Tara Jordan is the Elementary Librarian for Greendale’s three elementary schools. You may also know Tara from her previous position as Adult and Teen Services Librarian at the Greendale Public Library. Tara has been sharing her many gifts and talents with the Greendale community for the past 6 years. Recently, Tara came up with the idea of setting up “Story Walks” around the elementary schools. Signs with pictures and text from different stories were placed alongside walking paths. You can read more about this impactful community project here as featured on jsonline.com
Thank you, Tara, for your many contributions to Greendale!
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I am originally from Kansas and I first came to Wisconsin to attend law school at UW-Madison. After finishing my law degree in 2012 I decided to pursue a masters degree in library and information science with the intent of becoming an academic law librarian and in 2013 I enrolled in UW-Milwaukee’s School of Information Studies. While studying to become a librarian I interned at St. Francis Public Library and realized the important role public libraries have in serving the community and my career goals began to change. After I graduated from library school I took a job at Greendale Public Library where I served the Greendale community for 6 years as the Adult and Teen Services Librarian. Very recently the opportunity came up to join the Greendale School District as the Elementary Librarian for Greendale’s three elementary schools and thus my career has taken a new turn! I am very happy with this new position and I hope I can continue to interact with and serve the community I so much enjoyed working with at the public library.
Q: Please tell us about your current career. What do you love most about what you do?
I just started my position as the Elementary Librarian for Greendale Schools three elementary libraries so I am learning a lot right now. I think what I most enjoy about my work is seeing kids get excited about a book they found on the shelf or hearing their thoughts after I’ve read a book to them during their class library time. I never get tired of hearing “Hi Library Teacher!”
Q: Please tell us about any interesting or unique hobbies that you have?
I love Korean culture, language, and entertainment. I am a huge fan of Kpop and Korean dramas, and I take Korean language lessons. I also teach English to 6 children living in Korea online.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in Greendale? What do you love there?
I love Sugar and Flour! Their baked goods are amazing but their savory meals are fantastic as well. The owners and staff are also super friendly, which makes eating there an especially pleasant experience.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in Greendale?
I began working in Greendale in October of 2015, so it has been six years.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in Greendale?
One of my favorite library patrons at Greendale Public Library was woman named Violet Konkel. She had the best laugh and always had something funny to say. I remember being so surprised when I first met her to learn that she was in her 90s! She was just so energetic and enthusiastic. I mentioned once to her that I liked the color purple and the following week she brought me a bag full of purple scarves and shawls. Violet passed away very recently in September I think, but she was the first person who came to mind with this question!
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
If I could travel anywhere right now it would be South Korea! I had an amazing 2 week trip planned to visit South Korea in March 2020 and less than two weeks before my scheduled flight the pandemic happened and I was not able to go. I last visited Korea in 2018 and I really want a chance to see the country again. One day it will happen!
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
I watch a LOT of Korean movies and dramas. One of my favorite Korean dramas is called Crash Landing on You–it’s on Netflix and I highly recommend it if you are in the mood for romance. If you are looking for action and suspense I would recommend the Korean movie Train to Busan, which is a zombie flick, or The Phone, which is thriller that incorporates some time travel elements.
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
My favorite musical group is SHINee, a Korean pop group, and they are my go to when I want to listen to music.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about Greendale?
My favorite thing about Greendale is the public library! The people there work so hard for the community to provide interesting programs, a wide variety of books and materials, and a community space with long open hours. Our small community library has more open hours than most of the libraries in the Milwaukee County Federated Library System! In addition to that the staff are fun, caring, and incredibly knowledgeable.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
I don’t know where I will be in 10 years but wherever I am I hope I am dancing!
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
I once went paragliding off a mountain in Austria. I have to admit that I really didn’t understand what paragliding was and all that it entailed when I signed up for the experience, and if I had known fully what it was (or that I would be required to jump off a mountain) I would not have signed up for it! But once I met the paragliding instructor on the mountain with a friend I felt like I could not back out and though it was very difficult for me and I went through many failed attempts before getting up in the air, I am so glad I was able to do it. The mountains were beautiful, the sky was beautiful, looking down on Salzburg from the sky provided an amazing view and feeling. However, that place was perhaps the most beautiful to me because I pushed through anxiety and fear and experienced something that was completely out of my comfort zone.
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
My idea of the perfect date is April 25th because it’s not too hot and it’s not too cold, all you need is a light jacket!
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My mother definitely inspires me to be better. I am so proud of what she has accomplished in her life and so grateful for the opportunities she worked hard to provide me with. I try my best to work hard so that I might be deserving of her hard work and sacrifices.
