Thursday is National School Librarian Day
PLYMOUTH — National School Librarian Day is celebrated this year on Thursday, April 4. This day serves to recognize the professionals who keep the school library in working order. School librarians spend long hours keeping the library organized, they also work to help students find the resources they need in their learning.
This day of celebration began on April 1, 1985, when it was started by the American Association of School Librarians. The day of celebration has changed to April 4.
Lori Day is the librarian of Lincoln Junior High School. She has been in this position for 14 years and has been working at LJH for 27 years.
Before becoming LJH’S Librarian, Day had worked as the school’s career counselor and as a classroom aid.
She explained what led her to work in the field of education, stating that, originally, she went on this path because starting out it was very convenient for her as she had a young family, and this allowed her to be on the same schedule as her kids.
“I just love this age group. They’re just a lot of fun. This is my people,” Day said when talking about why she has stayed in the junior high.
She became the librarian in the fall of 2010. In 2010 the former LJH librarian was moving to a different position and Day was trying to figure out what she wanted to get her master's degree in. She was deciding between library science or school counselor. The principal of LJH at that time knew that she had an interest in the library, so he offered her the opportunity to take over as the librarian.
“It means a lot. I love watching the kids develop and become adults. It’s very enlightening to see. We have really great kids. Junior high can be kind of a tough time for young people and when they figure things out it just is rewarding,” Day said when talking about what her job means to her.
Day’s official title at LJH is the Information Literacy Assistant, in this position she has many responsibilities. She is in charge of all the books in circulation, she is in charge of all the ipads at the school, and with that she is also in charge of troubleshooting of this technology. She also talks with parents, serves as the liaison for the technology department and helps get teachers things that they need. She offers tutoring in the library and also allows kids to come in and take tests in the library. She also lets classes come into the library for many different things.
“Working with the kids and staff. The people part of my job. I like the organizational part too, but the people part is number one,” Day said when talking about what is her favorite of all the things she does at the school.
A part of the organizational side of her job that she enjoys is being in charge of the school’s yearbooks. She keeps every yearbook from 1961 to the present in the library.
Day is also a graduate of Plymouth. Due to her knowledge as a student and as her time as an educator Day leads tours of the school.
“I love it. I look forward to coming to work every day. In my position, I feel very fortunate because I get to know every student in the building. A classroom teacher just gets to know their students well, I know all 500 plus students in the building by name. I really like that,” Day said when talking about her position.
Lauren Lafaive, Plymouth School Corporations Director of Communications and Marketing, described Day as the “Google of LJH.” If someone does not know the name of a student in the hall all they have to do is ask Day.
Information about the history of National School Librarian Day was gathered from nationaldaycalendar.com and from weareteachers.com.