It was so much larger than it looks from the outside," she said. "I walked in and (saw) the bookstore room, which is so expansive, (and) the kids' area was great and the teen room is amazing. The fact that there were so many computers and so many resources and the collection - I was very impressed."

Vasselli, who was actively looking for a new position, came across the job opening at the Boone Area Library online. She interviewed in May with the library's board of trustees, and her start date was June 26.

She said that working in an academic library is very different than leading a community library. "The principles remain the same as far as collection development and things like that, but I think (working at a community library is) a lot more interesting," said Vasselli. "A lot of the books in here I would actually read. Theological books are very dense and very long. Now, when I pass by the shelves, I see books (that I would like to read), and that gets me excited."

She said the new job also allows her to work with members of the community. "I was very much involved in circulation activities for a very large library," Vasselli noted. "It was more academic, obviously, so there were a lot of people studying to become priests and pastors - women and men - from all kinds of backgrounds and ideologies. It was very much a role serving them and their needs. (Here), I can work more directly with the public and have more of an impact."

One of Vasselli's first goals is to make building improvements at the library, which has some plumbing issues. The glass in the library's front door also needs to be repaired. Vasselli plans to work with the library board to secure funds for the projects. "We will brainstorm a lot together," she said. "My job is to find people to help us get as good as we can get to make sure the library continues to be a safe place."

For now, Vasselli is getting to know the Berks County Public Libraries and Boone Area Library staff members, including Sarah Terry, youth services coordinator. "She's really works so hard to build up the community, and they come back again and again," Vasselli stated. "I have utmost faith in her programs and abilities. It has been amazing getting to know the extent of her knowledge and capabilities."

Vasselli is also enjoying getting to know Birdsboro and all that the town has to offer. "I am hoping to get to know everyone so much better in the community. My goal is to figure out exactly what this community needs and how the library can best make that happen," she said, adding, "I can't wait to get more acquainted (with the area). "

The Boone Area Library is located at 129 N. Mill St., Birdsboro. For more information about library programming, visit http://www.facebook.com/boonearealibrary or http://www.berkslibraries.org/branch/boone.