HOLY CROSS EDUCATOR

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT WORKING WITH STUDENTS?

Being in the library means I see a different side of students that doesn’t necessarily come out in the classroom. It’s always fun to talk about books with students. The way TikTok influences what students read is fascinating because they keep uncovering titles that surprise me. I also like doing things like fun polls or contests and seeing how the students respond. For students who want help with their research needs, we’re available in person or by email. Working with a student to figure out where and how to find appropriate resources and helping them problem solve their research needs is really rewarding!

WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH IN TEACHING INFORMATION LITERACY SKILLS?

Teaching information literacy skills means teaching young people to function in the real world as self-directed questioners, problem solvers, creative thinkers and effective communicators. It’s integral to our graduation outcomes and essential to a Holy Cross education. It has to be addressed in collaboration with other educators as well as parents. We’ve started to incorporate some information literacy skills into the ninth grade Health & Fitness classes. Ms. Birdsong, our instructional librarian, and I are in the process of developing a scope and sequence for research skills. I also try to use the library’s Instagram @sfhs_library to share quick tips.

WHAT DO YOU WANT THE LIBRARY TO BE FOR STUDENTS?

We have so many fantastic resources here: college-level electronic resources; a well-rounded book collection that supports academics, college prep, wellness and recreational reading; plus, a dedicated staff that’s always looking for ways to better support the community. I’d like more students and educators to take advantage of everything we have to offer, to use the library as part of their development as lifelong learners.

WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION?

That’s a big question! The development of ChatGPT [and other chatbots] is showing that technology advancements can quickly cause paradigm shifts for educators. It’s exciting but also poses a lot of questions. The ways we traditionally find, evaluate, organize, use, communicate and produce information will continue to change as technology changes. It challenges us to focus on the skills that are truly needed to become responsible, thoughtful individuals in the real world.

WHAT HAVE YOU READ RECENTLY THAT HAS MADE AN IMPACT?

How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life: An Unexpected Guide to Human Nature and Happiness by economist Russ Roberts. He takes one of Adam Smith’s lesser-known works, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, and shows how Smith’s ideas about human nature still provide a lot of insight into how to be a good person and find happiness today. I also really liked Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri, which won the 2022 Printz Award. I was hesitant to read it because it was aimed at middle school, but I’m glad I gave it a chance because it was a really beautifully told story with a big emotional impact.