More than just keepers of books
<p>Glacier High School Librarian Kerrie More helps ninth-grader Makiah Stephan with a poetry assignment on Friday. The Montana Library Association recently named the Glacier High School Library the 2016 School Library Information and Technology Program of the Year. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Glacier High School Librarian Lisa Lykins helps junior Cecilia Williams look up books for her research project at the library on Friday. Glacier High School Library was recently recognized by the Montana Library Association for integrating the school library program with the school's curricular goals. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
The Glacier High School Library is more than a one-stop shop for finding information from different sources.
Centrally located in the school, the library is a hub of activity where students learn research techniques, how to discern and cite credible sources and ethical internet use as well as get help using multimedia. Their teachers are library media specialists Kerrie More and Lisa Veyna Lykins.
The library is also a gathering place where book clubs meet, ideas are exchanged and guests are invited to speak. The two librarians put on contests such as the current blackout poetry contest and set up displays to attract students.
“We’re constantly doing something to draw kids in the library,” Veyna Lykins said.
At the heart of More’s and Veyna Lykins’ work is cultivating a lifelong love of books in students.
“We teach our love of books,” Veyna Lykins said.
These are some of the reasons the Glacier library recently was named the 2016 School Library Information and Technology Program of the Year by the Montana Library Association. In addition, More and Veyna Lykins received $500 from Follett Library Resources for library development.
The award recognizes “the outstanding achievement of the teacher-librarian in fully integrating the school library program with curricular goals.”
More and Veyna Lykins are now in their sixth year at Glacier and previously worked together as librarians at Kalispell Middle School.
Much of the curriculum they teach in the library is in collaboration with other teachers.
“Our collaboration with our classroom teachers is a big part of our focus,” Veyna Lykins said.
To be considered for the award, Glacier submitted a letter of recommendation in addition to outlining the various library programs or initiatives.
Both agreed the award was validating.
“It’s validation that our observance of state standards and our efforts in collaborating throughout the school are acknowledged and valued by our peers,” More said.
Veyna Lykins added: “So often people think of the library and librarians as just keepers of the books. It’s so much more. It may have been the case at one time, but not any more.”
Hilary Matheson is a reporter for The Daily Inter Lake. She may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.