Hero: Denise Sande the ‘Book Fairy’

Secret identity: library technician

Base of operations: Albert Lea Public Library

Superpowers: Sande sets goals for herself every day.

Kryptonite: She hates cataloging nonfiction DVDs and foreign language music CDs.

Affiliations: husband, Joel; two sons, Nick and Jack; one daughter, Emily

Origin: Sande first started at the Albert Lea Library as a page when she was in highschool. She went to college and eventually returned to the library as a circulation clerk.

Now, as a library technician, she orders all the books and supplies for the library, keeps track of book stock and catalogs every item for the library.

“I love everything about it,” Sande said. “It’s fun seeing all the books come in.”

Hero: Patti Greibrok the ‘Super Bee Reader’

Secret identity: children’s librarian

Base of operations: Albert Lea Public Library

Superpowers: “I love children, I love books and I love bringing the two together.”

Kryptonite: dealing with budget cuts while wanting to provide more services for school-age children

Affiliations: husband, Dwight; sons, Andrew and Michael; daughter, Sarah

Origin: Greibrok started part time at the Albert Lea Public Library in April 2000 as a children’s circulation clerk.

Now, she works full time as the children’s librarian and oversees the children’s library programming, including storytime and the summer reading program.

She said she appreciates how supportive the community is of the library.

Hero: Michelle Gurung the ‘Red Reading Hood’

Secret identity: library assistant

Base of operations: Albert Lea Public Library

Superpowers: Gurung is in charge of the library’s “Classics on the Go” podcasts where people can record classic children’s stories.

Kryptonite: “In a library you have books and services. With budget cuts, you have to lose some of one or the other,” Gurung said.

Affiliations: husband, Rajesh

Origin: Gurung has worked at the Albert Lea Public Library for almost four years. After attaining a bachelor’s degree in English, she said she thought this job brought her love of reading and helping people together.

Her favorite part about her job is matching people up with something they enjoy reading.