Katy librarian comes full circle in her role

By George Slaughter, News Editor
Posted 11/3/22

Often, a student focuses on one topic, only to have an epiphany of sorts and change direction to pursue her true calling. That’s the case with the new branch manager at the Katy Public Library, 5414 Franz Road.

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Katy librarian comes full circle in her role

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Often, a student focuses on one topic, only to have an epiphany of sorts and change direction to pursue her true calling. That’s the case with the new branch manager at the Katy Public Library, 5414 Franz Road.

Actually, calling Elizabeth Boggs the “new” branch manager isn’t entirely accurate. She’s been on the job since Aug. 1. She knows the community, being a Taylor High School graduate, class of 2011.

She also knows the library, having twice worked as an intern there during her student days at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, about 160 miles northwest of Katy.

“It was what inspired me to become a librarian,” Boggs said.

She went on to earn her master’s degree in library science at the University of North Texas in Denton. She joined the Harris County Public Library System, first at the Spring Branch Memorial Branch Library. She worked for about three years there in the young adult department. Then, she joined the Katherine Tyra Branch Library, where for two years she worked as assistant manager. She learned the business, knowing that she wanted to be a manager herself someday.

The Katy Branch Library is part of the Harris County Public Library system, but is also considered the city’s library because it sits within the Katy city limits. She succeeded Desmond London, who resigned to pursue other interests.

For Boggs, the situation was a good one.

“I always loved the library,” Boggs said. “I just loved helping people.”

Like other library patrons, Boggs enjoys reading. She enjoys reading graphic novels. She has a number of favorite authors, including Shannon Hale, whose works focus on a younger audience, and Taylor Jenkins Reid, whose works focus on adult readers.

Working with regular library patrons and volunteers is another perk of Boggs’s job.

“It’s so fun to see the same faces return,” Boggs said. “It’s really neat to come back when I’m a little bit older and see the people I have seen. They’re regular patrons here. Also, seeing the regulars come in with their kids is neat. Our volunteers are wonderful.”

Part of that crowd of regulars includes her parents, Joe and Brenda Stefanski. Boggs’s husband, Jedediah, is an ESL lead at Seven Lakes Junior High.

The library is much more than books, of course. Early voting began Oct. 24 and ends Friday. The library is serving as a station for those Harris County voters who wish to vote early. Election workers supervise the polling activities, which are taking place at the front of the library.

“The library has been a little bit quieter because everyone is voting,” Boggs said. “There’s been a huge voter turnout.”

Just part of the routine for a library intern turned library manager.

“It’s been fun to come back full circle,” Boggs said.

Katy Public Library, librarian, Taylor High