Mary Elder: Branch Manager
- How many years with SDCL: 3 ½
- How many years/months at LAK: 3 ½
- Favourite genre: Fantasy, SciFi, Romance, Historical Fiction, Memoirs – don’t make me pick just one!
- Favourite local restaurants (San Diego, not just Lakeside) Himalayan Cuisine, Banbu Sushi, Eastbound
- Favourite thing about your job: Being able to support and collaborate with my incredible staff so we can make a difference in our community, every day.
Carlene Rocheck: Assistant Branch Manager, Library Tech IV
- How many years with SDCL: 6 ½ years with SDCL
- How many years/months at LAK: 14 months at LAK
- Favourite genre: Literary Fiction
- Favourite local restaurants (San Diego, not just Lakeside):B. Noodle House
- Favourite thing about your job: Everything! Everyone!
Kelly Chung: Youth Services Librarian
- How many years with SDCL: February 13th will be 10 years J
- How many years/months at LAK: 10 months
- Favourite genre: Ugh the worst question EVER! I like books—some are awful, most are AWESOME, but I hop from genre to genre depending on all sorts of things like the weather, special events, etc.
- Favourite local restaurants (San Diego, not just Lakeside): Chopstix on Convoy—we’ve been going for over 20 years and they are always fast and consistent with their Japanese cuisine.
- Favourite thing about your job: Knowing that we are helping people every day we come to work AND Storytime has a BIG place in my heart!
Paige Dillard: Adult Service Librarian
- How many years with SDCL: 7 years
- How many years/months at LAK: One year at LAK as the Adult Services Librarian
- Favourite genre: Fantasy
- Favourite local restaurants (San Diego, not just Lakeside): BJs in La Mesa or Anthony’s in El Cajon
- Favourite thing about your job: My favorite part about my job is helping people find and access information, especially a book they really want to read!
Monica Twilegar: Library Tech III
- How many years with SDCL: 5 years – October 2017 part-time, full-time since 2019
- How many years/months at LAK: wow that’s a big number….6 amazing months.
- Favourite genre: Fiction and I do enjoy a good Rom-Com Romance
- Favourite local restaurants (San Diego, not just Lakeside): favorite surprise restaurant is on Main in El Cajon! https://malalsham.com/
- Favourite thing about your job: The ability to provide and offer so many valuable resources and services to our community.
Albert Torres: Library Tech II
- How many years with SDCL: 8 1/2 yrs
- How many years/months at LAK: 5 1/2 yrs
- Favourite genre: Anything Non-Fiction (Personal Development & Digital Currency)
- Favourite local restaurants (San Diego, not just Lakeside): Asian Buffets (all of them…lol)
- Favourite thing about your job: Love to see children reading and checking out books
Dawn Espedal: Library Tech I
- How many years with SDCL: With SDCL for 18 years.
- How many years/months at LAK: 17 1/2 years
- Favourite genre: Mystery
- Favourite local restaurants (San Diego, not just Lakeside): Mariscos Taco Truck at Garden Farms Market
- Favourite thing about your job: Favorite thing about my job is meeting all the wonderful people that live here in Lakeside.
Amy Guthrie: Library Tech I
- How many years with SDCL:25 years
- How many years/months at LAK:7 years
- Favourite genre: Juvenile non-fiction
- Favourite local restaurants (San Diego, not just Lakeside): Brigantines on Harbor Drive
- Favourite thing about your job: Customer service, reading to children and working with an amazing staff!!!
Evangilynn Cabral-Edu: Library Tech I
- How many years with SDCL: 6 months
- How many years/months at LAK: 6 months
- Favourite genre: Fiction (Romance and Fantasy), Graphic Novels, and YA
- Favourite local restaurants (San Diego, not just Lakeside): Island Style Cafe, Lolita’s Mexican Food, Buta Japanese
- Favourite thing about your job: I love being able to work alongside my amazing colleagues, being around their positive energy allows me to stay motivated throughout the day. I also love meeting all the wonderful Lakeside locals.
Meet the New Library staff
With all of the staff changes over the past year, we thought we’d re-introduce you to the fabulous staff that will be serving our community at the New Library!

Staff Pictured Left to Right: Top Row: Kelly Chung, Carlene Rocheck, Monica Twilegar
Bottom Row: Dawn Espedal, Mary Elder, Paige Dillard, Evangilynn Cabral-Edu

Amy Guthrie and Albert Torres
