Acceptance Remarks

I am deeply honored to receive the Hugh Durbin Leadership Award. I feel though, that I share this award with all librarians, and everyone who has supported me and worked with me.

My success could not have happened without inspiration and support. I had Diane Dillon as my high school librarian, and simply thought she was the “norm” for what all librarians should be. That’s a pretty lofty place to start. Then, to have Dr. Brodie for nearly all my library classes was not just great luck, but also great inspiration.  Now, I am so fortunate to have a mentor like Jennifer Schwelik, who inspires me each day to do a little more, do it a little better and do it for the students. It would, additionally, be impossible to run a successful library program without support. This support comes not just from Jennifer, but also my principal, Mrs. Linda LoGalbo, and a wonderful staff, who lets me invade their classrooms and work with them. We have developed many exciting collaborative lessons, and are working on still more.  We all see students benefit greatly when we work together.

Libraries today are such exhilarating places. My library no longer resides between four walls and shelves of books, it is the whole building. Whether I take my computer or carts of books with me, the library goes where I go. We are meeting staff and students where they are at. Our school has seen such an exciting change in the library. We have grown from a place of books and quiet study to a media center that has a frenzy and flurry of activity. It’s exciting that the students realize that the library is a key to locating quality information quickly. Sure, they still come for books, but also for computer help, for information, for support and for hugs. I love being there everyday. Who wouldn’t want the best job in the school?

There is one more support I need to mention: If I didn’t have INFOhio’s support, my job would be much more difficult. INFOhio is such an ingrained part of my library; I cannot imagine working without it. The resources and support it provides is amazing. My teachers enjoy the richness of the resources and my students love the easy access it provides. We are all better schools because of it. It is our job to ensure that our students have access to these resources far into the future. It’s one of the easiest ways to help equalize the access of resources to all of Ohio’s students and we need to keep it. We can only do this by continuing to promote its great value on local and state levels.

I encourage all of you to keep taking education to the next level. Collaborate with each other, share resources, and be your own advocate. Perhaps Emerson said it best, “Make yourself necessary to somebody. Do not make life hard to any.” This is the goal of all libraries. But if necessary to add, above all else, do it for the love of the kids.