Carmen Docurro, 47, lives in Miami and is the branch manager at the Miami-Dade County Library in Miami Lakes.
Q: Where are you from, and what is your background?
A: I was born in Havana, Cuba. I attended Florida International University and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. I also attended the University of South Florida in Tampa for my Master of Arts degree in Library Science.
Q: What do you like about Miami Lakes?
A: I exercise around town and I’m involved in lots of the activities in town. Pre-COVID we attended the ice cream social, Mother’s Day activities. I’m familiar with the community from being around, it feels like a small town with good values. Parents are on top of their kids and school
stuff.
Neighborhoods are quiet and there are a ton of activities for the community.
Q: What do you dislike about the town?
A: Some of the street lighting is blocked by trees, not
everywhere but in some neighborhoods the trees are blocking the lights [which hinders her exercising].
Q: What are your responsibilities as library branch manager, and what do you hope to accomplish?
A: I oversee branch operations, programming offered and the collection, supervise librarians, assistants, oversee the building, and make sure it’s clean and functioning. I also oversee budgets for supplies, programs and collection development. I am on top of security, anything that happens I have to address it.
I make sure the community feels like we’re here for them, making sure we’re meeting their needs. Providing excellent customer service is my main goal. You have to like working with people. Having people skills is a big thing, relating to others is a big thing.
Q: What is your biggest accomplishment, whether in your personal life or career?
A: It’s not my greatest but it’s my latest accomplishment. I haven’t used social media for months because it was very negative. Also, my brother and I getting our master’s degrees is a huge accomplishment because our parents didn’t go to college.
Q: What would you rather be doing/do you have a fantasy career?
A: I would be a costume designer or work behind the scenes at theaters. I’m really into fashion. Maybe be a wig maker or work for Miami City Ballet, making their costumes.
Q: What are you reading or what podcasts are you listening to?
A: I’m currently listening to “Toil & Trouble: A Memoir” by Augusten Burroughs and my current podcast is “My Favorite Murder”.
Q: What have you binge-watched on TV?
A: “Unsolved Mysteries” on Netflix is the new one.
Q: Where did you last travel to on vacation?
A: Last year the plan was to go to Egypt and do a river cruise, which didn’t happen because of COVID. My last vacation was in 2016, a 10-day trip to London, Paris and Rome.