Due to COVID restrictions, libraries were limited for a long period of time. Salem High School Media Specialist Lori Hazelip said, “After COVID, we wanted to redo the library, especially at Salem Middle School.”
When Lisa Nice moved to SHS to teach science this year, Hazelip took over as head librarian at both schools. Ginger Suvak had been assistant for Nice. Hazelip spoke highly of her saying, “she knew how the library worked and has done a great job running things daily at SMS”.
Hazelip explained that students enjoy reading fiction, but do not use books for research as much as they used to because of the availability of online resources. She said non-fiction becomes outdated very quickly. The libraries of the past were mostly used for group projects, and getting help from librarians on research. Suvak said, “The library this year is a lot more open than we’ve been able to have it the past few years. Kids can come and read, play games, sit and talk. Some kids come after lunch because they want a more quiet atmosphere than the gym.”
SMS library has been changed to more of a gathering space and things have been moved around to create a user-friendly space for everyone. Hazelip said, “Libraries have changed so much, it is not about books as much as it used to be.” There is now new furniture in both libraries and a new space in the SHS library for students to “hangout.”
Hazelip has created her own filing system for series, graphic novels, fiction, etc. According to Hazelip, the Dewey Decimal system is beginning to become outdated. Two days a week Hazelip goes to SMS and handles the office aspect of her job there, while Suvak handles programming. Suvak wants to have a book fair next year and to bring back student aids in the library. Hazelip is excited about the changes at the middle school because the transition to using the high school library will be much easier. Hazelip said,“I can’t say enough good things about Ginger. She has great ideas.”
Suvak said, “Something new this year, once a month the language arts teachers bring their students and we do an activity,” she said. There is a monthly theme and the activities revolve around the theme.” January was about putting themselves in someone else’s shoes. March was all about sports and they played life-size foosball in the library. Next year, she hopes to have a program where kids are encouraged and rewarded if they read one of the books about the monthly theme.
“The kids really like the changes,” said Suvak. “They enjoy having a space where they can come and relax, sit on the couches and recliners. It’s been a nice change!”
See the SLNN interview with Hazelip here: