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November 2002
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| Have a newsworthy item? Comments? Questions? Contact Paula Byrne, editor |
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More MSLMA Executive Board Members
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In September, we featured autobiographies of many of our Executive board. Here are more biographies of our MSLMA leaders:
Dr. Joseph W. Angelo, Ed. D., Standards Chair was a classroom teacher for twenty-two years before earning his doctorate at Boston University. He then became a school library media specialist, coordinator of libraries and technology and ended his public school career as director of technology. In 1996, Dr. Angelo authored a school library media program for Cambridge College, enabling candidates to earn a Master of Education degree with certification as a school library media specialist. This program was approved by the Massachusetts Department of Education in 1999, and acknowledged as having the most rigorous requirements of any program in the state. Dr. Angelo is now the coordinator of the school library teacher program at Cambridge College, where he is a senior instructor. The program has expanded and is now offered to candidates in Massachusetts, Georgia, New York, South Carolina, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, Washington, D.C., and the Virgin Islands.
Patricia G. Bologna, Constitution/Policy
My personal odyssey began with a job in college- assisting "on the floor" at the circulation desk and "off the floor" repairing books- as an English major, this was a great way to see the 'new' books, and to handle with care the 'older' books so lovingly preserved. During my graduate training at Simmons College, I worked on the Reference desk at the Newton Public Library, while helping to organize the clippings file -remember those days before technology allowed for the instant retrieval of information?
Marriage and family happily interrupted my sojourn south, and we moved back to New England. For seventeen wonderful years, I was the librarian at Hanover High School, a terrific suburb south of Boston.
Where does this affinity for books, media and information begin? A meandering stroll through the stacks, a memory of a most helpful children's librarian, a job during school, or a curiosity about people, places and things- eventually these activities coalesce into the profession of librarianship.
Work with older YAs beckoned me to Curry College (Milton) where I worked the Reference Desk, and taught research skills to college students (especially to the incoming freshman-how great to grab their attention early in their academic lives).
I reduced my commute to five minutes when I took a position at Notre Dame Academy- a private girls (9-12) school on the South Shore, where I head the Library/Media Department. An additional degree in Instructional Media has allowed me to continue to explore people, places and things and teach the skills necessary to explore these curiosities.
Four years ago, the incoming MSLMA President Joan Gallagher asked for my assistance as Constitution/Policy Chairperson. Who could refuse? We are a library community governed by dictates about the ideals of our profession. The underpinnings (constitution) of an organization provide for the basic structure of governance to occur, while policy deals more with the "routine" of operations. Each document is necessary for an organization to exist and to grow. Have you read the MSLMA Constitution?
So, now you know something about my odyssey in librarianship and my responsibility on this E-Board. Certainly when it's your turn to be asked to serve, I do hope that you'll answer yes. return to top
Pat Fontes, Central Regional Director
I am a native of Haverhill, MA. I attended and graduated from UMass/Amherst with a major in (of all things) German with a less-than-wonderful G.P.A. That G.P.A. was only as good as it was because I spent an enormous amount of time in the campus library preparing term papers. I knew that I had a hearing loss and had to compensate for not understanding the course work by reading and writing dynamite assignments. My parents insisted that I take the teacher training course; I did become certified in German and English. The best thing that happened to me at UMass was becoming engaged to an Air Force ROTC cadet named Don to whom I've now been married for 31 years.
After graduation, I taught English, Social Studies, Science (!) to 7th and 8th graders back in Haverhill. To say I was not good at this is an understatement. I really wasn't prepared for the challenge and apparently, the hearing loss was more severe than I had been led to believe. About midway into my second year, my husband was assigned to an air base near Wichita, Kansas. We lived there for 4 years (can you say "culture shock"?) then moved to an air base near Rapid City, S.D. for another 4 years. While in South Dakota, we had our children - now both college grads. Sarah is married and David is engaged. I also took a part-time aide job in the base library and really enjoyed the work. Also, while in South Dakota, the severity of my hearing loss came to light. I was fitted with a set of hearing aids and, to be honest, it was a life-changing moment. At that point, being able to learn became infinitely easier for me and now I wanted to get back to school and catch up on all the things I had missed.
