What inspired you to study library science?
While in graduate school at the University of Michigan working for my doctorate in education
administration, I was given the opportunity to substitute in AAPS as a school librarian. Once
given that opportunity, I knew that it was the dream job for me. So, after completing my
doctoral program, I applied and was admitted to the School of Information Masters of Science
program. There, I was placed in a cohort of other like-minded post-graduate students who
shared my passion for learning, books, and teaching students, a cohort of smart, ambitious, and
dedicated future librarians. My placement solidified and confirmed to me that I had made the
right choice – to become a school librarian.
Why are school libraries so important?
I had just recently completed my doctorate program at the University of Michigan and the
library had become my second home. My research focused on variables that contributed most
to the success of children in public schools. Access to schools with libraries and certified
librarians was one of the variables that was at the top of the list. This confirmed my intuition
that I wanted to be able to make a contribution to the success of children and pass on to them
my love of books and quest for becoming a life long learner.
How can a parent encourage their kids to read more?
One of many ways parents can encourage their children to read more is to read to them.
Explore with your child/children the many wonders that books can open up to them. Keep
books around the house—on the table, in the bathroom, in the bedroom, in the playroom,
wherever your child spends their time. Keep books around that contain characters that look like
them, but expose your child to characters from different cultures and backgrounds to open up
doors to the world beyond their immediate environment.
What book or books have had the most influence on your life?
As a child, Robinhood, was one of my favorite books because it exposed to me that we should
always give help to those who may be less fortunate than we are even if it is at a personal
sacrifice. As a teenager, there were two books that made profound impressions on me, Malcom
X (Alex Haley) because it was the epitome of a book about how education can change a person
and that no matter who we are or where we come from, through education we can become
more than what we are. The second impressionable book was Another Country (James Baldwin)
because it exemplified to me how prejudices, hatred, bigotry, and racism) can destroy a person
if they allows it to.
How do you keep students engaged?
At the high school level, I keep students engaged by relating to them about what they enjoy and
finding out what motivates and inspires them. I enjoy talking to young people. It keeps me
young. I love to hear about their dreams and aspirations. I also enjoy hearing them talk about
the changes they would like to make in the world and what their dreams are of becoming
young adults. When I was at the elementary level, I engaged the young students by showing
enthusiasm about what was important in their world. I would often dress up as characters from
books that we shared in story time whether it was George Washington, Squanto, Christopher
Columbus, Johnny Apple Seed, Crispus Attucks, King Tut, etc.
What is the most rewarding part of your work?
The most rewarding part of my job is to see students immerse themselves in a good book and
discover the joy of reading a good book or novel. I have literally seen the faces of students
“light up” when reading a book they enjoy and in which they are engaged, to nurture their
natural inquisitiveness, and help them to become natural and critical readers.
What do you wish everyone realized about the work of a school librarian?
The work of a librarian is multi-faceted. It is our role to make available to students book that
will engage them and open up doors that will take them beyond the confinements of their
immediate surroundings.
What’s most exciting about your professional life right now? Your personal life?
I have had the privilege of working as a librarian in the AAPS for more than 22 years. I have
students who have graduated over these years with whom I have had the fortune of keeping in
contact. It warms the cockles of my heart to have them recall how much they enjoyed coming
to the library either with a class or independently and how welcoming and inviting they felt in
that space.
Who do you admire or has been a role model for you?
I admired my parents of course because they ensured that there were always magazines,
books, newspapers, etc., around the house to which we had access. In addition, when I was
growing up, I was privileged to have had some great teachers and librarians who never failed to
encourage me to read. Mrs. Edwards, our public librarian with her assistance Mrs. Watkins,
were the first two certified librarians of color in Portsmouth, Virginia. They were trailblazers in
their day and would stop at nothing until they got a book in every child’s hand at any cost. I try
to carry out this trait in my dealing with students. However, with the advent of social media and
other advancements in technology, for example, Game Boy, TikTok, Instagram, etc., my job in
doing this is a bit more challenging than theirs was. Like them, I will never give up because
through reading, many of the mental health problems some of our students face on a regular
basis could be alleviated. I believe reading significantly improves one's mental health and well-
being by reducing stress. Studies have proven that reading helps to enhance one’s vocabulary
thus helping one to communicate and comprehend on a higher level. Furthermore, reading
takes us to places we have never been and opens up our horizons to levels that are limited only
by one’s imagination. Most of all, reading increases knowledge, encourages empathy for
humankind, and helps to promote diversity while helping to diminish biases one might hold.
How do you envision libraries in the future?
I envision libraries to continue to be the hub of the school and community. I see services
expanding to the point where they will be considered more of a community center rather than
a depository of books whether in print or digital. Libraries will become more critical instruments
for outsourcing information.
What are you reading now?
I like to multitask when I read. Therefore I am reading The Women (Kristin Hannah), Split
Decision (Ice-T and Spike), James (Percival Everett), and The Bible ( various authors).
