Tag: first2know

By: Dwana Pinchock

Andrea “Andie” Schmidt, our Print and Mailing Services Technician, is a Harrisburg native who spent time as a Los Angeles transplant before returning home. She’s an illustrator with a BFA and a deep, abiding love of pop culture and astrology.

So, Andie, what are you reading now?

“I just started Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney. She’s an Irish author who also wrote Normal People and Conversations with Friends, which were both adapted into series.

I actually watched the shows first and really connected with them, so I picked up Normal People and loved it. Her writing style is really unique. It feels conversational, almost like simple observations, and she doesn’t use quotation marks. It’s more of a stream-of-consciousness style. It was a little jarring at first, but there’s a rhythm to it that I really enjoyed.

In school, my creative writing tended to be very dialogue-focused, so reading her work felt different in a good way. After that, I wanted to explore more of what she’s written, which is how I ended up starting Beautiful World, Where Are You.”

What’s your favorite genre?

“I tend to gravitate toward fantasy, but more broadly, I like romance or relationship-focused stories. A lot of fantasy overlaps with that, which is probably why I enjoy it so much. At the same time, something grounded in real-world relationships, like Sally Rooney’s work, is really interesting to me too.”

Do you have any books you’d recommend?

“I actually haven’t read a lot of astrology texts yet, but I’d like to. Most of what I know comes from observation, but there’s a deeper structure to it. There’s a whole system with houses and other elements that people have studied in detail. I’d like to build more knowledge in that area.”

How did you get interested in astrology?

“I think I’ve always had a bit of a latent interest. When I was a kid, a relative gave me this tiny, pocket-sized book about Taurus, and I still have it. It had basic facts, and I always knew that was my sign.

Later, probably in college, I became more interested in personality frameworks in general. That was around the time Myers-Briggs became really popular. Then, when I moved to Los Angeles for school, I realized how many people, especially in art communities, are really into astrology. That’s when I started paying attention to all the signs, not just my own.”

As our Print and Mailing Services Technician, what is it like working in a non-traditional role?

“My expertise as a printer developed pretty recently, but I do think people sometimes don’t expect me to have as much technical knowledge, especially in production-heavy or machinery-based work, because I’m a woman.

There’s still this assumption that those roles are more for men. That can be frustrating, because I pick things up quickly and I enjoy figuring things out. My dad worked in IT, and while he didn’t formally teach me, I think I picked up that instinct to tinker until something works.

I would really love to see more women in technical and production roles.”

Behind the scenes, Andie helps bring the Library’s work to life in ways our members may never fully see, but experience every day. From printed materials to mailed outreach, her creativity and growing technical expertise keep things moving forward. We’re glad Andie is part of our team.

By: Maria Lagasca, Public Services Director

April brings spring showers, flowers, and National Library Week, a time for us to celebrate our dedicated library staff, the foundations that support us, and the community that makes our library thrive. According to the American Library Association, this year’s theme, “Find Your Joy,” “is an invitation for people of all backgrounds to explore and discover what sparks joy in them at the library.”

In a time when the past few years have felt especially stressful for many, creating, alongside offering resources and essential services, feels more important than ever for our shared well-being. Dauphin County Library System (DCLS) is committed to bringing our community joy by ensuring we keep our spaces welcoming, our services meet the needs of the community, and our resources accessible to all.

When you visit one of our eight branches, joy is inevitable. Whether it comes from seeing your favorite librarian, spotting the next Diana Gabaldon book on the shelf with no holds, or breathing in the scent of timeworn pages (to each their own), there is always joy to be found at DCLS. Joy is also present in the lives of the many neighbors we help connect with jobs, housing, and basic essentials, thanks to our dedicated social workers. Sometimes joy arrives slowly, like a new friend, growing as trust builds and brings with it a sense of safety and comfort. You may not always be able to name it, but you can feel the trust, the trust that the library will provide not only books, but accurate information, and will meet you where you are. That trust is a gift, and we are grateful for it.

