Acceptance Remarks

It is an honor to receive the Hugh Durbin Leadership Award.

I began using INFOhio resources with my students in the elementary library. Appropriate resources were available for each grade as they used their information literacy skills. As an elementary media specialist, I shared INFOhio resources with other staff members during in-services and staff meetings. In the summer of 2005, I attended a workshop at Kent State for the Institute for Library and Information Literacy Education known as ILILE. David Hogan, who was then a 5th grade teacher, and I worked collaboratively to develop lesson plans that incorporated information literacy strategies and the electronic resources of INFOhio. That fall I began to collaborate with Junior/Senior High School teachers to introduce their students to the many excellent resources available through INFOhio. Now in the elementary and Junior/Senior High media centers at Monroe Local Schools, INFOhio is used on a regular basis. Teachers appreciate the wealth of resources provided for the students, and students can easily find appropriate resources for their projects.

I want to thank the INFOhio staff for all of the work they do for the students of Ohio. Using INFOhio resources has provided me with many opportunities. I was able to share ideas and information with other media specialists as a member of the INFOhio Users Council. After attending the ILILE workshop, I was invited to join other teachers and media specialists across the state to develop additional rooms for the SchoolRooms project. Being a member of the Users Council and working on SchoolRooms has made me a better media specialist.

David Hogan (left), Monroe High School media specialist, Angie Stitzel, SWOCA INFOhio Liaison, Brenda Gehm, 2009 INFOhio Hugh Durbin Leadership Award recipient, and Theresa M. Fredericka, INFOhio Executive Director, at the OELMA Awards Luncheon, October 2009.           Picture Credit: Geoff Ehrnschwender

I would like to thank the following people who have helped me earn this award. Terri Fredericka, who works tirelessly for the students and teachers in Ohio, always inspires me to do more. I met Kathy Halsey when we both started working on SchoolRooms. Kathy then asked me to be on the author committee for the 2007 OELMA conference, and she encouraged me to become more involved in OELMA. Angie Stitzel always patiently answers all of my questions about INFOhio, and she guided me through Monroe’s conversion to SirsiDynix software. David Hogan now works with me as a media specialist, but even as a classroom teacher, he helped to make Monroe’s media centers inviting, educationally sound, and student-centered. I must also thank my superintendent, Dr. Elizabeth Lolli, who truly believes that vibrant media centers are the heart of the schools, and she funds those media centers so students and staff have the current resources needed. Thanks to all of you who post the wonderful suggestions and information on the OELMA and INFOhio E-lists. I have learned from all of you.

I truly feel that I have the perfect job! I am given a budget and told to buy books and resources. Then I get to share those books and resources with children and young adults. What more could I want? Thank you.