Debbie Balsamo

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Employer: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Occupation/title: Federal Library Manager

Birthplace: North Carolina

Birthday: June 11

Pets/children: 3 children -- Son, Neal, lives in Colorado with his two daughters; Daughter, Gina, newlywed this summer, lives in Northampton, MA, and teaches K/1 at a charter school; Daughter, Joanna, lives in Los Angeles and is a PhD student in Quantum Chemistry at University of Southern California and is a race car driver in her spare time. At home Robert and I have 2 cats, Wyatt and Sebastian, and a 75-lb hound mix, Griffin, who's a certified Delta Society therapy dog.

Most relaxing activity: Anything at the beach!

Last good movie/concert/event I saw: The Up Side of Anger with Kevin Costner and Joan Allen...loved it!

Major accomplishment: Going to college late in life, getting my undergrad degree at the age of 40 and then completing library school.

Favorite food group: Hmmm...food...enough said!

If I won the lottery, I would: Renovate my kitchen, take a trip to someplace tropical, and then set up a foundation to give money away.

Favorite website: I cruise so many websites...I love getting the "Librarians' Index to the Internet" updates and learning from the diverse offerings there. I also do almost all of my shopping online, so I always visit the websites of my favorite stores.

Last good book I read: The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.

Most influenced by: My undergraduate college advisor, Dr. Ned Laff. He really made a difference in the path I took with my education and helped me see how I could accomplish so much. We still keep in touch.

If I weren't a librarian, I'd be: I'd love to own a successful little shop that sells lovely goodies people just can't live without. I've also dreamed of having a bed and breakfast inn...by the beach, of course!

The one thing I really hate to do in the library is: Make decisions about cutting resources.

People would be surprised to know that I: can install a tile floor like a pro!