Libraries are full of stories in a variety of formats from picture books to large print, audiobooks to eBooks, and more, but there's so much more to the story. Laurie Bruns, Frenship ISD Instructional Technology Coordinator shares her passion for her job and the special people in it.
I’ve been in education for 11 years, and I have been a Frenship Tiger for 7 of those! I’ve been a librarian for 5 years – all at FISD!
I didn’t want to be a teacher – in fact, I fought against it really hard! But when I started working with students and creating lessons, I found that I really loved it! Now, I believe that education is the solution to most of our world’s problems. I believe that knowledge gives us power, and I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else!
In the library, we celebrate literature all year long! We constantly have new books being put on shelves, and new reading incentives for students to participate in! Our elementary schools host classes daily where students participate in read alouds and activities around books.
Readers are leaders! When you have access to books, you have access to a wide variety of perspectives. Our students have access to nonfiction resources that teach them new skills and help them develop their knowledge. They have access to fiction resources that teach them skills like interpersonal communication and empathy.
Together, Frenship libraries hold over 155,000 print books – averaging 14.5 books per student! But we also offer hundreds of eBooks and dozens of databases to students and teachers. The most unique part of our library is the Media Specialist! We have one Media Specialist per campus in Frenship, and these women are walking, talking resources for teachers and students!
I love that each of our libraries is unique to the campus they serve! Each library provides a different environment depending on what the campus needs.
My favorite book is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (#3)! I love that I can immediately be transported to a new world every time I open the book. It’s a story of fantasy and magic, but also real-world experiences like navigating friends and learning to be a teenager!
Our Media Specialists are first and foremost educators! They provide access to print and digital books and other resources, but they also provide spaces that encourage students to explore and create! Our libraries are safe spaces for our students.
I love our Media Specialists! This group of women can find a solution to any problem they face, and they are exceptional at what they do! They provide information and knowledge to students and teachers every single day!