Influences

Some of you know the story of why I am going for my degree in library science. When I was five years old, I thought that being a librarian must be a lot of fun. I loved visiting the library, there were crafts and story time, and the books! Oh they were fantastic.

Then one of my cousins told me that if I became a librarian, I would have to read all the books in the library. This did not go well with me, for I was terrified of R. L. Stine's Goosebumps series. I still won't touch them (I'm the girl who freaks out during Scary Movie. Stop laughing. I mean it).

So, in the course of ten years I thought of many different occupations. French teacher, history teacher, mortician, special-effects person, costume designer ...

In the tenth grade, I started working as a page at my town library. This was the same year that I joined the high school literary magazine, and the new club at the high school: the book club. The book club was advised by Mrs. P, the high school librarian. I loved her. She was funny, smart, wore teal eye-liner (which I still think is cool), brought in snacks for the book club to munch, and always knew just what type of books I would love. They included Skin and Other Stories by Roald Dahl and Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson by Louise Rennison.

Unfortunately, she passed away from cancer my senior year of high school. I still remember that day when her death was announced over the loud speaker. I don't think I even said anything to my teacher - I just remember winding up in the nurse's office bawling hysterically. I still remember the last time I talked to Mrs. P on the phone. I think it was during Christmas break, and she was laughing off how clumsy she was, falling down the stairs and breaking her hip. She assured me she would be back at school as soon as her hip healed.

Mrs. P knew that I wanted to be a librarian. For the longest time in college (and this summer) I wrestled with what area of librarianship I would go into. I kept on telling myself to go towards archives, towards academia ... not school media. I kept on remembering how rude some of my classmates were to Mrs. P.

This summer, I worked with about fifty-five children, and a rotating staff of teenage counselors. I loved it. I loved every second of it (well, not every second. There are some days that could have gone a lot better).

If Mrs. P was still alive, I would happily go back to my old high school and let her know that I'm joining the ranks of other school librarians. I know the current high school librarian would hug me if I tell her --- Mme. was my eighth-grade French teacher.

This entire post? Prompted by finishing I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith, and realizing that one day, I may advise a high school book club. I would love for them to read it.