The "Yes" Librarian

Photo by  Mayur Gala  on  Unsplash "Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries.  Without them, humanity cannot survive." -Dalai Lama I think all educators lose sight of the big picture from time to time, myself included. We are so busy doing what we think we MUST: grading the papers, making the copies, sending the emails, and perfecting the lessons. Do we always find time for the things we OUGHT to do? Do we smile more at our students? Do we say hello in the hallways? Do we compliment our students? Do we ask them how they are doing-- really doing-- and wait for the answer and actually listen? On my good days, sure, I do these things.  On my bad days, the days I am caught up in doing what I think I MUST, I send a child over to the stacks alone, telling myself I'm teaching  independence when really, I just want to finish the email I am writing. When I am too wrapped up in my own agenda, I scribble the pass to the library for lunch, bare...

Photo by  Patrick Hendry  on  Unsplash Recently,  I attended an Eagle Scout Court of Honor for the son of a close friend. I knew that his achievement  was very special, but  I didn't realize how emotional the ceremony would be. The part that touched me the most was when my friend's son gave out "mentor pins" to three people who helped him achieve his goal of becoming an Eagle Scout. As  I dabbed the tears welling in my eyes, I started thinking about the three people who have most influenced my career as a school librarian and educator. While there are many people who have had a  positive influence on me over the years, my three "mentor pins" go to my mother, Ann Swift; my predecessor in the library, Mary Lou Purpura; and a phenomenal teacher and  dear friend, Barbara Kistner. My first mentor is my mom, a retired science teacher. I know that my mom was a great teacher because I was actually in her science class in 7th grade in Saint Th...