Director

A lifelong Florida resident, Natasha has dedicated her career to educating and serving local communities through library services. Originally from Miami, she graduated from Okeechobee High School in 2000 before earning a Business Management Certificate, an Associates of Applied Science degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management from Indian River State College.   Once she began working in the library field in 2006, her passion was solidified and she knew her next step to become a Librarian would be to seek a Master of Arts in Information and Library Science degree from an ALA accredited institution.  She successfully obtained her MLIS from the University of South Florida in 2012.

Her journey in library services began at the Okeechobee County Public Library when she began working as a Library Specialist II in 2006.  Within this position, she gained experience with cataloging new and duplicate titles for the collections, reconciling the daily financial reports, performing circulation duties, managing library volunteers, and performing reference and technology assistance for patrons.  However, seeking a more interactive and customer-focused role, she joined the Seminole Tribe of Florida at the Brighton Reservation in 2009. Over the next several years, she advanced from Cataloguer/Program Specialist at the Brighton Reservation to Branch Manager of the Diane Yzaguirre Memorial Library at the Immokalee Reservation.  Her dedication and leadership skills led to a promotion as Library Director, overseeing four library branches across Hollywood, Big Cypress, Immokalee, and Brighton communities.

After years of working closely with the Seminole Tribe, she sought a position closer to home to balance her professional ambitions with family life. In July 2017, she was appointed as the Hendry County Library Cooperative Director for the City of Clewiston. In this role, she has found a fulfilling career path, serving the residents of Labelle, Harlem, and Clewiston by providing access to leisure and educational materials, as well as engaging, hands-on programs for all ages.

Passionate about literacy and lifelong learning, Natasha is committed to making libraries a cornerstone of the community. She believes in fostering a love for reading while also highlighting the evolving role of libraries, which now offer diverse collections and dynamic programming beyond traditional books. She encourages everyone to visit their local library to discover the wealth of resources available and participate in the enriching programs designed to benefit all community members.