Today's Member of the Month is Lou Ann Bartolacci. Lou Ann works at North Aurelius Elementary and Harvey Education Center K-building in Mason, MI. She has been a school librarian for 2 years.
We asked Lou Ann 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 about my job as a school librarian is to spread the love of reading. I love when students ask for help in choosing a book to read, I try to steer them in a different direction than their usual and broaden their interests. The best is their smiles when they have enjoyed a new book or an old favorite!
Name one children's book that you couldn't live without in your library.
Kensuke's Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo (favorite read aloud to 4th grade)
Tell us why you decided to join the Elementary Librarian Community. What's your favorite thing about it?
As a brand new librarian with no curriculum I needed help! I spent hours online looking at Pinterest, etc. spending tons of money on lessons and getting literacy ideas to share with my k-5 students. Then I came upon the Elementary Librarian and loved how the lesson were outlined with the standards both common core and AASL standards. It has been a life saver!
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?
My one piece of advice to a brand new school librarian would be join the Elementary Librarian Community. You don't need to re-invent the wheel. Support for ANYTHING is just a click away. Everyone needs support and the Elementary Librarian Community is the best.
Locating books that go well with the lessons is the biggest challenge I currently face. As a past fourth grade teacher I know chapter books, but need picture books for my read a loud and want to choose a different book for each grade level. I want the books and lessons to be fresh and fun as students progress through their elementary years.