A few weeks ago, she saw an advertisement in the paper for a librarian. Being a great lover of all types of books, she applied for the part-time position and was accepted.
Originally from Grand Forks, North Dakota, Miller remembered fondly the bookmobile that came through her neighborhood each week. As a little girl, the bookmobile was one of the highlights of the week for her and her friends. "It was a lot of fun,” she said. “It brought the books right to us."
She enjoys reading all types of books; mostly fiction and current best sellers, but not as much romance. Currently, Miller is reading a series by Jan Karon, which stars an Episcopalian priest in a town called Mitford. Barbara Kingsolvery's "The Bean Trees," a story about life's twists and turns in the American southwest, as well as Tony Hillerman's mysteries are a few more books that stick out in Miller's mind. She also enjoys cookbooks, especially those put out by various churches. "I just had a cookbook home," she said, as she went to find it. This particular one, "The Southern Heritage Family Gathering Cookbook," featured many cake and dessert recipes. She was surprised to find that almond flavoring, a flavoring often found in Scandinavian desserts, was a common ingredient in several of the southern desserts. "I like baking. Especially with lots of butter!" she laughed.
Miller assists library patrons with locating materials on the shelves, as well as through the library's computer system. She also suggests books for certain tastes, and helps people check materials in and out. "The best part is meeting people. It's especially encouraging to see children reading." The Paynesville Public Library has an assortment of children's literature, with many different titles, as well as children's series.
The Paynesville Public Library has an advantage being part of the Great River Regional Library System. If a particular book is not in stock, a patron can order it from another library in the system and have it in one to three days; and the more current movies rotate, so different movies are available periodically.
Mary Miller is a knowledgeable and friendly addition to the Paynesville Public Library staff. She can help find a book for everybody.