Librarian and Master of Information student in New Jersey
About Me
Hi! My name is Amanda Valentovic. I am currently a Master of Information student at Rutgers University with a concentration in Library and Information Sciences, and the Marketing and Outreach Librarian at the Maywood Public Library. I started the MI program in January 2023 and will be finishing my degree in May 2025. I graduated from Hofstra University in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in music.
I worked as a local reporter for five years in Essex County, New Jersey, covering local government, local schools and feature and entertainment topics. I also freelanced for several outlets and continue to do so. I am about halfway through the Rutgers MI program; I am hoping to work in a public library and potentially be a young adult librarian. Below are links to past graduate school projects and writing samples.
In my free time I play the flute and read a lot! You can see what I’ve been reading recently on Storygraph and Goodreads. Thanks for stopping by!
Maywood Public Library
I am the Marketing and Outreach Librarian at the Maywood Public Library, where I have worked for the last year. Here you can find some of the displays and marketing materials I have created in that time.
RU MI 547: Children, Reading and Literacy
RU MI 530: Search and the Information Landscape
RU MI 548: Young Adults, Reading and Literacy
RU MI 550: Intro to Information Technologies
Worrall Community Newspapers
Various Outlets
Hofstra University Chronicle
Internship Positions
Awards
I have won several awards through the New Jersey Press Association Better Newspaper Contest. The awards and stories are linked below:
2021: Arts and Entertainment Writing, Weekly Division: Second Place, “The magic returns as CHS stages ‘Matilda’ outdoors in South Orange”
2020: Education Writing and Reporting, Weekly Division: Second Place, “Essex County schools make the best of remote learning” (shared with EmilyAnn Jackman)
2018: Feature Writing, Weekly Division: Second Place, “CHS alum bikes to Maplewood from Montana for reunion”
2018: Arts and Entertainment Writing: Second Place, “Synesthete brings her artwork to West Orange Library”