Abby Garnett is a children’s librarian and assistant branch manager for the Cypress Hills branch of the Brooklyn Public Library. She has seven years of experience in urban public librarianship, focusing on early literacy and developing meaningful and supportive programs for families of all kinds. In addition to the Rekindling from Burnout initiative, she serves on the Community Justice Action Committee, working to support people reentering the community after incarceration, and rethinking Public Safety in the library. Abby also chairs the newly formed Body Positivity Committee at BPL. She earned her Master's in Library and Information Sciences at the Palmer School at Long Island University. She is also a musician, plant lover, cat parent, and avid reader.
Alicia Pritchard is the Neighborhood Library Supervisor at the Brower Park @ BCM branch of the Brooklyn Public Library. Prior to that Alicia worked at the Bedford branch where she encountered patrons facing many challenges who walked through the doors of her branch in the Bedford- Stuyvesant community. Alicia has been working at the Brooklyn Public Library for over two decades. She serves on the Community Justice Action Committee. Alicia goes above and beyond to ensure her branch is a welcoming safe space for all. Alicia earned her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from St. John’s University and her Master’s in Library Science at Pratt Institute. She is known by her colleagues as being personable, compassionate, and non- judgmental.
Lawrence Fiorelli is an Adult Librarian at the Red Hook branch of the Brooklyn Public Library. They have been working in libraries since they were fourteen and have been working at the Brooklyn Public Library for six years. Before becoming a branch librarian, Lawrence provided library services to people incarcerated on Rikers Island, where they offered compassionate and consistent service, helping people connect with their family members, research education and job options, and find the right book. They are always finding ways to try to improve their organization from within, providing trainings for staff on secondary trauma and LGBTQ competency. They earned their Master’s in Library Science at The Palmer School and are currently chair of the Stonewall Book Awards 2022 Barbara Gittings Literature Award committee.