Photograph of Librarian Ann Pechacek with Purple Hair

Librarian Ann Pechacek is pictured sitting outside of the north entrance of the Old Worthington Library sporting vibrant purple hair. Ann dyed her hair as a reward to kids for high participation in the 2006 Summer Reading Club. Teen library patrons were given the chance to vote for the hair color that Ann would use and decided that their teen librarian should rock some purple locks.

Ann worked at Worthington Libraries for 20 years, first as a teen librarian and then as a lead librarian. During her time at the library, she served as a friend and mentor to countless teens, sharing with them her passion for reading. In addition to her many programs and booktalks at the library, Ann served on prestigious national book award committees: the Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature, and the William C. Morris YA Debut Award. She was born in Muskogee, OK, and grew up in Tahlequah, OK, where she graduated high school. She continued her education at the University of Oklahoma and graduated from the University of Alaska in Anchorage. She received her Master's in Library Science from the University of Southern Mississippi.