GEN: Glimpses of success? A heart-warming vignette...

[Jeff Hastings <hastings@hps.k12.mi.us>]

Heartwarming stories never really reflect reality, I know, but they're great
little nuggets to stow in reserve until one of those days when you're asking
the question "why am I here?"  Here's a recent Highlander Way Middle School
Library "Warm and Fuzzy" that I hope will jump start your holiday glow.

A couple of weeks ago a smiling, bright-eyed student presented me a brimming
bag of his paperbacks to add to our school library's collection. This
happens every once in a while and I always consider it a special gesture. I
thanked him personally, of course, and we talked books for a minute or two.
Later I wrote an announcement thanking him publicly for his donation.

 I was doing some cataloging yesterday and got around to going through the
bag of paperbacks this boy had given me-- checking to make sure everything
was appropriate; assessing their condition, looking for markings on them,
that sort of thing...The bag contained a typical assortment of middle school
fiction; a few books he had written his name in, but that wasn't a problem.
At the bottom of the bag was a paperback called Not Quite Human, a typical
high interest book aimed at the reluctant male reader.  It would have been
perfect for our collection, but the inside cover was pretty marked up.  In
big, sloppy, penmanship someone had written: "Have a great summer and visit
your library often!" It was signed with my name.
______________________________________________________

For several years I've been startling fifth graders during their middle
school orientation sessions. I introduce myself, talk a bit about our
library and suddenly begin flinging new paperbacks into the groups of kids.
Each has a message inside reminding them that libraries give away free books
all year long. Once the frenzy subsides, I exit inviting the kids back in
the fall when, I tell them, " ten thousand more free books will be waiting
for them."

Was the book in the bottom of the bag a catalyst?  Who knows? Probably not.
But, on those days when being a school library media specialist seems like a
pointless endeavor, I'll enjoy imagining that it was.

Jeff Hastings
School Library Media Specialist
Highlander Way Middle School
Howell, Michigan 48843

vox 517.548.6293
fax 517.545.1407
mailto:hastings@hps.k12.mi.us

visit me in the library at http://hps.k12.mi.us/~hwms

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