By Giovonny Bland, Marketing and Communications Assistant
Learn about the many facets and faces of FCPL and our community — one story at a time.
In Branch Out’s “Our Library, Our Stories” section, we spotlight one person’s story about life and the library in each issue with the hope that it helps us all get to know and connect with each other just a little bit better. Our latest story comes to us from Sharon Harmon, assistant branch manager at Herndon Fortnightly Library.
Joining FCPL in 2000, Sharon has spent the last 22 years building relationships with both her colleagues and library visitors. Beginning as a volunteer at City of Fairfax Regional Library, Sharon has gone on to hold full-time positions at Reston Regional Library and Great Falls Library before making her way to the Herndon Fortnightly branch. An avid reader since childhood, the library has always played a part in her life. According to Sharon, “I was always begging my mom to take me to the library.” This eventually led to her first job as a library page while in high school.
The youngest of four, Sharon grew up in the northern Virginia area. The daughter of first-generation Americans from Italy and Ireland, she spent her youth competing in spelling bee contests, even winning the Prince William County Spelling Bee in the eighth grade. Fueled by the drive to succeed, Sharon became the first member of her family to attend college. She earned her undergrad degree in international relations from George Mason University and her Master of Library Science degree from The Catholic University of America.
Prior to making her way to FCPL, Sharon worked for Trans World Airlines and the U.S. Department of State. She would then spend the next few years being a stay-at-home mom, before deciding to get involved with the City of Fairfax branch. Starting a new phase of her life, Sharon has never looked back. “I love getting to see new people every day and every day is something different,” says Sharon.
In her free time, Sharon loves to attend the “Friday Night Live!” concerts that take place right outside of Hernon Fortnightly. Additionally, her hobbies include baking and playing Trivial Pursuit. She has also auditioned to be a contestant on “Jeopardy” twice. However, what Sharon loves most is spending time with her family - all 150 members.