Massachusetts School Library Association
Member Portal:
​Join/Renew/Directory
​
  • Home
    • Spotlight Archive
    • MSLA Constitution
    • About Us
  • Membership
  • Conference
  • Resources
  • Advocacy
  • Awards
    • Judi Paradis Memorial Grant
    • MSLA Awards Archive: History of Awards >
      • 2023 Awards Pictures
      • 2019 Awards Pictures
      • 2018 Awards Pictures
      • 2017 Awards Pictures
      • 2016 Awards Pictures
      • 2015 Awards Pictures
  • Bookmark Contest

Secret Lives of School Librarians!

5/7/2019

1 Comment

 
Patsy Divver is the School Librarian at Millis Middle/High School 

What are the lurking secret lives of our school librarians? Did you just wake up one morning and decide you wanted a life of book shelves and Dewey, or was there another part to your life? Even now… what happens when the school doors close?

​
In this column, we’d like to hear from YOU about the many hats you wear… not just during the day (with library, tech, homeroom, lunch duty, advisor, coordinator), but before your turn as a librarian - or even now, when it’s ‘after-hours’! Let’s hear what our colleagues have been up to!
Wendy Garland, Avery Elementary School Library, Dedham:

Like many in our field, I was a career changer. However, my first career change came at the ripe old age of 19. I came to the school library profession following my retirement from a (very brief) ballet career. I worked at a public library to make the ends meet. When the company wasn't performing, I wasn't getting paid. Libraries were my income and my refuge. When I decided to abandon the profession, I felt lost and didn't know what to do with myself. The kind children's librarian suggested that I humor a career in libraries. The rest, as they say, is history (as I danced off to college to pursue a second career).


Tricia Svendenson, Bishop Feehan High School:

I was on Fear Factor - eating hissing Madagascar cockroaches! Joe Rogan came to our house for a Fear Factor Home Invasion about 15 years ago. Here's a video clip of me and my family downing the tasty critters!  Notice I even tried to get a librarian plug in! www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFQRXvzmWJE


Lisa Rogers, John D. Hardy Elementary School, Wellesley:

My secret life is that being a children's library teacher has led me to become a children's author! I work on my stories early in the morning and late at night, in between walking my big dog and doing a lot of running (I have run the Boston Marathon three times and am planning to run this year).

My first book, 16 Words: William Carlos Williams and the Red Wheelbarrow, is about the poet and the inspiration for his famous poem. It's a picture book that will be out from Schwartz and Wade Books in September. It's fun to be able to talk about the writing and publication process with my students! I also write a blog in the voice of my stubborn hound dog, Tucker: dreamsdudog.blogspot.com

Anne Calcaterra, Sizer School Library:

Last summer, I opened a small seasonal antique/vintage goods/hand-made craft shop, "Pieces of the Past", in the White Mountains. Located directly on Rte. 16 in Conway NH, it overlooks the Saco River with views of the Moat Mountains and Mt. Chocorua. Patrons get to see bald eagles fly over the heads of tubers as they float by, and I get to be near the mountains as I attempt to climb the 48 4,000 footers of NH with my daughter (we are 1/3 of the way through).


Sharon Dorian, Librarian, Taunton High School:

While currently the librarian at Taunton High School, I also have a second job, which I've held for 12 years, as Treasurer for the local cemetery/crematorium. I do all their books and payroll, which means once a week I meet the Superintendent at the crematorium (before school) to pick up the week's deposits, bills and correspondence. I know more about burying the dead and cremation than I ever wanted to know.

Ariel Dagan, Library Media Specialist, Tri-County RVTSD:

Back in ‘99 when I was teaching in private schools, I used to wear “Save the Children” ties. I wanted to have some ties that would be more meaningful to the themes I was teaching in the Jewish Day school. I came up with an entire line of apparel (neckwear called “Ancientties” which was a play on words). You see, I was born in Israel and I wanted the designs I created to connect people with their ancient heritage. The ties came in a pot, together with a parchment that explained the history of the design. So, when you received it as a gift, you would be “digging into your history” and finding your Ancient Ties. With an initial line of 12 designs in categories of Ancient Symbols, Ancient Places, and Biblical Passages, I have since increased to more lines such as Zodiac, 12 Tribes, and have created mosaics, scarves, ornaments and more. (You can see the full line of products at www.ancientties.com) Here is an example of a scarf I designed for the King Tut and The Golden Age of the Pharaohs and a description as well. https://www.ancientties.com/store/p31/King_Tutankhamun_Falcon_Feather__and_Golden_Band_Scarf.html

When I am not at school helping students become independent users of information and finding great titles to read, I watch and run in races of all distances. Currently, I am training for my first ultra marathon, and in August, I will be running a Stage Run: eight days around  Mt Kilimanjaro kilimanjarostagerun.com/. 

Want to share? Send me your information… a great place to give inspiration, expand background knowledge, and even make a new connection! Oh, and my “secret life”? I wrote greeting cards at Rust Craft in Dedham, MA. SO many ways to say “Happy Birthday!” Enjoy, everyone!
1 Comment
Tricia Svendsen
6/4/2019 11:07:01 am

Several times during my library career I have had the pleasure of setting up libraries in other parts of the world. In 2004 I spent a summer living with a Zulu family in Kwazulu Natal, So. Africa and established a library at Mbazwana Elementary School. In 2006 I was asked to start a library in Guaimaca, Honduras at a mission. In 2006 I went again to Guaimaca and set up a library at a school. It would be fun to go back to those schools and see how the libraries are doing!

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Forum Newsletter

    Co-Editors
    ​Luke Steere and Michelle Fontaine

    Michelle is School Librarian at Epstein Hillel School in Marblehead; 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
    Picture Books
    Planning
    PLN
    President's Remarks
    Professional Development
    Reading
    Research
    Science
    Secondary
    Social Justice
    Standards
    Technology
    Union
    Volunteers
    Weeding

    Archives

    February 2025
    May 2024
    February 2024
    October 2023
    May 2023
    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

Picture
Contact MSLA:
Emily Kristofek, Office Manager/Event Planner
P.O. Box 336. Wayland, MA 01778
[email protected]
​
508-276-1697 

Massachusetts School Library Association. All Rights Reserved.  Copyright 2025.