ALUMNI PROFILE
Sigwarth turns her ‘year in the library’ into published children’s book As a young child growing up in Dubuque, Iowa, Lydia Sigwarth ’18 visited the Carnegie-Stout Public Library daily, developing a passion for reading and forming a lasting bond with the children’s librarian. Unbeknownst to Sigwarth, her family was facing a challenging situation of being homeless and moving in with loved ones. It was the reason behind her family’s frequent daylong stops at the library. Sigwarth describes that chapter of her life as the year in the library. She’s now sharing her story through her own children’s book titled, Dear Librarian. “It’s a surreal feeling,” said Sigwarth. “It’s my life, it’s what happened, but the book is little Lydia and her story. It’s sending her out in the world.” Spending hours at the library as a 5-to-6year-old girl was impactful for Sigwarth, who knew from that age she wanted to become a librarian—a dream that came true. Sigwarth is a Children’s Librarian at the Platteville Public Library. Shaping that ambition was the kindness Sigwarth received from her children’s librarian, Mrs. Stephenson. Sigwarth said Dear Librarian highlights Stephenson’s compassion and empathy towards her family’s situation. “This book is about Deb [Stephenson]. She wants to give me all the credit, but I want to give her all the credit. She’s been very supportive and excited for me,” said Sigwarth. “Empathy is the most powerful skill a person can have. One of the best ways to gain empathy is to see the world and life through another perspective.
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The most limiting element of human life is you can only live through your own eyes. The workaround for that is through stories, books, movies, and TV shows.” Dear Librarian came to fruition after Sigwarth was featured on the public radio program and podcast This American Life in 2018. This American Life reaches millions of listeners each week on more than 500 public radio stations in the U.S. Sigwarth reached out to This American Life Reporter Stephanie Foo after Foo tweeted that she
LYDIA SIGWARTH, AUTHOR of the children’s book Dear Librarian.
UW-PLATTEVILLE
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4/4/22 9:03 AM
