Message+to+Linda

April 5, 2012

Better late than never? :) In retrospect, I should not have judged the Byram Hills High School Library based upon my first visit. After many months of observation and internship, I have truly come to value Letty Nardone as a mentor and friend. She is bright, optimistic, efficient, and kind. While sometimes our visions or philosophies differ, (for example she feels that the library is too spacious, and she is giving away valuable commons areas for paper storage!!!), she did guide me through some of the nitty gritty of library work... cataloging, collection management, and research preparation for classroom projects. She has excellent research and organizational skills, especially when building a collection for specific annual grade-wide projects like the Junior Author Paper. I also admire her attitude when dealing with high school students, and the safe space she has created in which to learn and work. I will also remember her philosophy that "a library is not a museum" which translates to inviting nooks and displays to touch and leaf through thematically showcased books...books that probably would not be perused if they were traditionally shelved. She has invited me back repeatedly, is always a gracious host, and I see a definite future professional connection with her. I hope you know that I have also been reading professional journals and keeping abreast of current gems, a habit learned in your course. Thank you for being a strong and inspiring leader, Linda. Can I finally sigh and say I am done with this course???? :) All the best, Alyssa