Getting to Know Your Ninjas, IV - Amanda

Name: Amanda Grace Poore

Where & when were you born: October 11^th, 1988 in Columbia, Maryland

What CD are you listening to right now: I’m listening to A Storm of Swords on an audio book CD. Does that count? I also like the musical stylings of Regina Spektor, Florence and the Machine, and Fleet Foxes.  

Favorite place in the world: I once visited the mysterious island of Mont Saint Michel in France. By day, the tides recede and visitors can traverse the steep stairways that lead to sacred graveyards and statuaries. By night, the water rises, sealing in any wayward travelers.   

Favorite quote/saying:

“Not all who wonder are lost” - J. R. R. Tolkien.

AND “I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.” – Douglas Adams

AND “I was raised up believing I was somehow unique/ Like a snowflake distinct among snowflakes, unique in each way you can see/ And now after some thinking, I'd say I'd rather be/ A functioning cog in some great machinery serving something beyond me” – Fleet Foxes

Hobby of choice: I love food, so my hobby of choice is eating/cooking things to eat.

Television addiction: Right now I’m into Raising Hope, The Office, and 30 Rock.

Weird obsession not many people know about: I am in love with the steampunk fashion. I love the clockwork and Victorian lace. A good book in this genre is Court of the Air by Stephen Hunt.

Name three things on your bucket list:

1. Visit the Pyramids in Egypt

2. Visit the Great Wall of China

3. Meet Neil Gaiman

Unique Ninja Skill: The ability to make any machine in the library submit to my will, except the printer.

Favorite genres of books: Fantasy is number one. Anything with a Dragon in it is awesome. Science Fiction (or Speculative Fiction as Margaret Atwood calls it) is also fun, especially when robots are involved.

Favorite thing to post on the blog: I like the Cover Lover posts we do. Since I was an Art major, I appreciate the skill behind creating those images.

How long have you worked at the library: I have worked here for almost two, wonderful years now.

What made you want to work in libraries: I needed a part time job while in school at UTA, but I didn’t realize how much I would like it!

What is your dream job: Now that I have seen the light, I want to be a young adult librarian and possibly write young adult books as well.

Best kept library secret: When you drop the books through the book slot, a team of magical fairies lifts each book and casts check in spells on it and puts it on a cart for us to shelve.  

Advice for teens who want to be librarians: Look for teen internships at the library and volunteer. It will put you way ahead of the curve when you apply later on. Also, major in something techie for your undergraduate degree. Libraries keep moving forward in technology and we need to keep up!

Advice for teens who want to know what to read next: Check out what we are reading on the blog. Also, come in and ask us.

Anything to add: Another goal of mine is to have this library…