Today's Member of the Week is Linda Roberts. Linda works at Discovery School in Lancaster, SC. She has been a school librarian for 14 years.
We asked Linda 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 discover the wonderful world of books and reading. I love it when I help a student find a book that they really love and it turns them on to reading. I love that look of wonder on their faces when they really believe what I tell them that they can be anywhere or be anyone they want to be by reading a book. I love helping them learn how to find and use information in a way that makes their lives better and more fulfilling.
Name one children's book that you couldn't live without in your library.
Library Dragon
Tell us why you decided to join the Elementary Librarian Community. What's your favorite thing about it?
I was looking for high quality, easy to use, standard based elementary material. I have found everything I need to help me be a better teacher and librarian.
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?
Consider carefully what you really like to do and what age child you like to work with. Make sure that you really love students and that your sole purpose is to serve your students and teachers. Learn as much about books and authors who write for the grade level you intend to teach and read, read, read so that you know these books. Know that your library will not be that silent, well ordered library of the past. Kids are creative, messy and talkative. Your job is to channel all this energy.
My biggest challenge is trying to have a Cadillac library an a Model T budget. It is my first year in this library and I am trying to upgrade it to help the teachers and students have the materials for the subjects they are studying. It is a challenge to plan meaningful lessons that can correlate with what the teachers are doing in their classes. It is my first year working with K-5 students as I am coming from a Middle School-High School background.