Alumna’s Education Empowers Her to Write Dream Career Story

A Western Piedmont Community College alumna is living her dream career instilling the love of reading in the next generation.

Lizzie Whisnant Pshyk grew up as a homeschooled student in Morganton. Beginning volunteer service with the Burke County Public Library around age 12 inspired her to become a librarian as an adult.

“The library was where I felt most at home,” Pshyk said. “It was something I was good at and it made sense to me.”

As a volunteer, she kept the books organized, assisted with programs and created data organization systems.

“It was never boring,” Pshyk said. “I got to meet people, learn about the inner workings of the library and gain a better understanding of the reality of what public libraries do and how different it is from public perception.

“The older I got, the more I was able to recognize the impact it had on me and how it helped my growth as a person. I found a place that had given a lot to me, and I wanted to give something back and pay it forward so the organization could continue to impact people like me who needed them.”  

Over the years, the leadership of the Burke County library saw her potential and hired her to work as a library assistant in 2011, a position she held for the next eight years.

“Support staff in a public library do a lot more than people notice,” Pshyk said. “Our primary function was to assist in circulation, but depending on the staff needs, we could be assisting in programming and prep, creating displays for the public to find new reading materials, reader’s advisory and any other thing that might come up on a given day.”  

While working at the library, she dually enrolled at WPCC her last two years of homeschool and earned an Associate in Arts there in 2014. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Communications and Advertising from Appalachian State University in 2017.

“I grew up in radio with my dad, and as someone with a speech impediment, communication seemed like the fun option,” Pshyk said. “Advertising and communications are very large parts of what is needed to be an effective librarian in public libraries, as we’re expected to wear many different hats. Being able to design and create marketing and advertising campaigns for my library meant that was one more thing we didn’t have to outsource and could save money in our budgets on. I felt like there was a lot of public misconception of what libraries do, and I wanted to help us best communicate what we do, what we have available and our mission.”

She made her librarian status official in 2019 by earning a Master of Library Science from North Carolina Central University and receiving her Public Librarian Certification from the state of North Carolina. She currently works as the young adult librarian and library manager of the Hildebran Public Library.

“Working with middle and high school students gives me a lot of hope for the future,” Pshyk said. “The teens I work with have so much empathy for their communities and each other, it’s refreshing. The most challenging (thing) is definitely getting older and keeping up with current trends. I haven’t been a teen in a long time, so I rely on communicating with the teens and getting them to explain to me what’s going on and what’s trending.”

She praised the emergence of BookTok, a subcommunity on the social media platform TikTok. “Booktokers,” as they’re called, make videos reviewing and discussing the books they’ve read, motivating teenagers to read more and visit their local libraries. 

“It’s seen as ‘cool’ now, which is a fun trend to be a part of,” Pshyk said. “I think a lot of it is not ‘competing’ with these things, but leveraging them to connect with readers or potential readers. Game nights, social media posting, etc., are all ways to connect with library users or potential users.

“Balance is important, and in my experience, teens are more than happy to unplug for a little bit and hang out. Providing a space for them to do so without judgement or even kicking back and letting them play video games and chat while at the library can have a profound difference.”  

As the library manager, she supervises staff, arranges for building maintenance and safety compliance, maintains collections and assists library patrons.

“I am exceptionally fortunate to have the staff that I do that work so hard and communicate effectively what their needs are and what they see our patrons need,” Pshyk said. “They are wonderful advocates for both the library and the community they serve.” 

She plans to stay with the Burke County Public Library for the foreseeable future.

“I’m precisely where I’ve always wanted to be,” Pshyk said. “I’m doing a job I love with people who are incredible in the organization that helped me be who I am today. For now, my goal is to do the best I can for as long as I can where I am.” 

Outside of the library, she assists with her father’s company, Whisnant Family Music Inc., and provides volunteer marketing for the Pregnancy Care Center of Burke County.

“My family has been involved with the organization (PCC) in some fashion for my entire life,” Pshyk said. “As I got older and my focus shifted more on serving my community, this was an organization that’s mission was near and dear. It’s one of the things I really enjoy that has zero to do with myself and my goals, but a way to support other women who have goals of their own that I want to help them achieve.” 

She recommended WPCC to people taking their first step in higher education.

“It’s an opportunity to explore your interests and find your own path forward that enriches your life and helps you make choices that are fulfilling and give your life meaning,” Pshyk said.  

Published: 05/28/2026