Two Harbors library director fulfills dream of North Shore living

• Michelle Monson

Michelle Monson took in her first library board meeting last week. The board hired Monson last month to replace former director Susan Heskin. Photo by Lizz Berge.

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When you look at her background, volunteering at libraries since she was 10 and doing a college internship at a library, it’s no wonder Michelle Monson became a librarian. Monson is taking over as director at the Two Harbors Public Library this month.

Monson got her undergraduate degree in art history and was planning on either becoming a curator or a librarian. “I loved libraries when I was a kid,” Monson said.

She worked at the St. Cloud library before she saw the opening on the North Shore, which was on her list of “dream” places to live and work along with Key West and Sonoma.

Monson says that she spent many summers on the Shore at summer camp near Lutsen. She continued to visit for kayaking, hiking, and camping.

“I’m really excited to get to know the community,” Monson said. Working at a smaller library will allow more hands-on work with the public, she said.

Her job as director includes working with the board of trustees to decide the direction of the library, planning programming, and selecting books and DVDs.

The library has been thriving in recent years with circulation steadily rising. Although books are still the largest circulation item, internet use and DVD rentals have been growing fast.

A new long-range plan for the library has been put in place with a goal of making the library a center for the community.

“I’m so happy to be here,” Monson said. “I’m really looking forward to digging in to Two Harbors.”

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