Dear Selection Committee,

I am writing this letter to give the highest possible recommendation for Lindsay Place for acceptance to the
Emerging Leaders program. As the Teen Services Coordinator for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library I have worked
with Lindsay for almost two years. I had the pleasure of hiring her and placing her at the Beatties Ford Road
Regional Library. From the beginning Lindsay has contributed greatly to both our system and to the community of
Mecklenburg County. She brings a blend of skill, professionalism and enthusiasm as a teen lead librarian and has
demonstrated great creativity and leadership in her role.

Lindsay is the team lead for Operation College Launch, a series of free programs designed to help teens and their
parents navigate their path to college. Lindsay first started as the co-lead and progressed to the lead her second
year on the team. Before she took over as lead she facilitated a post-assessment with library staff, asking what was
needed for Operation College Launch for the following school year. She learned patrons needed more dates for the
free standardized tests, such as the SAT and ACT. She reached out to the Princeton Review and negotiated with the
regional representative for permission for library staff to act as proctors for the tests instead of Princeton Review
Staff. This allowed library staff to facilitate more free tests at their branch, which answered a direct need of
patrons. Lindsay also worked to update the presenters for this years program, inviting presenters to feature
programs on college planning for home school students and scholarship application tips from parents. This years
program is the most diverse it has ever been and serves a broader selection of patron needs thanks to Lindsays
vision, planning, implementation, and leadership.

At the Beatties Ford Regional Library Lindsay oversees an extremely active teen program. Her branch has three
high schools that directly feed in to her location. In her role as a teen lead librarian she leads a team of three senior
library assistants and maintains a schedule for teen programs, desk coverage, and branch displays. When Lindsay
first started at CML there was not a large teen population at her location. Within a year of her arrival Lindsay made
connections with local media specialists, teachers, parents, and teens and tripled teen attendance in her programs.
She now has a very active teen area where she and her team have built lasting relationships with the teens and
within the community.

Lindsay is a staff member of excellent character. She is highly respected by her colleagues within CML and can be
counted upon to represent the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library with poise and professionalism. She is the type of
librarian that inspires others, especially teens, to want to become a librarian. She showcases the best of our field,
making it enjoyable, accessible and fun.

It is clear to me as I hope it is to you that Lindsay Place is an exceptional candidate, one that would contribute
greatly to the Emerging Leaders program. I wholeheartedly recommend her and wish her the very best in all future
endeavors.

My best,

Angela Craig
Teen Services Coordinator
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
acraig@cmlibrary.org
704-416-4661