1999/2000 Reference Service Press Fellowship Winner
A second-generation native California, Evelyn Shimazu Yee believes she was predestined to work in libraries. Before accepting the fellowship, she had already worked in two southern California public libraries, four school libraries, and one museum library.
Most recently, Yee worked (for five years) at the Glendora Public Library. In addition to her regular duties, she video-taped, produced, and computer-edited library cable programming for weekly television shows. Yee also created the new Glendora Public Library card design and promoted the library's metro-business services.
Prior to this, Yee interned in the education department of a southern California museum, worked full time as a Library Assistant III at the Alhambra Public Library (where site automation supervision at one of its branches became part of her job), and a library instructional media assistant with the Long Beach Unified School District (which included work with partially sighted and gifted students).
Yee began her first library volunteer work while in high school, as part of a senior scouting requirement for community service. Since then, she has donated hundreds of hours to school libraries and to the youth in her community. Her volunteer work has been recognized by the local association of parents and teachers with an honorary service award certificate. She was also elected chair of a school district advisory committee on gifted and talented education.
Currently, Yee is enrolled at San Jose State University's library school, where she is working on her core library courses.
Source: California Library Association Newsletter, October, 1999.
