For nearly 25 years, Jennifer “Jen” Ludwig has been a dedicated employee at the Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library (MPHPL). Since her junior year in high school, she has held positions in almost every department, eventually rising to her current role as the director of patron services.
Growing up in Mishawaka, Ludwig attended Mishawaka High School. She took her first step into the library world during her junior year, becoming an MPHPL children's shelver. Shortly before graduating in 2001, she transitioned to the library’s computer lab and began working full-time in the position upon graduation.
After high school, Ludwig took a break from academics for a few years, as she was uncertain about her career path. However, her continued work at the library clarified what she wanted to do.
“Working at the library helped me hone in on my passions,” Ludwig said. “I started at Ivy Tech Community College in 2004, initially focusing on computers because, as I worked in the computer lab, I was passionate about technology. After a year in the computer program, Ivy Tech introduced an associate’s degree in library science. I switched over to pursue that degree and became one of the first graduates of the program.”
Continuing her education, Ludwig began taking classes at Indiana University South Bend. Balancing her studies with her full-time job at MPHPL, she took a couple classes per semester and earned a Bachelor of General Studies with minors in English literature and communications in 2012. She then pursued a master’s in library science from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (now Indiana University Indianapolis), graduating in 2015.
Ludwig’s career at the library has been versatile, with roles like shelver, IT assistant, youth services assistant, administrative assistant, teen librarian, youth services coordinator, and programming coordinator. Since October 2021, she has been serving as the director of patron services.
“As the director of patron services, I oversee youth services, adult services, community engagement, and our marketing department,” Ludwig said. “I love working with my department coordinators. The public has always been my favorite part of any job, so being able to help and coach with the day-to-day activities is rewarding. I also enjoy revising policies and rolling out new initiatives.”
Throughout her time at MPHPL, Ludwig has tried to always be helpful to patrons, from assisting with computer literacy and resumes to encouraging children to read.
“Mister Rogers once said to look for the helpers when life is tough,” Ludwig said. “That quote resonates with me because I’ve always wanted to be one of the helpers. Being a librarian helps me fulfill that role.”
Outside of work, Ludwig enjoys spending time with her children, particularly at the movie theater. Her hobbies include crafting, painting, cross-stitching, playing video games, and, of course, reading.
“As a librarian, I have my favorite books,” Ludwig said. “As a kid, I loved ‘Encyclopedia Brown’ and ‘Where the Sidewalk Ends.’ As I grew older, I enjoyed ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Percy Jackson.’ My favorite classics are ‘Dracula’ and ‘Wuthering Heights,’ influenced by my English literature degree. Nowadays, I like to curl up with a cozy mystery.”