Fortunately, Don was reassigned to Offut AFB in Omaha, Nebraska - a lovely city with many educational opportunities. I enrolled at the University of Nebraska/Omaha as a grad student in English Education. After one semester, I learned that there was a program that trained school librarians that combined my two loves - reading and research and made use of that lifetime teaching certificate I had received in Massachusetts. Needless to say, I internalized everything because learning was such a pleasure again. I took a part time position as Library Media Specialist at a small Catholic parochial school for two years while working on the Master's in Education, granted in 1983.
In 1984, Don left the Air Force and we returned to our home state. I started my Library Media Specialist career in Massachusetts at Hopkinton Jr.-Sr. High School and spent 5 years there. I attended my first MAEM (Now MSLMA) meetings during this time. I completed the M.S.L.S. at Simmons in 1989. Also, in 1989, I could see the proverbial handwriting on the wall and left Hopkinton for a position Westborough's newly created middle school. I've been there since!
As a member of MSLMA, I have been the Intellectual Freedom Chair, a conference co-chair, and held down other positions too numerous to mention! I enjoy working with my friends, some old and many new. I have had the opportunity to serve also as a member of the Executive Board for the Central Massachusetts Regional Library System. In 2002, I had the honor of being elected to the Board of Trustees of the Westborough Public Library. return to top
Bonnie Heile, Southeast Area Director
It was a circuitous route that led me to my present position. After graduating from Goucher College as an Elementary Education major/Fine Arts minor I taught 2nd and 3rd grade for Baltimore City Schools. Then I returned to school to get the needed courses to be certified as an Art Resource Teacher and continued to teach in Baltimore. Moving to Chappaqua, N.Y. (home of Bill and Hillary) I returned to classroom at the 5th grade level.
After house hunting in the resulting snow from the Blizzard of "78 I moved to Massachusetts and did children, volunteering and served as Head Volunteer Librarian from my daughters' elementary school. In 1990 I returned as a sub and later worked as an Assistant to the Elementary Librarian, Elaine Sumner. In 1992, I took a yearlong substitute job as a high school librarian for a faculty member who suffered a stroke.
Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would like the high school level. I returned to school yet once again for a third certification. Having earned a Masters of Liberal Arts at Johns Hopkins, I took the required courses at Bridgewater to become a Library Media Specialist. In the 11 years that I have been in North Attleborough we have gone from an Apple IIE to state of the art computers. I also had to opportunity (thanks to Elisabeth Cook) to travel to Japan in October 2000 as a Fulbright Memorial Teacher Fund Scholar. I have continued my interest in Asia by taking courses at Clark University. With the Humanities Coordinator we created a project for 9th grade English classes called " A Look At Japan and China" which won the 2002 Global Educators Award. The ice on the cake was a trip to China this past summer.... 7,000 miles in 16 days. It was an amazing adventure in an amazing country. If anyone needs help with projects on Japan or China please let me know.
I am brand new to the E board so this will be a year of watching and learning and hopefully contributing in a small way. return to top
Connie Schlotterbeck, Secondary Curriculum Chair
My decision to go into the field of school librarianship was inspired by my aunt, Joyce Liming. She was a middle school librarian in Tucson, Arizona. She was one of the first in the country to transform her 1970's library into a real "library media center". Her program was so ground-breaking that a documentary film (in 16mm fomat- anyone remember that?) was shot in her library. That film, "Libraries are Kids' Stuff", was shown around the country. It really demonstrated how learning could take place in a school library that offered information in a variety of formats.
When I moved from Tucson to the Boston area I landed a job teaching French (my area of certification at the time). My life outside of school involved among other interests, skiing and playing bridge. My skiing/bridge partners were a group of librarians from the Cambridge Public Schools. When I learned of all the exciting things they were doing during the workday, I decided to go back to school to become a librarian.
Over the years I have been a library media specialist at Lynn Classical High School, Foxborough High School, and am currently the Library Media Department Head at Newton South High School. I have seen our profession evolve into something more exciting and challenging than I ever imagined. It has been a great ride!
