Colleen Willis

Upon completing an undergraduate degree in Speech Pathology/Audiology from Northern Arizona University Colleen Willis stepped down from the student library she had just spent four years shelving books in and proudly announced for all who could hear that she was never working in another library again. Nevertheless, three years later, she received her Masters in Library Science from the University of Arizona. While completing her Masters she worked in the Arizona State University Law Library. After taking advantage of the three major universities in Arizona she decided to give the public library a shot and moved to California to follow her passion for working with children.

Colleen has happily spent the last eight years working as a children’s librarian for the Anaheim Public Library. She got her start in storytelling because she happened to make the most fabulous pig snort that could be heard all the way from the back of the room. After the undying praise she received for her excellent puppetry she was hooked. Five years later she was approached by her supervisor who asked if she would be interested in doing a storytime for babies. Colleen had just had her second baby and was excited to try something new. Her initial start was slow, but as word got around the programs became a success. She then turned her experience into a California Library Association training session and has been busy ever since training fellow professionals in the art of baby storytimes.