Ms. Frazzled: February 2024

Sad day for SBISD Libraries, due to budget - they are now without Librarians. I have a long history with Libraries/Librarians in SBISD....let me share

In Kindergarten at Shadow Oaks Elementary, I can remember going to the library, a small room with a wall of windows, a carpeted corner with a rocking chair and shelves floor to ceiling behind the chair. Under the windows were little cubbies with picture books. It was small, but it was a magical place. This was before technology, before TV's or videos were in the schools. The Librarian would share a story and we would sit quietly listening. The collection was small so once a month the Book Mobile from Harris County Libraries would make a visit to the bus drive. If the school didn't have a book, you could request it from the Book Mobile. Somewhere in second or third grade I found the biography section. I read the shelves in alphabetical order learning about famous people, presidents, and more.

In Fourth grade the library at Shadow Oaks expanded to take over 3 classrooms at the end of the fourth grade wing. I was so excited to be selected to help take the books from the old library to the new library. (I realize now - it was child labor!) But as I carried books from one space to the next I felt so important and we got the first look at the new space. Study carrels with filmstrip machines. Tape players with large headphones and even a space to see 16mm movies. It was heaven. Since the library was at the end of the fourth grade wing, fourth grade students were able to go to library often. I think I spent part of every day in that library. The librarian always had a new book for me to read. I was a voracious reader, the library was my special place.

In Junior High I moved to Spring Woods Middle School. The library was at the end of the first hall. If your teacher gave you a pass, you could get into the library before school or at lunch. Again I spent many hours perusing those shelves. By junior high I had moved into reading series, mostly fiction. I loved historical fiction...so I'd read a historical fiction book then go to the Non-Fiction section to read about the time period of the book. I was a regular in the library and was often greeted at the door with a new book to read.

For High School - I was off to Spring Wood High, the library was in the center of the school. We did a lot class reading and research. I spent a lot of time in the library reading required books, but I did find time to get some leisure reading. Again, the librarian was so kind to open during lunch. Once I became a frequent flyer, she gave me books to read. The librarian was also very knowledgeable and taught me how to dig to find information. I think my love of research started in the Spring Woods Library. You could always go one step deeper if you tried.

My first job was working at the district media center with Katherine Thompson. At 15 I spent hours laminating and creating learning centers for teachers. (Oh how far we have come today!) College brought more time in libraries, but not much time for leisure reading. I finished in Elementary Education, however I found myself drawn to the libraries at the schools I taught in or did student teaching.

Once I moved back to Houston, some of the SBISD Librarians who had guided me over the years encouraged me to go back and get my Master's in Library Science. They helped me with acceptance and as I needed help with coursework, they were right there beside me. My first library job was not in SBISD, however I still had support from the SBISD Librarians. I came over for trainings, visiting authors, and the annual Book Exhibit. Oh how fun it was to spend days in the Book Exhibit with all of the newly published books. I was able to visit the different schools and learn from these very special librarians.

Library #2 at RCE - teaching around the computers

Working on projects in Library #2 @ RCE

Large Kiva in Library #2 - could easily hold 2 grade levels

Back in those days, library jobs didn't open up very often - the librarians stayed for long stints in their jobs - finally a position opened and I was able to accept a job in Spring Branch - I was coming home. There's a story to the library job - but that's for another time. I moved into Rummel Creek in the fall of 1990 and remained there until 2022 when I retired. During my tenure at Rummel Creek, I was able to design two libraries, bring in computers and servers (RCE won the Nabisco 21st Century Grant to bring in all kinds of technology in 1992) Over the years in SBISD I worked under Mary Ann Herndon, Dr. Barry Bishop, Jo Conlon, Jessica Lilly and Lisa Stultz as library directors. Dr. Bishop took us from book folks to integrated technology and book folks. He never wanted us to forget about the importance of placing the right book in the hands of a child, but he encouraged us to take interest in the emerging technology.

As I watch the librarians being removed from the schools ( know there is a plan) I feel for the students who won't have a librarian ready to hand them the next new book, to teach about the technology. I know the district is in a budget situation, but my heart breaks for the students.