The Athena Public Library offers storytimes, summer reading and a tea of the month club.

When Stephanie Partida took over as library director of the Athena Public Library in spring of 2022, she stepped into a well-run, well-supported community library.

Athena has supported its library since 1914 — in 2008 they fundraised and built a beautiful new building. Partida had the good fortune of taking the reins from a supportive and accomplished director, Kristen Williams, who left the library in excellent shape when she became the library director of BMCC.

When Partida came to the Athena library, she brought her history of many hours spent there, and a desire to continue that legacy of providing a safe and welcoming space for students and community members of all ages.

When she moved to the Athena school district in junior high, Partida began spending lots of time at the library. Her high school English class walked to the public library regularly, and it was always a place she enjoyed visiting.

When she began working in libraries in 2019 at the Adams Public Library, just down the road, it was a direct result of those hours spent in the Athena library. Now, five years later she still has a deep passion for creating a space for all to come and learn, experience new things, and to just be.

Partida’s passion for supporting her community can be seen as she daily transports her own children to school in Athena. She and her husband sold their Adams home and are in the process of building in Athena to further their goal of being immersed in the community. Her passion is also evident in the time, effort and care she puts into her library programs.

She plans programs for all ages. She just finished a successful summer reading program, including weekly storytimes with a local baker, a local firefighter, a local dentist and Monica Hoffman, the Umatilla County Special Library District early literacy outreach coordinator.

Partida is constantly looking for new ways to make and strengthen connections in the community.

Fall activities kick off Sept. 1 with a Harry Potter Bingo night for kids from 4-6 p.m. Also, she will start a crochet class on Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. and invites patrons to come learn alongside her, as she’s also a novice.

In the spirit of collaboration, she is partnering with James Simpson from the Pendleton Public Library for a monthly teen chef competition. The first event is Sept. 24 at the Pendleton library, and the second is in Athena on Oct. 22 at 5 p.m.

For those who like to enter and leave the library quietly, she offers a tea and spice of the month club alongside six other libraries across Umatilla County. Stop by each month to grab a sample.

And of course, she offers storytime every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.

Partida has a passion for creating a relevant, consistent, welcoming space that meets patrons’ needs and expands horizons. She desires to be a stable presence that continues to expand and grow with the community. If you haven’t been to your local library lately, stop by and see what you’ve been missing.

The Athena library is one of 12 that partners with the Umatilla County Special Library District to provide library services across the county. For more information, visit www.ucsld.org.