Effie Louise Power

Who was Effie Louise Power?

Effie Louise Power was born on February 12, 1873 in Conneautville, Pennsylvania in the United States to mother Francis Billing and father William Ellis Power. Power never married, nor did she have any children.

Power was a trailblazer in the field of children's librarianship. She wore many hats throughout her career: children's librarian, educator, author, and storyteller. She encouraged children's book production, as well as evaluated children's literature. Ms. Power “directly influenced the development of services to children in three major U.S. cities: Cleveland, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh.” In addition to the work she did in these urban cities, Power traveled across the country lecturing students and librarians on children and youth library services. She worked to build a network of children's librarians across the country who supported each other and established high standards for all in the profession. Throughout her career, Power simultaneously held multiple positions including librarian, lecturer, and author.