Morning glories!! Thank you for joining me today for yet another installment of the A - Z Blogging Challenge. I am beginning to wonder why I thought participating in this might be fun. Ha!! A challenge? Why, yes, it has been. But with this post we are almost half-way through the alphabet. Which also means we have half the alphabet left to go. So, there's that. Kind of that glass half empty-half full thing.
We left off yesterday with a post about glimmers that begin with the letter K, namely my kitties - Purrsnickity and Purrcival. They are adorable and always trying to make their mama (me) feel better. If you missed that post, please check it out, here.
Since yesterday's letter was K, we know that today's letter is L. My career as a school librarian was a 25-year-long glimmer in my life. I loved my job. Loved bringing books and children together. Creating a space where I hope all students felt welcome and successful. Today I am going to share some of the ways being a librarian, being in a library has been a blessing to me.
L is for Library/ian
As PC likes to say about some of his career moves, I fell backward into being a librarian. My poor parents, who paid for my Bachelor's degree. I sampled every major I could think of before settling on art education because I could use all of my assorted credits toward a Bachelor of Science in Art Ed. A year or so before graduation, a gal I worked with mentioned she was majoring in library science. I had to know more. Wound up taking enough graduate level courses in library science to constitute more than an minor but not enough for a major.
When we got to El Paso, the school district here was short (as in none) on art vacancies but was in need of librarians. They hired me without any school library experience and 10 years after I had graduated. And I never looked back. So very grateful.
Becoming a librarian did so much for me. It allowed me to combine my love of art with my love of books with my love of children.
- Being a librarian, I was able to combine my love of art in my library lessons. We always did some kind of craft or art activity. Even when we were doing research. There were always those students - especially on our predominantly bilingual campus - who didn't have the language to write or say things but excelled at using art to communicate. I was able to be the art teacher I studied to be.
- Through the Reading is Fundamental (RIF) program, I was able to give away hundreds of books each year. Most of my students were economically disadvantaged, so those books were often times their first and only ones.
- By implementing the Accelerated Reader (AR) program I was able to get kids excited about reading. Some of my students experienced the success of reading their first book from cover to cover. They earned points for each book read on their reading level. And with the points they were able to buy items from our AR store. Over and over the kids wanted to buy something for their mommies with their reading points. So I stocked lotion, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, hairbrushes. And school supplies. But we also had Playstations and X-Boxes. Having the AR store helped me help my students.
- Being a librarian allowed me to embrace my inner-thespian, to be a ham. I wore costumes to go with different books and we put on Reader's Theater productions complete with costumes and sets. Everyone in every second grade class had a part in our plays.
- I was blessed to work with all of the 900 students on our campus. And with all of the teachers, too.
- With a generous budget, I was able to create a comfortable, safe haven that was the H.R. Moye library for children who had very little in their personal lives.
I absolutely loved being a librarian. Through that career, I found the real me. And I was so happy!! I still miss it everyday. Miss the hugs, miss the little successes, miss being surrounded by little ones and great books. But being a librarian and working in a library was a 25-year-long glimmer in my life.
Your Turn
Were/are you fortunate enough to work in a profession or job that you loved? I wish I could find the gal who suggested library science to me and thank her for my wonderful career. I owe her big.
Thank you for visiting today. Hope you will leave me a comment below so I know you visited. Have a peaceful Tuesday, my friends.
Hugs and kisses,
You have always mentioned being a librarian and subbing in it, but I never knew how you fell into it or just how much you loved it. I love that these kids were able to get some of their first books through these programs when otherwise they wouldn't have. And who wouldn't have wanted to come into your library?? You made it so fun! I am sure you miss it, but it is so nice that you enjoyed your career so much and have so many great memories.
ReplyDeleteCarrie
curlycraftymom.com
Thank you for this sweet comment. I loved being a librarian. I loved the kids and the books. And even now I still miss it.
DeleteIt seems your job suited you very well and that's a blessing. My mom was a librarian and I love libraries still. I was a speech pathologist, but think I would have enjoyed working in a library. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteThank you. I loved being a librarian so much. So thankful that everything happened the way they did and I was hired to work in a library rather than teach art. I am sure your work as a speech pathologist was very rewarding. It must have been heartwarming to work with children so closely and watch their growth.
DeleteWhat a beautiful reflection on your time as a librarian. You can truly feel how much heart you poured into that role—from connecting kids with books to creating such a welcoming, creative space. I especially loved reading about the AR store and how students chose gifts for their moms—that says so much about the impact you had. It’s clear those 25 years were meaningful not just for you, but for so many students too.
ReplyDeleteAww, I just love you and Carrie. You are my babies. Thank you for this sweet message. Tears!!
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