Our Staff
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 the 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 & Adult Services Librarian
Amber Lay joined the Bixby Library team as Assistant Director in August 2021. Amber 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. Previously, she worked as an Assistant Buyer at the independent bookstore Gene’s Books on Sanibel Island, Florida. She also brings business and operational expertise from her seven+ years as a Credentialing Coordinator for a large medical practice and holds a BA degree in History and an AA in English. Amber 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 dog, Cooper. Connect with Amber by emailing her at amber.lay@bixbylibrary.org.
Robin Berger, Children & Teen Librarian
Robin Berger joined the Bixby Library team as our Children & Teen Librarian in July 2024. She graduated from Trinity College of Vermont with a degree in Elementary Education and Math and a minor in Special Education. Since then, Robin has worked in a variety of youth positions including the Healthy Food Coordinator at The Family Room, Chef/Supervisor for the Burlington School District, the Lund Early Childhood Education Program, and Library Assistant/Substitute Teacher at Flynn Elementary School.
Robin is excited to join the Bixby community and pursue a Certificate in Public Librarianship. She promises to only read a few picture books when she is supposed to be reshelving them. When not at work, her favorite activities include cookbook collecting, cooking, eating, and sharing laughs with her friends, husband, and two adult sons. Connect with Robin by emailing robin.berger@bixbylibrary.org
Cedar Winslow, Program and Outreach Manager
Cedar Winslow joined the Bixby Team as the head of Programming, Outreach, and Marketing in August 2023. Cedar graduated from Ithaca College in Spring 2023 with an Environmental Studies and Economics degree. Cedar sees libraries as not only a place to find great books but also a venue to connect with the community through conversations, games, discussions, and events. Cedar is a native of Vergennes and has been checking out stacks of books from the Bixby since before she could read. She is thrilled to join the staff and give back to the organization that has taught her so much.
When she’s not shelving books or planning events, you can find Cedar outside, in a hammock, by the Lake. She is a voracious reader, a compulsive crocheter, and a lover of learning. Connect with Cedar by emailing cedar.winslow@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 earned 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
John Dugan, Bixby Building Steward
John Dugan joined the Bixby Library in 2011 as the Bixby Building Steward. He is responsible for the maintenance of the library’s building and its furnishings and assistance with library events. John has also worked for Middlebury College’s Facilities department since 2005. He has been serving as a volunteer firefighter for the Vergennes Fire Department for the past 42 years. In his free time, he enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending time with his family.
Patricia Reid, Objects and Artifacts Steward
Patricia has been working with the Bixby since 2018 as our Objects and Artifacts Steward, and previously as a volunteer. She brings her experience in collections management and exhibit design and management to the Bixby as she helps staff and patrons to be responsible stewards of the cherished collection of objects, artifacts, and archives that our community members have donated over the years. At the Bixby, Patricia’s work is possible thanks to generous support from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership. She also works for the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum as their Collections Manager and as part of their Research and Archaeology team. Patricia holds a BA in Archaeology, History, and French from Lycoming College in Williamsport, PA.
Kelly Bartlett, CVNHP Grant Summer Historical Collections Associate
Kelly Bartlett is a graduate of the University at Albany’s English and Information Science Program with a concentration in archives and records. Her academic interests include community archives and the efforts of archivists to preserve the lives and minds of those forgotten or left from the record. This summer, she will work alongside the Bixby staff and history team to increase the accessibility of the library’s archives and to create a new exhibit celebrating the Champlain-Adirondack Biosphere. Kelly’s work is made possible thanks to generous support from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership.
Patty McNerney, Summer Intern
Patty McNerney is a rising sophomore at Hamilton College in New York and works at the college archives during the school year. She is interested in archaeology and ancient history, and particularly the lives of under-represented groups throughout history. This summer, she will be learning from the Bixby staff about library services and will be working alongside them and the history team to make the library and archives run smoothly.
The Summer Internship position is made possible in part by a grant from the United Way of Addison County.