by Charlotte M., 15
Life’s inherent difficulties were something Kathleen learned about early on. She could not ignore them or waste energy resenting them; she simply had to keep persevering. This is a lesson she truly appreciates learning.
In 1999, Kathleen Melgar moved to Asbury along with her mother, Marta, her godmother, and her godsister. Although the area posed safety concerns and offered few activities, the family stayed close and adapted. The move followed job offers for Marta and Kathleen’s godmother at a local grocery store—opportunities neither woman could afford to pass up.
Her mom had Kathleen at 16 and worked sometimes up to three jobs. Her mother became Kathleen’s earliest role model, teaching her to adapt and persevere through difficult circumstances. She lived in an apartment and, after attending public school for a short while, later joined Our Lady of Mount Carmel, a private Catholic school.
Throughout life’s hardships, Kathleen sought refuge in the local library. Her mom would drop her off, and there she could read or do schoolwork. It became her safe place, and it grew even dearer to her when her mother got a job there as a library assistant in 2006.
After school, she’d visit the library, joining her mother once her work shift ended. The former director, Robert Stewart, assigned Kathleen tasks while she was there. He became a major mentor for Kathleen and showed her the ropes of running a library. He even requested that the school give her days off so she could accompany him to library conferences.
When Kathleen became old enough to work, the library hired her as an assistant. “Robert was a great mentor, always encouraging me to learn and helping me understand Asbury,” she recalled. With his guidance, Kathleen spoke with residents and attended public forums, where she encountered different perspectives on the community’s challenges. She also learned that many residents believed their concerns were being overlooked.
As she had depended on the library during difficult times, Kathleen hoped to provide that same refuge for others. Robert encouraged her to continue her education, and in 2015, the Board of Trustees awarded her a scholarship to study library science at Rutgers University. To become a librarian in New Jersey, she needed a master’s degree, so she worked hard to earn one and prepare herself to serve the community.
Community members were also calling for changes at the library. Robert had been working as the library director for nearly 50 years, and the town was ready for a new perspective. Five years ago, he retired, and Kathleen took over the position.
As soon as she got the job, she started working toward her goal: making the library a place where people feel free to share their dreams and work toward reaching them. Now, it’s not a simple job. Despite her fondness for her job, sometimes situations arise that require her to make critical decisions to help the library. Kathleen is good at thinking ahead and noticing things others might miss. Because of this, there may be disagreements—but that’s part of being a strong leader.
That said, she always tries to build close relationships with her staff, checking in on them and making sure they’re a good fit for the team. She has strengthened her relationship with the board of trustees and turned the library into a place where the community can grow.
She’s still learning a lot along the way. Not just in her job, but in her personal life. With a 5-year-old son, she “doesn’t understand how her mom did it.” Even with all the support she has, she still feels, on some days, like she’s “going crazy.”
Even with the stress, thanks to her mom and her former director, she knows that, despite the challenges of daily life, she can find a way to work anything out. You just don’t stop trying.
Bridge Ink 