Massachusetts School Library Association
            MEMBER PORTAL                
​Join or Renew     Member Directory​
  • Home
  • About Us
    • MSLA Leadership 2022-23
    • Executive Board Meetings
    • Joint Statements: MLA, MassCUE
    • Spotlight Archive
    • Strategic Plan 2016-22
    • MSLA Constitution
  • Membership
    • Member Portal
    • Join or Renew Your Membership
    • Members Map
    • Email List
    • Regions >
      • Boston
      • Northeast
      • Metrowest
      • Southeast
      • Central
      • West
  • Conference
    • MSLA and PDPs
  • Resources
    • DESE Rubric
    • Certification & Licensure
    • Program Standards & Rubrics
    • Job Description: School Librarian
    • Job Listings
    • MLS Strategic Planning
    • Intellectual Freedom
  • Advocacy
    • MA School Library Study for Equity & Access
    • Everyday Advocacy
    • ESSA
    • Exemplary Programs
  • Newsletter
    • 2023 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2023
    • 2022 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2022
      • May 2022
      • October 2022
    • 2021 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2021
      • May 2021
      • October 2021
    • 2020 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2020
      • May 2020
      • October 2020
    • 2019 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2019
      • May 2019
      • October 2019
    • 2018 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2018
      • May 2018
      • October 2018
    • 2017 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2017
      • May 2017
      • September 2017
      • October 2017
    • 2016 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2016
      • May 2016
      • October 2016
    • 2015 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • April 2015
      • November 2015
    • MSLA Forum 2002-2013
  • Awards
    • Judi Paradis Memorial Grant
    • Archive: History of Awards
    • 2019 Awards Pictures
    • 2018 Awards Pictures
    • 2017 Awards Pictures
    • 2016 Awards Pictures
    • 2015 Awards Pictures
  • Bookmark Contest
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
    • 2020 Winners
    • 2019 and 2018 Winners
    • 2016 and 2017 Winners
    • 2012 to 2015 Winners
    • 2009 to 2011 Winners
    • 2004 to 2008 Winners
    • Bookmark Judges

Go! Go! Go! Don't stop believing...in all you can do! "Memoirs of a retiring Librarian"

5/17/2022

1 Comment

 
Patsy Divver is the Library Teacher at Millis Middle/High School in Millis, MA
​and the recipient of the 2022 Judi Paradis Action Grant 

At the end of June, I will be retiring from a role that I’ve held for over 33 years. This “library person” identity began back in 1988 when I officially was ‘the library mom’ for my oldest daughter’s kindergarten class. What fun going in and digging through those many picture books, introducing the art of reading to young minds! From the beginning, I was hooked on books, and I have enjoyed my role as school library teacher over the past 25 years.
With retirement comes the idea of slowing down…but not before the school year ends. Keeping the library in the limelight, presenting effective lessons and invigorating programs is a priority for all of us, and retiring should not be stopping this. Don’t stop believing in all you can do or what you can offer to your successor.

When I returned to school last fall, it was following a year of my being fully remote teaching. The shelves needed weeding and the collection needed books and everything needed a ‘restart’. So after starting the catch-up of following lost books, reviewing new titles and planning for improving the circulation, the gap was graphics. Students love them, manga was a major focus, and our collection required a real re-do: where does one begin?

First problem— space. Our sad biography section was dull, boring and not well-used. Solution: move, weed, and redefine the space. We transformed it into the graphic novel section to bring fresh perspective to the area. Housing the most desirable parts of the collection in a new spot brings in renewed interest. However, funds were limited, budgets frozen barely two months after the start of this project, so a DIY approach was mandatory.

​This brings us to the second problem— money. Grants, pleads, donations…that’s how this metamorphosis began. My first small grant was from the local teachers’ association, which allowed for ‘decorations,’ but not books. We secured the grant and the changes began— decorative changes— shifting shelves, adding posters and stickers, creating signage and programming for fun: a special space to draw-your-own anime.
Donation suggestions came from the MSLA listserv. One fruitful one was writing for the ‘Youth Services Book Review’, which allows you to ‘review and keep’ a book for your library (thanks to Susan Harhari and Stephanie Tournas!) Getting involved with reviewing the books gives me deeper understanding to the collection. Next, my friendly public librarian gave us a ‘like new’ set of the manga series Fruits Basket to expand this popular subsection of graphic novels. Finally, I applied for my shining star: the MSLA Judi Paradis Grant Award. At last, my book funding!
Wth the tireless help of local bookstores, I curated a list of 45 titles to jumpstart the graphic novel section. My district elementary school helped by bringing over extra chairs for the updated library space. To showcase the area, I held a “May the 4th be With You/Grab a Graphic & Go” Day! Dressed like an ‘older’ Super Woman, I welcomed the students with stickers, buttons, bookmarks and, of course, books.

​
This year-long project might have been a stretch to do do during my last year of working, but it was so worth it. You don’t stop when you decide to retire, you can always reinvent yourself and your space. For me, it helps in remembering why I started, all those years ago. As school library teachers, we are providing the best for our patrons and passing on the best school library we can for the next colleague. That’s what we do as school library teachers.
1 Comment
Ann Perham
5/17/2022 01:43:50 pm

Know that you have made a difference, Patsy! Best of luck in your retirement.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Forum Newsletter

    Co-Editors
    Reba Tierney and
    ​Luke Steere

    Reba is the School Librarian at Waltham High School; Luke is School Librarian at  Wilson Middle in Natick

    Click to set custom HTML

    Categories

    All
    AASL
    Academic
    Advocacy
    ALA
    Authors
    Book Bans
    Book Challenges
    Book Trailers
    Cataloging
    Censorship
    Column
    Conference
    Copyright
    Culture
    Databases
    Dewey
    Digital Citizenship
    E Books
    E-books
    Elementary
    ESSA
    Ethics
    Evaluation
    Graphic Books
    Graphic Novels
    Inquiry
    Leadership
    Learning Commons
    Legislation
    Literacy
    Maker Space
    Nonfiction
    Orientation
    Planning
    PLN
    President's Remarks
    Professional Development
    Reading
    Research
    Science
    Secondary
    Standards
    Technology
    Union
    Volunteers
    Weeding

    Archives

    February 2023
    October 2022
    May 2022
    February 2022
    October 2021
    May 2021
    February 2021
    October 2020
    May 2020
    February 2020
    October 2019
    May 2019
    February 2019
    October 2018
    May 2018
    February 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    May 2017
    February 2017
    October 2016
    May 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    April 2015

    MSLA Forum Past Issues:
    January 2015
    April 2015
    ​
    2002-2015 MSLA Forum
The Massachusetts School Library Association  works to ensure every school has a school library program that is fully integrated at all grade levels across the curriculum and has a significant and measurable impact on student achievement….Read more…..and Learn more about MSLA

Contact MSLA:
Emily Kristofek, Office Manager/Event Planner
P.O. Box 336. Wayland, MA 01778
ekristofek@maschoolibraries.org
​
508-276-1697 

Massachusetts School Library Association. All Rights Reserved.  Copyright 2023.