I have been active in MSLMA for two decades (but I don't feel that old!). I have served in many capacities from Area Director to Secretary, from Membership Chair, to Constitution and Policy Chair, and am currently serving as Secondary Curriculum Chair. Because I had the good fortune to learn so much from other librarians at conferences and workshops, it has always been important to me to give back to the profession. Participating actively in MSLMA has allowed me to meet many other colleagues who have taught me a lot. I encourage everyone in return to top
Doris Smith, Executive Director of MSLMA and Co-Chair of Legislation
I paid my way through Augustana College with a work study in the college library and working at the Rock Island Public Library. I was fortunate in that the head librarian, Miss Benner, took an interest in me and provided me with experiences in every aspect of the library ... the branch library, the bookmobile, cataloging, the archives and even the bulletin boards.
Librarians have played a very important part in many aspects of my life. Miss Collins took me to dinner at fine restaurants while I was in college. She and her sister wanted to make sure that I not only ate well, but learned to be in society. The libraries in my small midwestern town in Illinois were very limited, but both the school and the public librarians found me books that they thought I would enjoy.
So it was not by accident that I found myself the elementary school librarian in Bedford, Mass 35 years ago. When I was told I would be in charge of four libraries, I did not even blink! What an innocent!
During the 35 years, Bedford went from having libraries in closets to state of the art facilities with a full time professional in each library along with an aide. The library media centers are seen as a vital part of the school as well as the center of the school. The library media specialists are pro-active members of the staff and are seen as essential
to the curriculum.
I retired this year from Bedford knowing that the dreams and goals I had for the elementary school libraries had been accomplished.
Certainly, the learning curve of our profession has steadily increased upward, but it is a great time to get involved in our field return to top.
Mary Weaver, Standards Co-Chair
I first worked - or volunteered - in a library in high school where I helped during studies. My work study in college was in the library at Regis College. After college, I taught LA in a middle school but left to work for the phone company. After our son, John was born, I stayed home to be with him and we went to story time at the public library. The library also was the place I escaped to after supper while my husband was putting John to bed. I met other mothers and made friends there. When John was in nursery school, there was an opening for a part-time circulation clerk, one evening a week and every other Saturday afternoon, we decided it just the dream job for me. I was lucky enough to get it! While at the Merrimack, NH Public Library, I learned about the circulation and automation process, the behind scenes operations of an adult public library, how programming was done for children's library and what went into book selection, from book review to shelving! While at the Merrimack library, I was encouraged to attend URI and get a masters in Library and Information Science. My bosses there, Maggie Marshall and Janet Angus, took me to campus, introduced me to faculty and helped me through the 2 1/2 years that it took to get my degree. They were so positive and affirming, helping me with my expanded work schedule, suggesting places I could find resources, offering the quiet of the library to study after hours. After getting my degree in May 1991, I stayed at the Merrimack Public Library until March 1992, when I became a media specialist for two middle schools in Westford, Massachusetts. My job was to close the two middle school libraries, which hadn't seen professional attention in 10 years, combine the quality resources from both and move them to a new middle school which was to open in the fall of 1992. I have had the wonderful opportunity to build a library collection and a library program from the ground floor!
I have been on the MSLMA Board for about eight years working as the MSLMA representative to the New England Educational Media Association, Constitution and Policies Chair, Standards Co-Chair and I've been a member of the Conference Committee as Hospitality Chair. I think we are really lucky to have such an active state organization. I think we are in great need of new people who will get actively involved in our organization to carry on its work with new energy! return to top
Lisa Francine, Intellectual Freedom Chairperson
I look forward to my first year on the Board, and about my third year as a member of this supportive organization.
I feel grateful that I have "fallen" into this wonderful profession. Most of my life I have worked with children and/or their families: as a preschool teacher, a nanny, a substitute teacher in my children's' cooperative preschool, and now as a school librarian!
My undergraduate degree is in Political Science from UMass/Amherst. I also acquired a Paralegal Certificate from Bentley College, and started on a Master's in Education from Rivier College before the birth of my daughter (1997).
