Today's Member of the Month is Julie Shaver. Julie works at Nashville Christian School in Nashville, TN. She has been a school librarian for 6 years.
We asked Julie some questions about her experience as a school librarian and we would like to share them with you.
What's your favorite thing about your job as a school librarian?
My favorite thing is helping students find books they love, especially when it is "that book" (the one that makes them love reading). The look on their faces when they come in to get their next library book is priceless!
Name one children's book that you couldn't live without in your library.
It's hard to narrow it down, but I would have to say any book in the Harry Potter series.
Tell us why you decided to join the Elementary Librarian Community. What's your favorite thing about it?
I joined the Elementary Librarian Community when I first started at my current school. My favorite thing has to be the lesson plans; they are excellent as they are or as a jumping-off point for a larger lesson or unit.
What's the biggest challenge you're currently facing when it comes to your school library?
If you could give one piece of advice to a brand new school librarian (or someone considering becoming a school librarian), what would it be?
Being a librarian is the best job in the world: you get to read for a living! My advice would be to READ, READ, READ! Read anything and everything you think your students might like (even if you don't!) so you can help them develop a love of reading. Modeling reading goes a long way!
We are working hard to make our school into a culture of readers. It is challenging going from a reward-based system such as Accelerated Reader (which we still use to some degree) to helping students learn and appreciate the intrinsic value of reading. I am grateful to authors such as Donalyn Miller (The Book Whisperer, Reading in the Wild), who are paving the way for us.