Jessica Dawkins
Jessica Dawkins has joined the Wyoming State Library crew as our new Services Collection Technician in the Information Services office. She will oversee the maintenance of the Wyoming State Libraries physical collections and work on book processing and repair, as well as metadata in the digital collection suite. She’ll also help out with marketing and publications.
“Jessica brings a lot of skills and talent to our team,” said Abby Beaver, Information Services Manager. “I’m thrilled to add someone to our staff who’s at the beginning of her library career and is eager to learn about what we can provide to libraries across the state.”
Jessica started taking college courses at age 16 with the intent of becoming a children’s book author and found an equally strong passion for graphic design. She received her Associate’s degree in Mass Media: Multimedia from Laramie County Community College, and graduated from the University of Wyoming in December with a Bachelor’s in English. During the last few semesters, she developed a love for research and theoretical analysis and hopes to continue her education with a Master’s in Library Science and, ultimately, to earn a PhD.
She was able to combine her love of design and writing by serving as online editor of LCCC’s Wingspan, and copydesk editor at UW’s Branding Iron. She’s also spent a great deal of her spare time volunteering at public libraries.
Jessica has lived all over the country — Alabama, Alaska, South Carolina, and now, Wyoming. “The one thing consistent in all of these places was the comfort and power of the local library,” she said. “I’m incredibly excited to join the Wyoming State Library — it’s living my dream! I’m hoping to soak up as much knowledge and information as I possibly can in the upcoming weeks as I find my place here.”
In the long run, she’d like to be able to help residents, especially patrons with disabilities and students of all ages, understand all the resources the WSL has available for them.
Some fun facts about Jessica: She’s obsessed with Shakespeare and 18th Century Romantic Literature, and her favorite book is Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. In her spare time, she writes poetry, essays, and short stories and hopes to be able to finish a full-length novel someday.
Her favorite hobby, other than writing, is photography, particularly abstract and nature-based photography. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve always had a camera by my side, documenting everyday life and special occasions throughout the years.”