OUT AND ABOUT

Labor of Love Liz and her husband Dan share their living space with thousands of books, and every now and then a class full of kids from Hawthorne Elementary. Krieger has spent years collecting the books, and it’s a process that never stops. “We took a drive to Minnesota and Wyoming two years ago. We had to BY JEANETTE TROMPETER stop all along the way and pick up books,” she said. Krieger spends days getting ready for every visit from In these days of tablets, smart phones and computer screens that can read a the kids, starting with a questionaire sent to each book to you as easily as they can play a movie or video game, it’s not always and every one before they walk in the door. “Do they easy to get kids excited about picking up a book. That is, unless they get Out read for fun or not? How much TV and video games and About to the home of a San Luis Obispo woman. do they watch every day? What are their hobbies? What do they want to do when they grow up?” When people talk about doing something because it’s a labor of love, it’s Krieger explains the type of questions she asks. usually because they love what they’re doing, or they love who they’re doing it for. In Liz Krieger’s case, it’s both. By the time the kids walk in, they have books waiting just for them. “Krieger possibly has stayed up all night picking out special books for every child... like soccer books for Eduardo, and Magic A librarian at the San Luis Obispo library for decades, she now plays a Tree House for Trinity,” said Laura Kirschner, similar role at a different location. “Let’s see, what kind of books do you resource specialist at Hawthorne Elementary. like?” she asked a 6th grader who is wandering the stacks of books. Krieger Then the treasure hunt begins. “Take any of these now plays librarian out of her home. books that you like, just have fun!” Liz instructs the kids as they are about to embark on their search for new discoveries in her home. Kids are blown away

JEANETTE TROMPETER, KSBY News anchor and reporter, hosts the “Out and About with JT” series every Tuesday evening at 6pm. by what they can find at Krieger’s house. I asked her, “Do you have the first Charlie Brown book?” reported student Andrew Vanderweele. “And she’s said, ‘Oh yeah, I totally do.’” He chucked, “So I took it home that night.” There are no library cards, no fees, no donations necessary. Kids can bring the books back, pass them on, or Krieger would love to see them start building their own libraries. “It’s just amazing, she will go to bookstores and buy books and then give them away for free,” continues Vanderweele. “She’s such a kind-hearted person.Everyone who comes to Liz’s house which is basically the whole third through sixth grade at Hawthorne school, is learning about loving reading,” shares Kirschner. And why does Krieger do it? Because while she loves tablets too, there’s something about wandering into a room full of books and discovering something that just catches your eye, and your attention when you open its pages. She is making sure kids get that experience. “I would say I’m still pushing books,” Krieger is in the middle of explaining to a reporter when a kid yells as he’s walking out the door, “Thank you Liz!” She immediately stops the interview and turns to yell to the child before the door shuts behind him, “I love you! Bye Eduardo! See you soon!” A labor of love indeed. Not only do Krieger and her husband have a library in their home and invite the students from Hawthorne for visits, they pick up the tab for the lunch served to the kids when they come, as well. SLO LIFE