Catharine Findiesen Hays, Library Director

Catharine joined the Bixby library team on May 1, 2020.  Born and raised in Vermont, she is excited to return home to her family’s place in Panton. Catharine most recently served 10 years as founding Executive Director of the Wharton Future of Marketing/Advertising Program, where she co-authored Beyond Advertising: Creating Value Through All Customer Touchpoints (Wiley, 2016). She previously held leadership positions in marketing, corporate sales, and executive programs at AT&T and was National Director of Corporate Relations for the Eastern Division of the American Cancer Society. Catharine received an AA degree from Franklin University Switzerland, a BS from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, an MBA from the Wharton School, and an MA in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania as a Lauder Fellow. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, reading, renovating a 200-year-old farmhouse, and spending time with her two wonderful daughters. Connect with Catharine by emailing her at catharine.hays@bixbylibrary.org

Amber Lay, Assistant Director

Amber Lay joined the Bixby Library team as Assistant Director on August 1, 2021. Amber recently earned a master’s degree in library science from the University of South Florida, bringing us current best practices, research methods, reference services, archives and records management, collection development, cataloging/metadata, and data management. Since January 2021, she has worked as Assistant Buyer/Inventory Control Specialist at independent bookstore Gene’s Books on Sanibel Island, Florida. She also brings business and operational expertise from her seven+ years as Credentialing Coordinator for a large medical practice and holds a BA degree in History and an AA in English. Amber is thrilled to be moving to Ferrisburgh to serve the Bixby Library’s five-town community and begin building lasting connections with its members. She is passionate about the role public libraries play in promoting information literacy, equal access, and lifelong learning for all. In her spare time, Amber enjoys reading, watching films, and hiking with her pup. Connect with Amber by emailing her at amber.lay@bixbylibrary.org.

Mary Neffinger, Children & Youth Services Librarian

Mary joined the Bixby Library team as the Children and Youth Services Librarian on February 15, 2022. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She has worked in research, in academia, and most recently as a community organizer. Since having children, she has held many volunteer positions in the community including leading after school programs at Ferrisburgh Central School, coaching Track & Field, Open Gym Coordinator, Four Winds Coordinator, Girl Scout Troop Leader, Secretary/Treasurer for the Friends of the Union Meeting Hall, and Board Member for the Vergennes Swim Team. In her spare time, she enjoys riding horses, reading, running marathons and ultramarathons, learning new things, expanding her homestead, and taking her husband and three kids on adventures. Connect with Mary by emailing her at mary.neffinger@bixbylibrary.org

Martha Sanborn, Circulation Desk Manager

Martha Sanborn joined the Bixby Library in September 2021 in the new role of Circulation Desk Manager. Martha grew up in New Jersey, where her first job was working in a library. She got a degree in English at Rowan University and worked for the Princeton Packet newspaper, where she enjoyed writing articles for the Lifestyles section. She has lived in Vermont for almost 20 years. She has worked for the VUES after-school program, teaching arts and crafts, and volunteered for many years at the elementary school library. Martha likes cooking, gardening, walking, writing, chocolate, and of course, books. Connect with Martha by emailing her at martha.sanborn@bixbylibrary.org