Today we’d like to introduce you to CJ Di Mento.
CJ, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
After growing up as a competitive figure skater, I married a military guy and moved to Stuttgart, Germany. We moved back on September 10, 2001, to Oceanside. In Oceanside, I have worked as a public librarian for 15 years at the Oceanside Public Library, working to improve people’s lives through librarianship and creating community doing so, I have also worked as staff liaison to the Oceanside Arts Commission and helped to get Oceanside one of the first Cultural District designations in the state (there are only 14!) –the district partners include the Library, Oceanside Museum of Art, MainStreet Oceanside and Visit Oceanside.
Also, worked to get O’Arts, the City’s first arts plan approved through the City Council, and implementing that creatively to support artists and creatives in our community and encourage arts education, events and collaboration.
My husband and I have also successfully worked to keep land along the Buena Vista lagoon (Pacific flyway) free from encroachment, and loved almost every minute!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t see things as challenges, I see them as chances to chip away toward success. I learned that through my ice skating career. You fall a lot, but you just keep getting back up and trying it differently the next time.
Oceanside Public Library and Arts Commission/Oceanside Cultural District – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am a very proud public librarian. The work that we do, from our programming to our outreach to our literacy services to our arts advocacy, it is all about supporting others in reaching their goals.
The Mission of the Oceanside Public Library is to engage, inform, connect and inspire, and through our work, we constantly keep this in mind in the betterment of our community. So, whether doing a book club that brings together people from different backgrounds and beliefs to talk together, or to holding a large scale cultural event to increase communal connections, or to supporting a child or adult in learning to read, the library does all of these things, and so much more!
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moments of my librarian career are when we are able to write grants to increase opportunities, or receive designations, such as the cultural district designation from the state for the Oceanside Cultural District, which bring more opportunities to our residents, artists, artisans and creatives while retaining and supporting our identity,
Working to preserve the open space along the Buena Vista Lagoon was also a very proud moment-knowing that the possibility was slim, but finally after ten years, seeing it happen.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.oceansidepubliclibrary.org
- Phone: 760-435-5600
- Email: cdimento@oceansideca.org
- Instagram: #oceansidelibrary
- Facebook: City of Oceanside Public Library
Image Credit:
Zach Cordner (personal photo), Oceanside Public Library (Before I Die), Mike Stivers (Cultural District logo), Andrea Kopack @fhlostonpark (O’Arts cover)
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