Each month, TASL recognizes three school librarians from across the state for their outstanding service to their schools and communities. We are excited to share more about our December 2021 Librarians of the Month below.
East TN Librarian of the Month
Name: Traci Magee
Hometown: Maryville, TN
School: Linden Elementary School
School District: Oak Ridge Schools
Grades Served: K-4
What do you love most about being a school librarian?
I love getting students excited about books and reading. There is nothing like seeing them light up as they hear stories that are both new to them, and the familiar ones.
What would someone see if they were to walk in your library?
Bright colorful posters promoting reading, shelves full of new books, students excited about reading, and a warm, welcoming environment.
What are you most proud of regarding your library program?
The incorporation of STEM activities. I love using books as a spring board for students to look at problems in a different way. Students are always so engaged in these types of activities.
What advice would you give a new librarian?
As a new librarian, I think it is important to find out the interests of your student body as well as the faculty. Getting to know your collection is key as well.
If you are willing, please provide us with a favorite activity description that we can share with other professionals.
One of my favorite activities is doing wordless picture books with kindergarteners. I always start the lesson out with this question; “can we understand a book that has no words?” Of course their answer is always no we can’t understand a book with no words. By the end of the lesson they are so excited to realize how important pictures are to a story and learning to read.
Follow Traci on Instagram @lindeneslibrary.
Middle TN Librarian of the Month
Name: Tracy Parker
Hometown: Fort Rucker, AL
School: Station Camp Middle School
School District: Sumner County Schools
Grades Served: 6-8
What do you love most about being a school librarian?
I love seeing kids enjoying reading and being a part of that adventure.
What would someone see if they were to walk in your library?
Kids reading. Kids playing games. Kids selecting books.
What are you most proud of regarding your library program?
Creating readers. People who read are learning all the time no matter their age. This learning way past the time someone leaves formal schooling makes all the difference in their lives.
What advice would you give a new librarian?
Know your people – teachers, students, and community. This helps you provide a collection that contains something for everyone. Students must see themselves in books as well as experience things in books that they may never experience in real life. This is the whole “books are mirrors and books are windows” idea. This is REALLY important.
If you are willing, please provide us with a favorite activity description that we can share with other professionals.
My favorite activity is hosting a book tasting. It is so cool to see students discover new books that they might not have found otherwise. (If you want more details, let me know.) You can check out related documents here and here.
Anything else you would like to share?
It is a great honor to have been chosen as the TASL Middle TN Librarian of the Month. I appreciate the recognition from whoever nominated me.
Follow Tracy on Instagram @scmbisonreaders and on Twitter @margosgirltn.
West TN Librarian of the Month
Name: Amy Venckus
Hometown: Bartlett, TN
School: Appling Middle School
School District: Bartlett City Schools
Grades Served: 6-8
What do you love most about being a school librarian?
I love getting to know all the students in the school and being able to build individual relationships with them. Each student is unique. It’s a rewarding challenge to help them find books that encourage and nurture their own independent reading styles.
What would someone see if they were to walk in your library?
A room that’s warm and welcoming to everyone.
What are you most proud of regarding your library program?
I try to provide activities for all students, whether they consider themselves “readers” or not. From author visits to pumpkin decorating contests, I want the students to know that the library is a place for everyone. It’s about more than the books on the shelves.
What advice would you give a new librarian?
Take time to get to know your school’s students and staff. Every school has its own community and culture, so develop a program tailored to what your school needs. Learn from library groups on social media or at professional development seminars, then implement those things that work best for your community. You don’t have to do it all.
If you are willing, please provide us with a favorite activity description that we can share with other professionals.
Every April we celebrate National Poetry Month. Each grade level works on a different type of poetry. Our eighth graders always love creating blackout poetry, and I love seeing them express themselves creatively. Sometimes they even surprise themselves!
Anything else you would like to share?
Over the past several years, the number of international students has increased at our school. I started an International Languages collection with titles in Spanish and Arabic to serve these ELL students and their families. I hope to add titles in Bengali as well. Not only do these books strengthen reading, grammar, and vocabulary skills in their native language, but they also provide a sense of comfort, acceptance, and belonging to a new school.
Follow Amy on Twitter @amsreads.
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