Jill O'Connor

Jill O’Connor

An avid reader all of her life, Jill was certain that she wanted to work with books.  After graduating with a B.A. from the College of the Holy Cross, she tried such illustrious careers as high school English teacher, textbook sales rep, and public relations account coordinator.  Nothing quite fit.  Looking to combine her interest in working with people with her love for books with her uncanny ability to locate the answer to any question, Jill enrolled in Simmons College and earned her masters of library and information science.  She started working in a library in 2001 and has never looked back. She worked at various libraries in the Boston area before deciding to head for a land with cleaner air and shorter commutes.  Upon moving to Maine, Jill temporarily worked with her husband at United Way of Greater Portland running their free-tax program before getting the job at NYA in the fall of 2007. She truly enjoys finding the right book for the student who walks through the door looking for that “perfect” outside-reading book.  Jill is also the faculty advisor for the NYA Yearbook, a position that allows her to get to know all of the students.  Outside of school, she enjoys reading, cooking, watching Red Sox and Sea Dogs games, playing flag football, and spending time with her husband and daughter.