Trixie Walker

Vicky Turner, the American Fork children's librarian, has been working in a library since high school, more than 40 years ago.

"At that time, it was a remodeled house right across from the SCERA, and the basement was the children's area," she said. She began work as a page, shelving books. She also assisted with library-sponsored dinner theatres by making puppets for the plays. When the children's librarian quit, Turner was offered the position since she "was already doing it anyways."

She accepted the position, although she would have preferred to be an adult reference librarian.

"I was a stay-at-home person and was tired of talking childrenese," she said. "The day the lady told me she was going to make me a children's librarian, I about bawled, but it's worked out for the best."

She later quit the job to attend Snow College, where she received a two-year degree in science; she also received an associate degree in library science from BYU.

She quit work while her children were young -- she had five in seven or eight years. In 1979, when they were older, she went to work for the American Fork Library.

"I thought, I'm through with kids and got a job here," she said. "The minute I did, I found I was pregnant, so when my son was born he came to the library with me. He slept in a box while I worked." Turner has recently celebrated 30 years at the American Fork Library and was honored as the city's employee of the month.

Turner's family is still involved with the library, assisting with props and activities.

"If Vicky needs something, she makes it, and involves her family," said Lauren Armstrong, a library employee. "One time she was allergic to feathers and her whole face swelled up, but she kept on making things."

Turner has created whimsical papier-mâché figures which decorate the children's section of the library.

"I put some in Steel Days Art Show, they got a first and honorable mention," she said. Each year she decorates a tree for Festival of Trees using papier-mâché figures.

Turner's library responsibilities include planning themes and activities for the year-round reading programs. About 300 children attend each of the three preschool sessions during the school year, and close to 600 register for the summer reading program. She also served with the children's awards committee for 20 or 25 years, and serves on a national library organization.

She said she loves it when former reading-program participants return with their children.

"Some of the kids I first started with are having kids and coming back with them," Turner said. "I've had several of them say, 'Do you remember when I used to come? These are my children. You did such a great job with me I'm bringing them back.'"

Turner said the library is a wonderful community resource, offering movies, plays, tours, and educational opportunities for all ages.

"I wish I could get the word out more about what we do down here," she said. "People think we read books all day. Sometimes we are crammed full with people in long lines to get their books.

"I want to make it so the kids will enjoy coming, and I don't like to be too fussy about how the books are arranged. Adults want them all together, but kids want to pull them out and look at them."

She said it is important for children to be able to pick out books they will enjoy reading.

"My biggest pet peeve is when parents don't let big kids read the picture books," she said. "I found out a long time ago that most newspapers and magazines are written on about a fifth grade reading level, so I tell parents if you are making your kids read on grade level you should read on grade level too. They want the kids to broaden their vocabulary, but a lot of children's books have a big vocabulary. If you force a child he won't like it.

"How many of us grew up on Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys? They're not great literature, but the kids who started reading on them enjoy reading and they don't quit."

Library director Sheena Parker said Turner is very enthusiastic about children's literature and can talk about it for hours.

"She knows her authors," Parker said. "Someone says, 'I am looking for a blue book with spiders,' and Vicky can pick it out."