WOW! What a wonderful
week it was.
A few weeks ago I
received a call telling me that I was being awarded the Evelyn Sibley Lampman
award for my years as a school librarian. I was about to race out and do
cartwheels in the hall (unfortunately I really can’t) or at least knock on my
neighbors’ doors and scream loudly! Fortunately for them, the next call said I
could tell my family but no one else, especially anyone who had any
relationship with libraries. That one phrase wiped out about 80% of my friends.
So I kept quiet. Not
easy for me. Especially when I have GOOD news to share. (Bad news is something
else.) I did keep busy rereading some of Lampman’s books, and was pleasantly
surprised to find how she was able to hook me into the story in the first
chapter. Good writing. And they were surprisingly up to date for the most part,
although The Shy Stegosaurus of Indian
Springs seemed like a book set in the last century. Well, come to think of
it, it was! However, children still love dinosaurs. The portrayal of a Rogue
River Indian boy captured by another tribe, and of Yolanda, a migrant girl
whose schooling was constantly hampered by the family travels during growing
seasons, are both heroes that anyone—even grown-ups--can understand. I wish
someone would reissue the books with modern covers and use the set when fourth
graders study Oregon.
Then last Thursday
some of my family and friends took me to the Oregon Library Association
conference in Bend, Oregon where I received this lovely plaque. I am mentally
walking on air-- and only wish I was literally doing so! I am also telling
everyone I can to make up for my previous silence. Anyway, it is VERY nice to
be thanked for working in some wonderful schools with terrific students, many
of whom I now follow on Facebook.
I was told the main
reason I received the award was for bringing Battle of the Books to my small
school in tiny Glide. It was picked up in nearby Roseburg and has now become
the statewide OBOB. Strictly volunteer, it has remained popular, even with all
the cuts in school programs over the last score of years. One librarian referred
to those who take part as “academic athletes,” who learn to work together in
the schoolroom, as others do on the playing fields.
The library and
teaching communities are team players above all, sharing ideas, tips, and
inspirations. None of us can do it alone. I am really honored by the list of
all the people who received the Lampman award before me, including both Walt
Morey and Eric Kimmel who actually cared enough about kids and reading to make
author appearances in Glide...a far piece from Portland. It’s a terrific list
of people.
I am lucky. Thank you
all.
