The Eureka Public Library recently announced the appointment of Anneliese Brubaker as its new Library Director. Brubaker brings a rich background in the arts, education and community engagement to her new role.
Brubaker has lived in the area for six years with her husband, Dakota, while serving as the 7-12th grade Art and Yearbook teacher at Yates Center High School. Originally from Wichita, she attended Magdalen Catholic School and graduated with the class of 2009 at Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School. She went on to earn a degree in Fine Arts from Emporia State University (ESU) in 2014.
While her professional journey began as an independent artist, she eventually realized that the joy of creating art was diminished when it became her primary source of income. Inspired by her love of learning and helping others, she pursued a teaching certification and has found fulfillment in education and now librarianship.
Anneliese met her husb and, Dakota, in the art department at ESU. The couple married in 2020 and currently reside in Eureka, where Dakota works in construction.
Though she didn’t grow up dreaming of being a librarian, A. Brubaker has always loved libraries and believes strongly in supporting her community. She felt a sense of calling to the position after seeing the job posting on a particularly tough day in the classroom — a moment that felt like a sign.
As she transitions into her new role, she will be training alongside current Library Director Connie Mitchell, whose last day is next month. She is looking forward to meeting the library’s patrons and working with its small but passionate staff.
In her free time, A. Brubaker enjoys hiking, reading, and creating art — particularly drawing and painting. One of her favorite books is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. She’s an introvert at heart and shares her home with two grey tabby cats and two dogs — a border collie and a hound.
A. Brubaker is especially enthusiastic about connecting the library with the community through events, meal programs, clothing drives, and creative programming like “crafternoons” or art workshops. She hopes to help eliminate barriers that prevent people from accessing library resources and to keep the library a vibrant, welcoming place for all.
A special come-and-go reception is being planned for Friday, July 18, from 3 to 7 p.m. The reception is to celebrate the retirement of Connie Mitchell and meet A. Brubaker.
The Eureka Public Library is located at 606 N. Main St. in Eureka. For more information, call 620583-6222.
