A Salute to the MISD Librarians

Dutton said she enjoys making learning
fun for children of all ages.

April 10-16 is National Library Week. It’s a time to celebrate the contributions of librarians across the country—including those who work in our schools.

When people think about school librarians, they often think of a person who works in the library spending their day checking in and checking out books. But as the librarians in Mansfield ISD will tell you, that’s only a small fraction of their job.

“The library is the nucleus of our school,” said D.P. Morris Elementary School librarian Shannon Dutton. “It’s a multipurpose area where kids come to check out books, read, do homework, take accelerated reading tests, do intervention classes...It’s the center of our school.”

School librarians serve as an integral part of a student's learning experience by guiding children through research and helping to make learning fun.

“We enjoy teaching students how to effectively research so they may find the joy, not the struggle, in the process,” said Amy Herford, librarian at Rogene Worley Middle School. “By doing what we do, we support all parts of the school through the library.”

Herford took a selfie with students for a live Twitter chat
about the novel "One for the Murphys."

And of course, reading is a passion that they try to share with everyone who enters through the library doors.

“My favorite part of being a librarian is getting the kids excited about reading and opening their eyes to things that expand their imagination,” said Dutton.

“We are technology gurus, design specialists, research assistants, passionate thinkers, and motivating doers,” Herford added. “We have taught in the classroom and have a heart for student success.”

So, the next time you see a school librarian, thank them for their dedication to education. Let them know that the hard work they do certainly does not go unnoticed.