I fell in love with libraries as a child. Our local public library was next to a park and my mother regularly took me and my three siblings to both. Some of my favorite memories involved me under a giant tree with a stack full of library books, and the summer breeze.
The first time I walked into the Powell library on the UCLA campus, I was moved to tears. It was my first day of graduate school. I was studying to become a teacher (yes, this is my second time returning to school). I could not believe such an extraordinary tribute to the mind, to learning, and to scholarship.
Now the wet eye syndrome happens all the time. The library in Cincinnati was breathtaking. The one in Denver was profound. The library in Halifax was over-the-top. When my partner and I travel, we make a point of visiting public libraries in whatever state or country we are visiting.
In my 30s, I left a career in public relations to become a middle school English teacher. I wanted to work in a Title I school to make a meaningful contribution to the lives of tweens. Since then, despite ever-changing instructional requirements and standardized curricula, my personal priority has been to get students to love to read. Many students have said to me, “This is the ONLY book I’ve ever finished.” I am always delighted to respond with, “No, that’s not true. This just happens to be the FIRST book you’ve finished.”
Literacy has been my first priority. My second has been the thoughtful, deliberate integration of technology to make learning deeper, more meaningful, and more enjoyable. In 2017 I left the classroom to be our school’s Instructional Technology Coach as part of a one-to-one iPad grant.
Our Title One school, like many in the Los Angeles Unified School District, has often been forced to choose between having a school librarian or supporting instructional technology. Since our union’s recent settlement with the school district, each school is required to have a school teacher-librarian for our library/media center.
Since I’ve been the tech coach, it made sense to me and the principal for me to transition into the teacher-librarian position as this grant sunsets. I will be still be able to focus on media, literacy and technology, while also re-opening the library.
I feel all these threads coming together at this moment in my life. I am eager to bring my passion, practice and pedagogy to becoming a teacher-librarian, and to serving the students, teachers and families in my community.
I blog about the teaching life at TeacherHacks.net. Here, here and here are some of my favorite posts.
13 replies on “Why Library School?”
Hi, Melissa! Thank you for your thoughtful post. Although my school is not in LAUSD, I feel I owe your district a debt of gratitude for its movement toward teacher-librarian opportunities. My district used LAUSD’s model for teacher-librarians to create its own and, lo and behold, here I am, making that transition. I’m so thankful!
By the way, the library that I went to as a kid (and still go to) is next to a park. It’s gorgeous…here’s a shot in the dark- you didn’t happen to grow up in Huntington Beach, did you?
Hi Kathy. Thanks so much for reading my post – and for telling me about the ripple effects of our strike. What kind words you wrote. I am so happy to hear that our hard work benefited other districts like yours. It seems like you and I have lots in common, but no, Huntington Beach is not one of them. I grew up in Los Angeles and went to school in the district I teach in.
Nice to virtually meet you, Melissa! It’s pretty apparent that librarianship weaves all your interests and experiences together wonderfully. Teacher-librarianship, in particular, is such a special track and has the potential to create lasting, positive impact on young students. Your enthusiasm is infectious!
Thanks for the comment, Angelique, and the compliment. I have noticed in your discussion posts that you are an excellent writer (among your other talents). Glad to be working together.
Hi Melissa! Great to hear your story in more detail. Seems you have quite a bit of experience blogging. I’m still developing my style. Will refer to your post as a template to improve my writing.
Thanks for your comment, and compliment, Judd. Please let me know if I can lend a hand in any way. I am happy to help.
Hello Melissa! First, thank you for being the first brave soul to create your blog, and second, thank you for sharing the evolution of the mix between literacy and tech that has weaved throughout your life. I am a high school English teacher who is walking a similar path, and it is great to see where you’ve been and where you plan to employ this next learning experience in the education of your students. Happy semester!
Hi Lauren. Thanks so much for your comments. I appreciate them and I am happy to have someone who is “walking a similar path” as you say. Hopefully we can work together at some point. Please email me when you have your blog started. I’d love to read it.
Hello Melissa, and thanks for sharing your post. I completely relate to your comment about starting school again. I started this program a little late in life, but I find it so interesting, I’m glad I did. I have to say, your passion for education and reading is inspiring. I wish you the best in your transition into the teacher-librarian community.
Best regards!
Thanks so much, Velia. Good luck with everything.
[…] Technology Coach.” I will soon become our school’s librarian – a transition that I wrote about here. I am looking forward to a job that I hope will combine two of my greatest joys: literacy and […]
A warm welcome to SJSU ‘s Library School. By the sound of your blog, it seems like you are all ready. I wish all the best.
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