DCLS invites you, especially if you’ve been away for a while, to find your joy in our libraries not just during National Library Week, but every day. If you need help discovering that joy, we will do our very best, and our best is unlike anything else you’ll find. Libraries are one of the last institutions that ask nothing of you: no fee to enter, no cost to explore, and open access to resources, space, and support. Libraries are here to serve you. Stop in and stand up for the right to read; come by and thank the library staff; drop in and support equitable access; walk through our doors and find your story.

As always, thank you for your unwavering support of DCLS.

Happy National Library Week!

By: Charissa Roberson, Information Services Assistant

April is National Financial Literacy Month, making it the perfect time to highlight one of The Library’s free-to-access resources, Weiss Financial Ratings!

This database provides reliable information on stocks, banks, insurance companies, and more, as well as a variety of tools to help you deepen your understanding and build confidence in the world of finance. Let’s dive in and learn more about what Weiss Financial Ratings has to offer and how it can benefit you.

Weiss Financial Ratings is divided into three main categories: investments, banking & insurance, and personal finance. We’ll look at each category in turn and go over how to navigate the database to find what you need.

First, let’s look at investments. This category is divided into stocks, mutual funds, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Based on thousands of data points, Weiss Financial Ratings assigns these investments a BUY, HOLD, or SELL rating. A “BUY”- rated investment will have an A or B grade, indicating that Weiss would recommend purchasing shares. A “HOLD” rating with a C grade suggests keeping an eye on this investment if you have it, while a “SELL” rating with a D or E grade means that Weiss would recommend selling your shares.

These types of ratings are what Weiss calls “investment ratings.” A higher rating means you are more likely to get a good reward with minimal risk, while a lower rating means the return on your investment may not outweigh the risks involved.

You can begin your search by clicking “Start your search for stocks.” From this page, you can use the Quick Search option if you already know the name or ticker symbol of the stock you’re interested in. If you want to search more broadly, you can browse pre-prepared searches, look for stocks by sector or rating, or build your own search (called a “screener”) with personalized criteria. When you click on a stock, you can view its profile, which includes vital information about the stock, its rating history over the years, and a comparison tool where you can line stocks up side by side and compare their numbers.

The setup of these search options is the same across the entire database. Click over to mutual funds and ETFs. Notice that, while some terms may be different, the organization and functionality of the pages are the same. The same goes for the pages on banks, credit unions, and insurance companies. Once you get used to using one section of Weiss Financial Ratings, the other sections will start to feel familiar and straightforward to navigate.

The other type of rating that Weiss provides is “safety ratings.” These apply to banks, credit unions, and insurance companies and follow a letter-grade system (A-E, Excellent to Very Weak). A higher rating means the institution is more likely to remain strong and stable over time, while a lower rating suggests it might not be able to sustain economic difficulties. These ratings can help you determine what institutions to entrust with your hard-earned money.

Remember, you will find all the same sorts of search tools on these pages as you found under investments. There is a Quick Search tool, an option to build a customized search, and a selection of pre-prepared searches for your convenience. Want to view the profile of a listed bank, credit union, or insurance company? Simply click on the name. Want to compare banks or insurance companies? Use the side-by-side comparison tool.

Finally, Weiss offers a variety of educational tools to assist you on your personal finance journey. Browse their library of e-Books and learn how to become an investor, how to make and stick to a budget, how to plan for retirement, and much more. These e-Books take complicated subjects and explain them in clear, easy-to-understand language. You can even access consumer guides and printable worksheets to help you plan and organize.

Whew! We’ve just presented you with a ton of information – so if you’re still feeling uncertain, don’t worry. Weiss Financial Ratings offers FREE webinars on a variety of topics, from how to use the database to tips on shopping for insurance. All you have to do is sign up! Or you can always watch tutorials in their Video Library or type a question in their Chat service.

This April, take charge of your financial literacy and check out the wealth of resources that Weiss Financial Ratings has to offer!