UPCO Volunteer Chris Long
By Grace Brooks
“I have, in my opinion, the best job on the planet!” exclaims Plain City Library Director, Chris Long. Making sure the library meets the community’s needs and staying in touch with the community are only a few of the many tasks Long fulfills as the library’s director and as a member of Uptown Plain City Organization (UPCO). She has worked at the library for ten years and has served as a member of UPCO for five years.
When Long was 16 years old, a position at her local library to put books away opened. At the time, it was a great alternative to other part-time jobs at her age. Her desire to work in a library sparked from this experience. She attended The Ohio State University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and then continued her studies at Kent State University where she received her Masters of Library and Information Science.
Long currently lives in Union County with her family and has been there since she moved in 1996. However, she stresses that she is “in Plain City more than out,” and it feels like home to her as well. In her scarce spare time, Long enjoys reading and listening to music with her six year-old, Grace.
She serves as the “info junkie” for UPCO, trying to introduce and inform people about the organization. The library is also used as a tool in this process. If UPCO is working on renovations for the city, information can be displayed in the library to update the community on such happenings.
“UPCO is an exciting, energized group of people, and when you’re working with them, you become exciting and energized as well,” answered Long when asked what her favorite part about working with the group was. She participates in multiple other groups and organizations as well. She comments that working in the library carries her to numerous meetings and civic groups in Plain City. However, filling the role as a mom is “currently her club of choice.”
Talking to Long for only a few moments will reveal her passion for the village’s library. Between starting a garden project, inviting speakers to come in and talk, featuring a theater company multiple times, taking part in the “Good Shepherds” program and displaying alpacas on the lawn, the library never has a dull moment. The library and the Plain City Historical Society frequently work together to feature historical aspects of the village. Unfortunately, 30 percent of the library’s budget was recently cut, causing it to close on Friday’s.
However, the library staff is working hard to stay intact and active! Daily, the staff seeks and acquires information to benefit the community. Staying informed is their top priority. In order to provide their customers with necessary resources, they must maintain updates on hundreds of topics.
Long would like the community to know that UPCO is composed of a fantastic group of people that are working to make Plain City better and can always use fresh minds helping hands. As for the library, she comments, “I’d like to encourage visitors who haven’t been into the library in a number of years to stop by and dust off their library cards!”
