If kryptonite is Superman’s only weakness, what’s Super Library Mike's equivalent?
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“Deadlines,” he said.
Michael Lee, better known as Super Library Mike, has left Griffith City Library after a dazzling four and half year tenure.
In that time, he’s done everything from teach toddlers how to make movies to show seniors how to avoid Nigerian princes.
“It’s just time for me to take a break – to do some jobs the wife wants done and to work on a comic book I’m writing”.
Mike moonlights as a multi-talented artist, often passing down his skills to children via a number of programs at the library. His Facebook page features personal projects.
But how did he get his nickname?
“It was a name we came up with during the library’s summer reading challenge in 2016, when the theme was super heroes”.
He said it was a sensationalised persona to make reading exciting to children. He sometimes wears a cape to work.
Mike also championed a writing competition at the time, which unearthed Binya literary sensation Sam Conlon.
When Mike joined the library in 2013, he was the only male in the team, but he thinks the job should be appealing to more men.
“It’s a very attractive job. If you want to interact with the community, if you want to connect with literature in all its forms, the library is the place to be”.
“I’d like to offer a warm farewell to all the storytimers, knitters, workshopers, filmgoers and all the other library patrons I’ve met over the years”.
His mentor, Baby Bounce discomaster Rina Cannon (“the best mentor I’ve ever had”) summed up the feelings of many.
“I’ll miss him, the kids will miss him, everyone will miss him”.
Name: Super Library Mike
Age: 34
Outgoing role: Library assistant at Griffith City Library
Former roles: Assistant winemaker at Casella Wines, primary caregiver
Future role: Comic author
Superpower: Ability to motivate children to read books in an age of digital distraction
Weakness: Deadlines, though the library have helped him improve
Special skills: Writing and illustrating comics
Children: Two of his own, mentor to milllions
Favourite library program: Summer reading challenge
Favourite book(comic): Watchmen
Favourite film: Vanilla Sky
For information of what’s happening in the library over the summer holidays, visit the Griffith City Library website and Facebook page.