Champion Profile: Penny Markey

Born in Pittsburgh Penn., Penny launched her career working with kids as a teenaged babysitter and camp counselor. She attended neighboring Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, graduating with a bachelor's degree in psychology and, immediately afterward, received a master's degree in library science.

Penny came to California when her husband obtained a fellowship from USC. She began work as a children's librarian at the County of Los Angeles Public Library and was promoted to senior librarian for the region after four short years. She was then promoted again in 1980 to coordinator of youth services, where she remains today. Penny has worked for the County Library for more than 35 years.

Penny's contributions to the community have been impressive. Among her many accomplishments through the library, Penny launched the county "Family Place" early childhood program which has grown from six to 30 sites in five years. With First 5 LA's assistance the program will soon expand to 50 sites. She also launched the "Live Homework Help" program, giving students online homework support through a "chat function" on the library's Web site. More than 70,000 L.A. County students accessed the online site last year. 

Penny served as an adjunct professor in 1998, 2002 and 2004, teaching Library Services for Children in UCLA's Department Of Library and Information Science. She has also co-authored several research papers, some of which have been published in the Journal of Youth Services in Libraries and the School Library Journal. Additionally she spearheaded the evaluation of the Public Library Summer Reading Program, and the data collection and inclusion of library data in Los Angeles County Children's Planning Council Children's Scorecard.

Penny has received several awards including an American Library Association Groiler Award in 2003 for excellence in providing library services for children and National Association of Counties awards for several of her programs, including "Begin at the Beginning With Books" and "Read Together." She also received a Productivity and Quality Award from the L.A. County Quality and Productivity Commission.

Penny lives in Manhattan Beach with her husband. Her son is a mechanical engineer who builds windmills. Penny and the L.A. County Library are currently partnering with First 5 LA for our "Read Early, Read Aloud" campaign.

Which book has most influenced your life?
There has not been a single book which has provided the most influence. It is the    combination of the books and reading and learning that has inspired and motivated me

What makes you happy?
I love to initiate connections – connections between people and programs and resources.  Sometimes I call myself the human conduit!

Which historical figure do you admire most and why?
When I was growing up, I loved to read biographies (I still do!).  I loved reading about strong women who accomplished things – Nellie Bly, Clara Barton, Harriet Tubman, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Eleanor Roosevelt, etc.

What is your favorite way to spend time with an important child or children in your life?
I love to watch the children who participate in the County Library’s Family Place Programs. They are oblivious to everything around them as they play and learn and explore their environment.  They are full of joy and promise.

What is the greatest challenge the children and families of LA County face today?
I am distressed that the safety net for children and families that so many have worked to create over the last decade is crumbling. Tough economic times make for tough decisions – I fear that they are at the expense of our families.

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