Kelsey Rutkowski – Library Director
Kelsey Rutkowski joined the Indian River Area Library in January of 2020. She recently graduated with a Masters in Library and Information Science from Wayne State University. She also has a B.A in Studio Art with an emphasis in Visual Studies from Grand Valley State University. Kelsey has loved the library since she was little and following a career in the library was the perfect fit.
Kelsey enjoys painting, drawing, making music, hiking, exploring Northern Michigan, and playing with her two dogs, Duke and Ice Cream.
Some of Kelsey’s favorite must-read books include: The Night Circus, I’ll Give You the Sun, The Legend of Holly Claus, The Clockmaker’s Daughter, and The Travelling Cat Chronicles.
Loretta Erdmann – Library Assistant
Loretta Erdmann joined the Indian River Area Library in June of 2018. She has been employed at Inland Lakes Schools over 20 years, where she had the opportunity to run the Secondary library for the past 5 years. Her love of books has made this transition very exciting and fun.
Loretta enjoys snowshoeing, kayaking, bicycling, crocheting, adult coloring, rock painting and nature walks with her dog Tabby and sometimes her cats, Lyra and Bella as well.
Some of Loretta’s favorite books include: The Stephanie Plum Series, Reindeer Moon, Scorpio Races, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and The Paperbag Princess.
Sandy Lintz – Library Assistant
Sandy Lintz joined the Indian River Area Library in August of 2021. She grew up in Michigan, spent 30 years in Denver, and came home in 2015. She was employed the by Department of the Interior for over 23 years where she had the opportunity to award and administer contracts to support multiple science programs and the National Parks.
Her love of books started at a young age and she loved being a library aide in junior high. In 2004 she and two coworkers founded a bookclub in Denver that continues to this day.
Sandy enjoys snowshoeing, kayaking, boating, exploring Northern Michigan, art, learning about nature and neuroscience, her home in the forest she calls Peaceful Acres and her rat terrier named Moose.
Some of Sandy’s favorite books include: The Poisonwood Bible, Seabiscuit, The Healing, The Red Tent, The Postmistress, Life of Pie, and The Witch of Cologne.
Toni Stradling – Library Assistant
Toni Stradling joined the Indian River Area Library in June of 2023. Toni was raised in Wolverine and Indian River prior to getting her Associates in Social Services and Bachelors in Sociology at Northern Michigan University. Toni spent ten years in Orlando managing the crisis and suicide line and working with college students before coming home to work for the Northern Michigan community.
Toni’s love for books started in middle school and was often found at the Inland Lakes School library before and after school. Outside of reading Toni loves to rock hunt with her two sons, play with her two puppies, and enjoys baking but not cooking.
Some of Toni’s favorite books include: Gracelin O’Malley, The Bloody Jack Adventures, Anne of Green Gable, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Fault in Our Stars.
Helen Miller – Library Assistant Substitute
Helen Miller joined the Indian River Area Library staff in August of 2017. Having recently moved to this area from Mississippi, the position has allowed her to get to know the community and meet many of her neighbors. Helen’s background is in printing and publishing so working in a library surrounded by books is a natural fit.
When not at the library, Helen and her husband Rich enjoy bike riding when weather permits and enjoying the beautiful lakes and sights so abundant in Northern Michigan. They are lucky to have family in the area as well.
Some of the books on her top ten list include: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society; Sarah’s Key; Moloka’I; Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet; Jan Karon Mitford series and Lilian Jackson Braun Cat Who series.