Each month, we feature a Core member for an interview profile called #IAmCore. This month, meet Kristy Lockhart, Deputy Director of Thomas Crane Public Library in Quincy, Massachusetts. Kristy is a member of Core’s Leadership and Management Section and currently serves on the Core Forum 2024 Planning Committee.
Describe yourself in three words.
Friendly; resourceful; collaborative
Describe Core in three words
Accessible; welcoming; interconnected
What do you value about Core?
That it allows you to explore multiple elements of your work in one space. My job involves wearing a lot of hats, and Core provides resources in so many areas. I’m also really interested in intersectionality and conversations that can happen between folks in different areas of our profession, and Core is perfectly set up to provide a forum for that.
How long have you been a Core member?
I had been a member of LLAMA for years, but after the pandemic, I (and I’m sure I’m not alone in this) rediscovered Core in its new form and was so pleasantly surprised. I attended last year’s Core Forum and was just blown away–it was honestly one of the best conferences I had attended in years. I enjoyed it so much that I joined the Core Forum Planning Committee and am helping to plan next year’s Core Forum in Minneapolis.
What drew you to and continues to attract you to the Core Community?
There is so much opportunity to get involved and be a part of the organization at a deeper level. It pushes me towards unexpected connections at all levels, and the people I’ve met and the things I’ve learned from Core have really made an impact on the work I do day-to-day.
What are you working on now that you’re excited about?
We’re in the middle of a big year: opening a Makerspace, drafting a new strategic plan, and planning some big projects and events for our city’s 400th anniversary next year. It’s an exciting time to be working here, and I feel privileged to be a part of leading a phenomenal team of people.
What are you currently reading/ listening to/ watching/ making?
I’m reading The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer, which is a lovely read. I’m listening to the podcast The Improvement Association which is definitely worth a listen in our current political climate. And then for something lighter: I’m apparently the last person in the world to watch Suits, which is my guilty binge right now.
What advice can you share to others for a fulfilling and beneficial Core experience?
I can’t say it enough: get involved! Join a committee or interest group, take a class or view a webinar, and don’t forget to join us at the next Core Forum! But definitely be a part of the conversations that are happening as Core is taking shape–it’s an exciting time.
