THE BIXBY BULLETIN

January 2026

Hello and Happy New Year! 

I’m so excited to introduce myself. I’m Jennifer Pearson and am thrilled to be the new Director of the Bixby Library. Although I started part time from my home in Tennessee in November, January 12 will be my first day onsite at the library.

Over the last couple of months, I have been getting to know the library staff and Board of Trustees—I can’t imagine a better group of people to work with. The staff are wonderful and incredibly creative, and the Board has been very supportive and patient as they get me up to speed on the big picture and the current large projects happening at the Bixby.

A bit about me: I grew up in Mississippi and graduated from the University of Mississippi. Every August I am driven to distraction as my beloved Ole Miss Rebels football season starts. It’s been a wild one this year, from a high-profile loss of our coach to being in the playoffs for the first time since the middle of the last century.

I met my husband when we worked together at Square Books in Oxford, MS. We have been married for 27 years, and we have three children between us: Will, Gillian, and Lilith. Will and Gillian are both adults on their own now. Lilith is 19 and on what we hope is a one-year gap from college.

Professionally, I have worn many hats in the library profession. I’ve managed the cataloging division at Ingram Library Services and worked for a decade at OCLC (the world’s largest library cooperative), doing a variety of jobs, including managing “Geek the Library,” a national advocacy campaign for public libraries. I was the Library Director of the county library here in Tennessee for over eight years. I have also had the privilege of serving on the Board of Directors and as President of the Association for Rural and Small Libraries.

I am very much looking forward to meeting all of you soon. Please stop in and say hi the next time you are at the Bixby—I’d love to hear what you love about our library. And I’ll gladly take any tips on Vermont winters that you have. See you on January 12!

Jennifer Pearson

Library Director

We are excited to welcome Jennifer Pearson to the Bixby team as our new Library Director! Jennifer brings more than 20 years of library experience to the Bixby, most recently serving for over eight years as Library Director of the Marshall County (TN) Memorial Library. Her career also includes roles with Ingram Library Services, OCLC, and EBSCO, where she managed library products and services for academic and public libraries, as well as work with the Library of Congress. She also served on the Board of Directors and as President of the National Association for Rural and Small Libraries.

Jennifer is passionate about public libraries as community hubs for learning, exploration, and engagement. She enjoys being actively involved in her community, both professionally and personally, and earned her degree from the University of Mississippi.

Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys spending time with family and friends, pop culture (including plenty of TV binge-watching), trying new restaurants and breweries, watching Ole Miss football, and reading. Jennifer has recently embraced a philosophy she has long supported: reading anything you enjoy is a noble pursuit—you don’t have to read what’s “good” or award-winning, just what grabs and keeps your attention. Connect with Jennifer by emailing her at jennifer.pearson@bixbylibrary.org.

A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who has already contributed to this year’s Annual Appeal–you are amazing! Your generosity directly supports the programs, events, and resources that make the Bixby Library a vibrant gathering place for our entire community.

We’ve made great progress toward our goal, but we’re not quite there yet.

As a subscriber to this newsletter, you know firsthand the many ways the Bixby strengthens our community. What you may not know is that the library relies on community support for nearly half of its annual budget. 



Your gift to our Annual Appeal truly makes a difference. Please consider contributing today–it’s as easy as clicking here, mailing a donation, or stopping by the library. Thank you for helping your local library make an even greater impact in 2026!

Isola by Allegra Goodman

Isola is a sweeping historical work based on the true story of 16th century French noblewoman Marguerite de la Rocque. When Marguerite is orphaned at an early age, she is placed at the mercy of her guardian, who manages her funds and decides her future. She is forced to accompany her guardian on his voyage to New France and, with a twist of fate, is abandoned on a desolate island located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence to fight for her survival. This was an intriguing tale that speaks to the resiliency of the human spirit, even in the most unforgiving circumstances.

Amber Lay, Assistant Director/Adult Services Librarian

The Healing Hippo of Hinode Park by Michiko Aoyama

This charming, uplifting novel explores the stories of five strangers who find comfort and healing from a hippo statue named Kabahiko in their local park. According to local legend, touching the part of Kabahiko that matches your ailment will bring healing. As each character’s story unfolds and they seek help from Kabahiko, from a lonely mother to a young boy struggling with his grades, the novel offers insights into kindness, community, and finding healing in unexpected ways, while showing that we are all more connected than we may think.

Miranda Degreenia, Community Engagement Manager

Nobody in Particular by Sophie Gonzales

This engaging YA novel is full of fun characters and a meaningful love story, perfectly blending romance, royalty, and self-discovery. Princess Rosemary is determined to rebuild her reputation after a scandal threatens her future and the monarchy--until Danni, a talented pianist on scholarship, arrives at her boarding school and turns Rose’s world upside down. Their connection begins quietly but quickly grows into something both thrilling and dangerous under the constant gaze of the public. Delivering escapist fantasy with slow-burn romantic tension, this novel is set apart by its heart, thoughtfully weaving in discussions of mental health, queer identity, grief, homophobia, and class privilege to ground the fairy-tale premise in real emotional stakes.

Shelby Gagne, Children & Youth Librarian

Questions or comments on this month's newsletter?

Contact Bixby Bulletin Editor-in-Chief, Miranda Degreenia.

Library Hours:

Tuesday–Thursday: 10 AM–7 PM

Friday–Saturday: 10 AM–3 PM

(802) 877-2211

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