Interview with a Librarian: Debra Rogers

Debra Rogers is the school librarian at Daisy Elementary School in Loris, South Carolina, the school where I am a second grade teacher. I was eager to collaborate with Debra because I have witnessed the great work she does with our second graders and I have also heard a lot of great things from other teachers about the learning experiences she provides for our students. I asked Debra five questions that detail what what the day-to-day events look like for her when using the domain “Explore” from the AASL Standards for school librarians. I chose this domain because I think it is crucial for students to further their learning through questioning and inquiry. Debra was happy to share her knowledge and experience with me about this domain and I feel as though I was able to take away a lot of great information and ideas to use once I become a school librarian myself.

The questions I asked Debra were as follows:

Questions:

1. What are some examples of the ways in which you are implementing these competencies in your library program?
2. What are some of the resources in your library program that you are using to implement these competencies?
3. Do any of the competencies that you are implementing include collaboration with classroom teachers? If so, please provide examples.
4. What are some of the challenges that you face when trying to implement these competencies?
5. Are there any other comments that you would like to make regarding the Shared Foundation / Competencies and Domains?

The answers Debra provided to the questions above are outlined below:

1. For implementing exploration in the library, Debra gave many great examples. Firstly, she mentioned how she likes to get students curious about reading and exploring their interests through hosting morning book clubs, conducting book talks (either from herself or by students), creating fun and engaging bulletin boards that promote reading, and giving students hands on and digital projects, such as book trailers created by students after reading a title. She also enjoys giving students hands-on activities to encourage fun learning. Some of her favorite (and students’ favorite) hands-on activities include creating dioramas from a scene in a story using legos, paper, or other various media, STEM activities that reinforce what students have previously learned through read-alouds (like creating a chair from paper and tape that can support a small stuffed animal after reading the story “I Am Not a Chair”), and creating digital projects that students share with their classmates. Debra mentioned that students absolutely love sharing and collaborating with one another on the projects they create. She informed me that she feels it is her duty and responsibility as a school librarian to lead and guide students as they investigate and explore in finding answers to questions they are trying to answer. Lastly, Debra highlighted information regarding book talks for student exploration of personal interest. She imparted that having students create and share their own book talks with their peers is a great way to promote reading for personal enjoyment.
2. Debra discussed some of the resources the library program uses to implement exploration from students. Students are encouraged to explore and utilize the resources available in the physical collection of the library as well as use digital resources, such as Follett Destiny and Destiny Discover, to browse the library collection. Additionally, with the current climate of our school setting due to COVID-19 and our hybrid scheduling, students in grades 3-5 as well as some students in grade 2 have been putting books on hold and checking out eBooks as well for reading purposes. Students in grades CD-1 are browsing books from a mobile cart Debra brings to their classrooms each week. In doing this, students are able to explore on their own the resources that interest them either for their own pleasure or personal learning experiences. Debra shared that she felt it was her responsibility to provide new titles, opportunities, technologies and other resources to students in order to keep the media center up to date to allow students as well as staff members the opportunity to grow within our ever changing world. 
3. In regards to implementing student exploration through teacher collaboration, Debra shared a few ideas. She said that teachers often ask her to cover a certain skill or topic in the library during their scheduled library time that correlates with what is being taught in the classroom. During this time, Debra will usually have students complete research by exploring various print or digital resources. Students will then organize their work in a graphic organizer or write about the information they have gathered and create projects through various digital resources such as Google Slides or Keynote. This allows students the opportunity to explore, create, and share their learning. She also visits classrooms where she works one-on-one with students or as a whole group.  She noted that working with the students as they read and learn new things is wonderful because she can see the excitement they exude about what they are learning.
4. As far as challenges, Debra mentioned that her biggest challenge is when students need probing to guide them in the right direction when exploring resources or topics. She noted that some students either get distracted, feel stuck in the beginning of their learning, or show no interest in the exploring and creating of their own learning.
5. Debra provided a closing comment about the Shared Foundations or Competencies and Domains within the Foundations. She expressed that the Foundations along with their Competencies and Domains are needed in order to create lifelong learners and foster learners’ curiosity within the library program.  She encouraged me to stay abreast in order to keep up with the new technologies and challenges that are constantly coming along with all the changes in our world today.

It very much enjoyed talking with Debra about what she does to ensure that exploration is a part of her students’ learning in the library. It is obvious she has created a welcoming, inquisitive learning space for students in her library. She has so many wonderful and practical activities that allow students to further their learning experiences through exploration and inquiry and I feel that because of this, she will make an impact on student lives. She is a great librarian and I see the product of this in our students’ faces and conversations with her at our school, whether it be in the library, our classrooms, or in the hallways.