By Dorothy S. Pam

Although self styled as the Shelf Mouse, Robin Yuran plays the role of library elf. Everyone, young or old, resident or visitor, cat or dog, who enters the Norfolk Library, is personally welcomed by the smiling, sometimes barefoot, sprite with flowers in her hair. Not only does she know the library patrons, she knows what they are reading. Co-director with Rich Dann of the Norfolk Library since 2005, she has been involved with the library for 15 years first as a volunteer, then as a Library Assistant (1996-98), Supervisor of Circulation (1998-2005), and editor of the library newsletter, The Owl.

Familiar with all aspects of running a library, Yuran is proudest of her Readers’ Advisory for all ages and all genres. She keeps abreast of the literary scene by reading six to eight books per week, as well as following reviews in Book Link, Library Journal, Publishers’ Weekly, The New York Times and online publications. She takes the pleasure of a matchmaker in bringing readers and books together, whether it be individuals who drop by, shut-ins whom she visits with selected text, or on a larger scale, all of Norfolk with “Town on the Same Page,” when everyone is invited to read the same book concurrently.

One of six children, Yuran’s family moved to Norfolk in 1956, living first on Parker Hill Road then on North Street. She entered third grade at Center School with the usual trepidation. Instantly, fears were replaced with awe and affection when the teacher with the brisk demeanor smiled. Mrs. Keiller loved books and reading to children. Ever creative, she taught the class fractions and Haiku poetry at the same time. When Keiller told her young charge, “You are a true poet!” Yuran took it to heart and filled spiral notebooks with her own poetry through her school years, ending as class poet in her senior year at Regional High School.

After some footloose years performing as a singer and guitarist, and holding a variety of jobs, Yuran returned to Norfolk to settle down with husband, Kerry. Their daughter Castle was born in 1988.

True to her muse, Yuran has continued writing poetry through the years. Recently she published an illustrated collection of poetry “The Shelf Life of a Mouse and Other Tales” (2003) and “Re-Nude in the Norfolk Library” (2007) with its memorable poem about the “nut hatch” with its “butt patch”! Alone, or with Rich Dann, Yuran has livened up many a public event with verse known for its arcane vocabulary and intricate rhyme.

Completing a B.A. with honors in literature from Charter Oak State College in 2002, Yuran spent several years working towards an online M.A. in Library & Information Science. She is about to embark upon the natural next step with her acceptance into in a low residency Masters program in Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Goddard College. Yuran is currently working on a young adult novel and as ever, writing poetry.

The library sprite takes seriously the nuts and bolts aspect of her job. Behind the scenes, she manages the operation of a 7 day-a-week town library; she attends meetings of the Library Associates and Board of Directors, then putting the ideas into action. She continues her library education and writes for pleasure during time off, and still Robin Yuran makes herself available to readers of all ages — always with a twinkle and a smile.

Photo of Robin Yuran, top, by Christopher Little.