ELLEN BOOK began her career as a public librarian in 1987 in the business and science department of the downtown main library in Miami. After four years assisting inventors and investors, she advanced into management, later leading the Coconut Grove, South Miami, Miami Lakes, and Country Walk libraries in Florida. She now serves as branch manager of the Pinecrest library in Pinecrest, Florida. Her accomplishments include distributing 27,000 dictionaries to schools across the county, receiving the League of Women Voters’ Community Activist Award, and being honored with a City of South Miami Day recognizing her decade of dedicated service. A master gardener with University of Florida IFAS Extension, she has educated thousands on home composting and upcycling plastic bags into mats for the homeless – both nationally recognized programs. A past president of the Rotary Club of South Miami and the Dade County Library Association, she remains passionate about inspiring others to pursue librarianship.