Christie Phillips’ favorite recipes come from a mystery series that combines confection and carnage. The Joanne Fluke titles — including “Peach Cobbler Murder” and “Sugar Cookie Murder” — inspired Phillips’ career as a librarian.

Phillips started at Southworth Library on February 21 as the new children’s librarian, filling a position that’s been open since December 2. The new position concludes years of hard work for Phillips, who worked nearly 12 years as a substitute teacher in Rhode Island after obtaining a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.

“I loved what I was doing, but I knew I wasn’t quite where I wanted to be,” said Phillips.

Despite being nervous about going back to school, Phillips earned two more diplomas. She received a master’s degree for literacy from Providence College, and graduated last December from the University of Rhode Island with a master’s in library and information science.

With three years of experience between the Westerly, North Kingston, and Middletown libraries, Phillips knew she had found what she had been looking for.

“This is probably what I’m meant to do,” she recalled thinking during her studies. “I like working with kids and making a difference.”

The Warwick resident has spent most of her life around children. Her mother started a daycare shortly before she was born, and continued to run it for 25 years, said Phillips.

“[Kids] are second nature. I relate well to kids in that way because of my childlike sense of humor,” she said, citing Ursula Vernon’s “Hamster Princess” as proof. “That [book] was cracking me up.”

Although Roald Dahl’s “Matilda” was hands down Phillips’ favorite childhood read, naming a go-to book today is a little more challenging.

“It’s hard for me to answer that question because so many things come to mind,” she said. Phillips made suggestions — check out Judy Blume’s “Superfudge” or Betty G. Birney’s “Humphrey” series — but said she prefers recommendations from patrons.

“I try to be on top of what’s new, what’s won awards and medals, and what the community is looking for,” said Phillips.

While Phillips is still settling into her new position, she has future plans to incorporate her research on library architecture to enhance usability, and possibly check out the 3D printer at the middle school library. She’s also had success running science, math, engineering, and technology programs at other libraries, and would like to continue that in Dartmouth, she said.

In her offtime, Phillips also loves taking close-ups of flowers with her Nikon Coolpix camera and gardening.

Find Phillips and thousands of savory book options at Southworth Library, located at 732 Dartmouth Street. Bonus points if you bring Orange Julius cookies inspired by Fluke's "Plum Pudding Murder."