Librarian of the Day - Jone MacCulloch - Silver Star School

As part of Kidlitosphere, I am so pleased that many of my fellow Kidlit bloggers are also librarians. They always have an interesting view on books and great ways to help cash-strapped libraries prosper. Today I am interviewing K-5 library media specialist and blogger Jone MacCulloch. 

When and why did you become a librarian?
   

I have always loved reading. I tell my students that my desire to become a librarian began as a child but I didn’t know. You see, I numbered my books so they could be in order.

I have always loved research. My first Internet was the set of encyclopedias by my bed. I would wake on Saturday mornings and read them. I kind of drove my parents crazy because I read about illnesses such as diphtheria and sleeping sickness, which led to self-diagnosis.

I first became a teacher on my journey to becoming a school librarian. At year 9 of teaching, the school librarian moved to the middle school and the principal said I could teach in the library. District disagreed because I didn’t have certification (far cry from today).

Thus I began my master’s degree program that summer and was hired the next year. 
I found my niche in teaching.  I love the reading, research, and working with both adults and students.


 

What can we do as authors/parents and friends to help our local libraries in these tough economic times?

  

One the best things that authors/parents and friends can do to help libraries is to be aware if the school district and/or public libraries are moving to cut library services. Then go to board meetings, write letters and/or speak out. Get the word out to newspapers and the media about what neat events are happening in the library. The community needs to know. School districts usually listen to their patrons.

Volunteering is another great way to support libraries. Often the hours of staff have been cut, meaning there is less time for decorating, shelving and processing books. 

Another way is through donations of new books and/or money for books. Last week was Teacher Appreciation Week. A family presented me with a check to purchase books for the library.  It was so generous and thoughtful, as my budget was slashed by 50% last year.

 

Name a few of your favorite children’s books, including a new “hot” book.
  

Hot Book: New Rick Riordan Egypt series, students can’t wait for it.
  

Some of my favorites:
Haddix’s Missing series,
It’s Raining Cupcakes by Lisa Schroeder,
   
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Snead
   
Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell

Name a few of your favorite Kidlit blogs.


Ooh there are many I love.
   
A Year of Reading  http://readingyear.blogspot.com/

Mother Reader  http://www.motherreader.com/

The Miss Rumphius Effect  http://missrumphiuseffect.blogspot.com/

Grow Wings  http://growwings.blogspot.com/
   
Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast 
 http://www.blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/

What is your favorite dessert and why?
   
Goodness, this is tough. Well, it depends on the season. A friend chuckled at me once because I do associate food with seasons.

Fall: Pumpkin pie, my grandmother’s recipe. She always added an extra egg.

Winter: Christmas cookies. I love baking them. And then in January, for my birthday, it has to be carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.

Spring: Either a flan or crème brulee.

Summer: Light, fruit or lemony ices. Cool and refreshing!

Bio:

Jone is a K-5 library media specialist at Silver Star School, Evergreen School District, Vancouver , WA.  I received my national board certification in library media (NBCT) in 2008.

http://deowriter.wordpress.com   (personal blog)

http://maclibrary.wordpress.com   (school blog)

http://deowriter.blogspot.com   (photo blog)

All my life I had to spell my name, Jone.  The “Jo” is from my dad and the “ne” from my mom.  It’s Ms. Mac at school, a family tradition to shorten the name to “Mac”.
I was born in southern California and lived there until I graduated from high school. Came to Oregon for college and remained here since.

When I am not at school, I am hanging out with my husband, two doxies, and/or the grandchildren.  I love photography, reading, beading, writing and summer road trips.
   

Comments

[nongnan]

Hey, you have a great blog here! I'm definitely going to bookmark you! Thank you for your Thank you For Best Content

Books Rick Riordan Store Us

[Denise Doyen]

I really like the idea of actually gifting one's school or local librarian with a check. I always help with "wish lists" for books -- but how great to simply hand over a gift certificate and say "Thank you for what you do; now, buy what you really want for our shelves."

Gonna do it! Thanks for the inspiration, Jone and the interview, Tina.

[Terry Doherty]

Yeah Jone! She is so fun to follow ... and I love her annual poetry postcard project. I still have the 2010 one up on my Bulletin Board. Go Jone!

[Barbara Bietz]

Tina,

Wonderful! Jone is such an inspiration.

Barbara B

[jone]

Thank you for intervwieing me.

[Mary Ann Dames - Reading, Writing, and Recipes]

Nice interview. I had to laugh about her "illnesses" from reading the encyclopedia. My daughter read our medical dictionary and did the same. Argh!

[jules]

I LOVE JONE! Her students are so lucky to have her.