Amy Seto Forrester is a youth services librarian at Eugene Public Library who is passionate about diverse, engaging books for new readers. An active member of ALA and ALSC, she is co-founder and co-host of the Guessing Geisel blog and often writes for the review journal Kirkus. Her first children’s book Search for a Giant Squid, illustrated by her brother Andy Chou Musser, will be published by Chronicle Books in spring 2023.
What is your site’s URL?
https://www.amysetoforrester.com/
Briefly, what is the current purpose of your site?
Promote my work as a children’s book author, as well as a children’s librarian
Are you actively looking for work? (check all that apply)
√ Other: I have a full time job as a librarian and I write children’s books as well.
About Your Site and Sites in General
Did you pay someone to design or build your site?
√ Other: My brother designed it for me. He’s an artist and graphic designer, so I’m pretty lucky!
Which of the following content do you have on your site (check all that apply)?
√ List of publications
√ List of presentations
√ Twitter or other social media feed
√ Your Bio
√ Your photo
Which of the following personal links or connection methods do you provide on your site? (Check all that apply)
√ Other: literary agent’s email
Is your site strictly library/archives/LIS related?
√ No, I include my arts/crafts/hobbies/other tangential or unrelated work
When was your site last updated?
√ Within the last week
What causes you to update your site, and about how frequently does that occur?
I have a book coming out in the spring and I’m finally able to post info on the site. Usually update 1-2x yearly
Does your site use any of the following platforms/services?
√ Squarespace
How much do you pay annually to run your website? (for numbers not in American dollars, please use other)
√ $20.01-$50
Do you allow comments on your site?
√ No
Do you have advertising on your site?
√ No
Do you have analytics on your site?
√ Yes
About how many people visit your site in a month?
√ 51-250
Is having a personal website a “must”?
√ Yes, for people who are independent contractors/freelancers
Do you have any privacy concerns associated with sharing your personal information, resume, etc., on a public website? If so, what measures do you take to feel safer?
My name and workplace are out on the internet in a lot of places and have been for some time. I started blogging about 10 years ago as a way to demonstrate children’s literature knowledge before I had any official experience as a librarian. Since then I’ve used my online content to show my passion and knowledge, but also to share information and lift up issues important to children’s services and literature.
What advice would you give someone wanting to create their own personal professional site?
Make it simple to navigate and update. Think about your audience.
Demographics
What is your job title?
youth services supervisor
What types of organizations do you work for or with? (Check all that apply)
√ Public Library
If you work for someone besides yourself, does that organization have rules about what you can share on your personal site?
√ No
What part of the world are you in?
√ Western US
Thanks for reading! If you have a personal professional website that you’d like to talk about, please fill out the survey.
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