Parry Rigney was recently promoted to the position of manager of the Park Ridge Public Library’s children’s services department. Rigney, a Barrington native, has worked at the library for four years, most recently in the position of assistant manager of children’s services.
Before becoming a librarian, Rigney says she had a “hodgepodge career” that included work in public relations, publishing, restaurants and even a flower shop.
Q: What made you pursue a career as a children’s librarian?
A: I knew I wanted to work with kids and with books. When I looked at the offerings for the master’s degree in librarianship, it sparked my imagination. There were courses in storytelling and children’s literature and it sounded like something that would be a lot of fun, interesting and rewarding.
Q: What children’s authors do you find yourself recommending the most?
A: I love an author named Suzanne Selfors. I do find myself turning to her books frequently because they are really imaginative and funny and they appeal to a broad range of kids. Also Mo Willems. He’s the author of a popular series that starts with “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus.” I recommend Willems for parents with older preschool-age kids if they are looking for a good real-aloud book. Kevin Henkes is an author I recommend for parents of younger kids. He has beautiful picture books that have bold, beautiful illustrations and satisfying stories.
Q: What are you reading right now?
A: “Don’t You Know There’s a War On?” by Avi. It’s on our Battle [of the Books] list this year.
Q: What book do you find yourself reading over and over?
A: “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,” by Betty Smith. It’s probably one of the books I’ve read most frequently. … I also try to reread “The Long Winter” by Laura Ingalls Wilder every winter. It’s a tradition I started a few years back. It’s about a winter in the 19th century that was incredibly long and incredibly harsh and the little town they lived in was struggling for survival.
Q: What are some of your other interests?
A: I like to knit and listen to music. I also like to find good restaurants and I love pizza. I’m planning a wedding in December, so that’s been taking up a lot of my time.
—Jennifer Johnson, Pioneer Press
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