Librarianship and education are my greatest passions: I believe that the more we individually learn about the world and about those who share it with us, the more constructive and cooperative our society becomes. Education, in all its forms, allows us to grow and expand as individuals. Librarians are here to support that effort by providing access to varied materials, guidance in how to navigate and understand it, and an environment that cultivates learning. This is what drew me to librarianship; I believe the library is the beating heart of a campus. More than any other facility or program in the school, the library functions as a place for students to extend their education, build relationships and express intellectual freedoms.

Speaking as middle school librarian, you might suppose that I am biased based upon my own career path. That may be true. Still, I believe that all libraries are alike in this, regardless of users or community. Of all the things we do, the most enduring, the most timeless, and the thing that will give us meaning and purpose long into the future , no matter what new technologies may come our way ,is our teaching. I acknowledge that libraries as an institution have a broader purpose, but in every library, librarians exist to teach people how to access and use information. Our role as educators and teachers is what makes us unique. In short, I see the heart and soul of libraries in information literacy.

I also believe that librarianship is about people, both on the public services side and on the management side. I prioritize people over systems, reminding myself daily that computers are tools that serve us and not the other way around. If our systems don’t function as they should, if they freeze or break down, then we should set them aside and find other ways to accomplish our goals. When it comes to patrons, their needs are the most important of all, and I will shortcut processes and rules to answer those needs to the best of my ability. I encourage my teachers to do the same. When it comes to the internal environment at my library, I promote positivity and treat all students with respect.

To accomplish our educational goals and support our internal and external communities, I believe it is critically important for librarians to be friendly, flexible, enthusiastic, accommodating, change-loving, and technology-obsessed. In my own teaching, I focus on the students: their needs, their assignment at-hand, and how I can point them in the right direction to get it done. When I’m in front of a class I will do what it takes to get and keep their attention: I’ll be energetic, conversational, and even silly at times. Above all, I will be human in the hopes that they will respond, in-kind, with their own humanity. Once that connection is made, they will not hesitate to come to me when they need help or for just a friendly visit.

My students often tell me that I’m not a “typical librarian”. My steadfast response is always “Thank You.”