More than 120 children signed up for the Summer Reading Program, and Pace has initiated a new program, Fun For Families, for after school and evenings. The program will include hiking, games, cooking classes and activities that families can share together. She has scheduled a movie night for 5:30 p.m. July 18 at the library, and on Aug. 6, the library will host a free picnic at Harmon Field.

“A lot of parents work and don’t get to come to the daytime library programs,” Pace says. “I want to offer the chance for everyone to enjoy the library.”

She also offers free homework help to any child, tween or teen in the county. She will work one-on-one with anyone who needs help with any school subject. She has read aloud to a child from a Spanish-speaking home whose family didn’t read in English, and she can teach skills in mathematics, reading or other school subjects. Homework help can happen on a walk-in basis during her work hours, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, or Thursday, 1-8 pm. Students also can make appointments for specific times, if they prefer.

“I want to instill my love of learning and reading in children in Polk County,” she says.

Pace has read 30 books so far this year, reading mostly on the deck at the library during her lunch hour or before she goes to sleep. She has many favorite books for children and young adults, including the Divergent series, the Legend series and Hunger games – dystopian novels with strong girl characters.

“A book has to grab my attention from the beginning,” she says. “I have a lot of books I want to read, so if a book doesn’t captivate me from the beginning, I move on.”

As a longtime local, Pace knows good places to hike, bike and swim. She plans to stay here in her dream job, but she will travel from time to time, using her vacation days. She has plans in the works for trips to Greece and Peru. Best of all, she can adventure anywhere in her imagination, every time she opens a new book.