After Jenna's birth I wanted to find a PT job that would allow me to still work with children, but would also allow more adult interaction. A position opened at my home town library: Acton Memorial -- I started in the Circulation and Reader Services departments, and once I began my degree work at Simmons I was rotating through the Children's and Reference departments as well. :) It was great experience working in so many different areas of a mid-size suburban library.
This past summer I completed my course work at Simmons; did my practicum/practica in the Lexington School systems (where I met Shelley Glantz, yay!); and worked in the Graduate School Library: doing Reference/Reserve desk, special projects, and some web work.
I began work at The Fenn School, this past month, as the head librarian. It is wonderful to finally be applying my "new knowledge" with the realities of day-to-day work in a school library. Being proactive and a life-long learner and encouraging collaboration, will always be a part of my perspective as a teacher-librarian. I hope to impart some of my joy of books, literature, and libraries to others.
Much of my course work at Simmons revolved around issues of Intellectual Freedom & Censorship. I equate some of this passion to A.J. Anderson, my professor for the course, but know that inherently this has been a part of my life as a reader, an educator, a parent, and now a school librarian. I am looking forward to a grand year serving as the IF chairperson, and thank you all for the opportunity. return to top
Janice Dore, West Regional Co-Director
My Life Intertwined with Books
Who can forget the joys of being read to! My earliest favorite stories included those by Thornton Burgess and the wonderful adventures of Uncle Wiggley...that fine old gentleman who was always going off in search of an adventure...a bit like my life has unfolded.
Growing up in a small Maine town had many advantages for "country kids", even being allowed to go to the town library when my mother sent a note. To this day, the library has not changed much and the "smell" of the space conjures up warm memories of picture books and later those blue bound Nancy Drew books. Our fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Bryenton, read to us every Friday afternoon after lunch and could be persuaded to "read on" until recess! I wonder if she realized how important it was for us to hear such titles as Silas Marner. In high school, I was the "Student Librarian" - the only librarian, a dubious title, of a rather insignificant space that served our entire school grades 7-12. I did keep the books in order on the shelf and felt very responsible.
Curiously during my undergraduate college years, the library was used only for "special Study sessions/dates with special friends". The stacks were closed to the underlings! During my early teaching years, I rediscovered the library and used its collections to supplement my background in teaching history.
I married a reader and avid collector of books. While teaching in California, the libraries in the schools were adequate, but the most memorable was "reigned over" by "Crab Cooper" as she liked to call herself. I secured a "classroom collection" which I kept for an entire year, using our home collection to supplement my background for teaching history, the safer route to follow. When we returned to our beloved New England as a young couple, we had 47 boxes of books to ship. The postal worker in Maine told us we could come to the post office and pick them up ourselves. He was not going to deliver them to our house! So much for Maine independence.
Our daughter was born in Fort Kent, Maine, a lovely spot on the Maine/Canadian border. I took a course at Ft. Kent state while waiting for the adventure of becoming a new mother. Shortly after her arrival, my husband, realizing that I needed a change, arranged for me to volunteer in the local library that was next to his office. I shelved books and called patrons about overdue books while he stayed home during the "fussy" time with our infant.
As a young mother, my two children and I were often visitors at a beautiful old library in Montpelier, Vermont. Each time the children took out a book, they could select a shell, collected by winter visitors to Florida on Sanibel Island. We still have our basket of shells. (Readers still, they each wait for their father to purchase a book for them when we are traveling together. Traditions are strong in our family.)
After the children started school, I volunteered in the school libraries, becoming an instructional aide in the wonderful Fort River School library in Amherst, which was directed by my friend and mentor, Patricia Drake. While there, I began work on my library degree at URI. Completing that degree, I became librarian at the Frontier Regional School. While at this school, I have completed a doctoral degree at the University of Massachusetts and developed what I believe to be a fine high-tech library media center. My newest adventure in conjunction with my school and library media center is to become a partner with the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association Museum in Deerfield and work toward the development of a program and curricula that enhances the study of the Connecticut River Valley in the schools.
I see myself as one who is always interested in learning new things. Books and the new technologies have enriched my life and it is my wish through example to pass that joy on to others. return to top