Mary Elizabeth Hampe, Library Director & Librarian
Mary has been the Director of the Coraopolis Memorial Library since 2019. She possesses a master’s degree in Library Science from Clarion University and a master’s degree in Business Education from Robert Morris University. She is also a PA-certified Business, Computer, & Information Technology teacher, a PA-certified Library Media Specialist, and has also studied English as a Second Language. In 2019, she earned her certificate of public librarianship as a public librarian professional from the state of PA. Prior to coming to the CML, Mary worked as a school librarian and technology teacher for fourteen years. She also taught math and business English to adult students at Bidwell Training Center, Pittsburgh. She is very excited to be able to share her love of literature and technology with the community. She enjoys gardening and reading non-fiction books about law, criminology, and archival history. Some of her favorite fiction books include The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Hobbit written by J.R.R. Tolkien, Where the Crawdads Sing written by Delia Owens, and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue written by V.E. Schwab.
Jessie Baker, Library Assistant
Jessie Baker has been with the Coraopolis Memorial Library since September, 2021. Jessie recently moved to Coraopolis after spending many years teaching in many countries around the world; notably throughout Asia. Jessie possesses a BA in English from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and an MA in European Renaissance Literature from the University of York, England. She enjoys reading classics as well as 20th century and contemporary literature by authors, such as Jack Kerouac, Salman Rushdie, Arundhati Roy, Haruki Murakami, and Kazuo Ishiguro. She also has an interest in reading about art and history, as well as poetry of all periods from Beowulf to Seamus Heaney.
Julie Bobak, Circulation Clerk
Julie is a homeschooling mother of three. She has worked at the Coraopolis Memorial Library since 2014 and has lived in Coraopolis with her husband since 2004. Julie loves a wide variety of books, especially the classics, such as Jane Eyre, and The Elusive Pimpernel, mysteries, some YA, poetry by Atticus, and non-fiction. Some of her favorite authors are P.G Wodehouse, Melanie Dickerson, Mary Higgins Clark, Debbie Macomber, Elin Hilderbrand, Marie Benedict, and Elizabeth Adler. When she is not working or teaching her children, you can find her relaxing with a book or audiobook.
Charlene Cunzolo, Circulation Clerk
Hello! I am Charlene Cunzolo, and I’ve been a Coraopolis resident for 11 years. I am a mother to my wonderful daughter, Kristin, who is a 2020 graduate of Cornell High School. Not only do I work at the Coraopolis Memorial Library, I am also the salon coordinator for Mane Beauty Lounge in Robinson Twp., where I do EVERYTHING but hair. In my spare time, I enjoy naps, cloudy days, cooking, and spending time with family and friends. I am thoroughly enjoying my time here at the library. The staff is amazing, and I love meeting the patrons.
Patty Burrell, Circulation Clerk
Patty has been a library assistant since October 2021 and loves every minute of it! After retiring from corporate accounting, she spent a year training with the Penn State Master Gardener program. She received her Master Gardener certificate in November 2021 and volunteers at the Penn State demo gardens in and around Pittsburgh. Her two passions are gardening and reading, especially British mysteries. In her spare time, she likes walking, biking, and reading books by her favorite authors.
Laura Zimmerman, Circulation Clerk
Laura is a homeschooling mother of three, Coraopolis resident, and graduate of the College of William & Mary in Virginia. As a young girl, she always had her nose in a book and even cataloged her book collection with “library” stickers. Now she enjoys reading some of those same books aloud to her own children! You can find her reading memoirs, historical fiction, like The Awakening of Miss Prim or Becoming Mrs. Lewis, and books on parenting or homeschool. Laura also loves hiking with her family (and golden retriever), watching a good movie, and baking sweet treats.