Behind The Front Lines - Troy Recognizes School Librarians

Even through the major changes of remote and hybrid learning this past year, Troy District 30-C school library associates have continued to play important roles in student education, and have, in fact, expanded their roles to include helping students and teachers through the challenging transitions from in-person education to remote, then to hybrid and back to in-person.

Troy Learning Resource Facilitator Barb Miller said during remote, or at-home, learning, students used their computers more than before. The district’s library associates made more material available online, she said, and guided students through making sense of it.

“Information that students can access over the web is like an information tsunami,” Miller said. “It’s overwhelming. It’s overwhelming for adults. It’s important for us to teach them to discern what they’re reading.”

School library associates also suggest additional information to supplement what students learn in class. Recent examples at William B. Orenic Intermediate School and Troy Middle School have included books on the World War II era and ancient Roman history.

Troy library associates also introduce students to different genres of books and will recommend specific books.

Miller said a familiar comment is, “I’ve read everything. I don’t know what to read next.” She’ll do a little interview to discover their likes and dislikes and interests, then she’ll recommend a book. Miller and the district’s library associates read children’s and young adult books constantly, and they can always find something to interest even the most finicky of readers. And also those who have difficulty reading.

“We want to make reading accessible,” she said, “even for kids who struggle with it.”

Troy Cronin Elementary School library associate Jill Scarcelli said that as one who struggled with school when she was young, she knows how important it is to be able to reach all students and give them a safe place where they can develop a love of reading and discovery.

“All year long,” she said, “we work to find books they enjoy.”

Scarcelli said the school libraries looked very different during this Covid-19 year. Troy library associates created their own online classrooms where students could listen to stories, among other activities. Students could “drop in” at any time to enjoy a no-pressure, no-grades-given adventure. Some families joined in each week, making it a family reading time.

Troy Hofer Elementary School library associate Chrissy Simmons said first and foremost, they aspire to foster a love of reading. When she read to her remote students this year, she even dressed up and wore wigs to make characters come to life.

“During Covid,” she said, “we did the best we could to engage with them. We learned a lot more about technology, too. But we did really miss the interaction with the kids.”

This year, Simmons also introduced live, online lunch bunches with entire classes, where she and the students read stories and played games.

“Library associates are an integral part of the academic success of students,” she said.

“Their dedication to their students and the school community is amazing,” Miller said of the Troy library associates. “I am amazed every day how much they care about their kids and about how much effort they spend to meet the needs of every child who comes through their libraries.”

Learning Resource Center associates at Troy's seven schools are Jolene Chamblee, Kelly DeRocco. Joyce Forlenzo, Gina Rolando, Jill Scarcelli, Chrissy Simmons, Tracy Voels and Jayne Worden.