Effie L. Power

Effie Louise Power (February 12, 1873 - October 8, 1969) was a children's librarian, teacher, writer and storyteller. She encouraged the production of children's books and appreciated children's literature. She "had a direct impact on the development of services for children in three major US cities: Cleveland, St. Louis and Pittsburgh.": 671 Power also traveled around the United States, giving lectures to students and librarians on children's and youth library services. She worked to create a network of children's librarians across the country who supported each other and set high standards for everyone in the profession. Power was born February 12, 1873 in Connectville, Pennsylvania, USA, from the mother of Francis Billing and the father of William Ellis Power. Power was never married or had children. After graduating from high school, William Howard Brett, a neighbor of the Power family, began Power's career by advising her to write an entrance exam at the Cleveland Public Library (CPL). : 671 Shortly thereafter, Power began working at the CPL in 1895. Brett, the librarian at CPL, not only served as a mentor to Power during her time there, but also placed her at the head of Alcove Jr.: 671 Later, on February 22, 1898, Brett opened the first separate CPL nursery. He led Power, effectively making her the first children's librarian in the Cleveland public library system.