Tag Archives: Teacher Librarians

Exploring Oodi, the Central Public Library of Helsinki, Finland

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Teachers know that travel, in addition to being fun and intellectually stimulating, is one of the most meaningful experiential learning opportunities available for both themselves and for their students. Summer Break is a great time for travel! Earlier this month, I returned from a vacation to Scandinavia, and while I was there I visited an internationally-renowned Helsinki Central Library in Helsinki, Finland. This visit offers an excellent opportunity to incorporate a travel experience into the classroom curriculum.

Author Terry Lee Marzell visited the Helsinki Central Library on a vacation to the Scandinavian country of Finland in July, 2024. Photo Credit: Hal Marzell

This public library, the brainchild of Finnish Minister of Culture Claes Andersson, was conceived in 1988, and opened to the public on December 5, 2018, the flagship project celebrating the 100th anniversary of Finland’s independence. The facility, affectionately known as Oodi (“Ode”), is located on Kansalaistori Square, directly opposite the Finnish Parliament House. The positioning represents the library’s place as a promoter of equality, literacy, reading, and freedom of speech. In 2019, the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) named Oodi the best Public Library of the Year.

Author Terry Lee Marzell shows one of several sewing machines available for use by patrons at the Helsinki Central Library. Photo Credit: Hal Marzell

Oodi holds a collection of over 100,000 books in 23 languages. The collection also offers musical instruments, sheet music, movies, video games, and board games. I even saw a patron carry out a fishing pole he’d checked out! There are also sewing machines, a laser cutter, a vinyl cutter, 3-D printers, and a UV printer available for use.

The facility also boasts meeting rooms, game rooms, a playground for children, rehearsal rooms, a cafe, and a theater that holds 250 patrons. Often called “Finland’s living room,” there is a massive reading room located inside, a youth space, an interactive fairy tale wall, and seating options on a casual second-floor patio known as the Citizen’s Balcony located outside. The library also hosts lectures and concerts.

At a visit to the Helsinki Central Library, Hal and Terry Marzell came across this little robot transporting books from floor to floor. This little robot appears to have personality! Photo Credit: Hal Marzell

A model of updated technology, we were delighted to come across one of three robots that runs errands around the library, transporting books from floor to floor. And this little robot appears to have personality!

Simultaneously bustling with activity and a haven for quiet, independent study, Oodi is everything a modern library should be.

Given that Finland is a country not often found on travelers’ itineraries, it’s probably unlikely that you might ever escort your students on a trip there, but you can view a virtual tour of the facility—or share that virtual tour with your library science students—at this link: Oodi. Whether in person or online, I wish you happy exploring!

 

Adrianna Swearingen named Florida’s 2024 Teacher of the Year

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Florida Media Specialists Adrianna Swearingen has been named her state’s 2024 Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: Florida State Department of Education

Any campus that has an exceptional Teacher Librarian on their staff is a very fortunate school. A knowledgable and innovative Media Specialist is an invaluable resource for both students and colleagues. In her elementary school, Adrianna Swearingen is exactly such a resource. In fact, she is so accomplished she has been named the 2024 Florida State Teacher of the Year.

Adrianna teaches at Northside Elementary School in Bay County. She has served as the school’s Media Specialist since 2021. In that role, she has been a major reason why the students in her school have increased their English Language learning gains by 21 percentage points, with the learning gains for the lowest students showing growth of 41 percentage points. That’s huge! In addition to this, Adrianna works with her campus Technology Club, the Lego Club, and the Yearbook Committee.

In the prior seven years, when she was a classroom teacher, Adriana worked with both kindergartners and fourth graders. She helped her students run morning broadcasts, she pioneered the Accelerated Reader Program, and she cultivated an environment of confidence among her young charges.

She has other work experiences, too. For example, before she became a teacher, she trained with her dog, Mako, to be a therapy service team. In this role, she and her dog attended events and volunteered at schools, retirement homes, and colleges with Love Dog Adventures through Pet Partners.

“My message for not only the teachers here in my county, but the entire state of Florida is to know that you are enough, and you matter,” declares Adrianna. “And we are doing amazing things in education. We are game changers!” she continued.

Adrianna earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Florida State University, Panama City, in 2015. She earned her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of West Florida in 2021.

CA teacher Helen Agcaoili Brown founded the Filipino American Reading Room and Library

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Helen Agcaoili Brown, a former third grade teacher in Los Angeles, California, founded the Filipino American Reading Room and Library. Photo Credit: UCLA Alumni Association

Students in our country are so fortunate to have many talented Chalkboard Champions in our schools. One of these is Helen Agcaoili Brown, a California teacher who is the founder of the Filipino American Reading Room and Library.

Helen was born May 16, 1915, in Manila, the Philippines. Her family immigrated to the United States shortly after her graduation from Manila Central High School in 1934. As a young woman, Helen studied first at Pasadena City Junior College, and then at the University of California, Los Angeles. There she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education and her Master’s degree in Social Work.

After she earned her college degree, Helen accepted a position as a third grade teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District in Los Angeles, California. Her career as a professional educator there spanned many years.

In 1985, Helen founded the Filipino American Reading Room and Library, the first of its kind in the country. To enlarge the library’s collection, she donated her private library collection. She realized the value of the library she inherited from her father, and she worked diligently to build on it by collecting books, pamphlets, newsletters, newspaper clippings, and even the souvenir programs given out during the events of various Filipino organizations. She believed that nothing was too insignificant when it came to preserving the social history of Filipinos in the United States. In addition to founding the library, she also served as the facility’s librarian.

This Chalkboard Champion passed away on January 25, 2011. She was 95 years old.

The Filipino American Library is located at 135 N. Park View St., Los Angeles, CA 90026. You can visit their website at Filipino Library.

UT Media Specialist Lara Rude garners 2023 Excellence in Teaching Award

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Middle school Media Specialist Lara Rude has garnered a 2023 Excellence in Teaching Award from the Utah Education Association. Photo credit: Park City School District

Among our nation’s Chalkboard Champions are many outstanding Teacher Librarians. One of these is Lara Rude, a middle school Media Specialist from Park City, Utah. She is one of ten educators in her state who have received a 2023 Excellence in Teaching Award from the Utah Education Association.

Lara works with sixth and seventh graders at Ecker Hill Middle School in the Park City School District. Among her co-workers, Lara has a reputation for promoting a love for reading and literacy that influences the entire school community. For example, Lara established a “One Book, One School” program on her campus. In this program, all students read and discuss the same story. In addition, Lara arranges for authors to visit the school, fostering a deep connection between students and reading.

Lara has a profound passion for students and for reading, especially now, during a time when book banning is becoming more and more prevalent. “I love the kids, they are the best, and I love helping them find books that they want to read,” she declares. “I feel that everyone has the right to read what they choose to read. Clearly, we need boundaries with age levels, but I also think it is so important for kids to see—we call it windows and mirrors—books that you see yourself in, but also books that allow you to see other people,” she continues.

In a career that spans 27 years, Lara has spent five of them as a Media Specialist. She inaugurated her career as a Special Education teacher.

Teacher Librarian Melaney Sanchez creates experiential learning activities

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Maryland Teacher Librarian Melaney Sanchez creates innovative experiential learning activities for her elementary school students. She was featured recently in an issue of George Washington’s Mount Vernon Magazine. Photo credit: Bay Weekly

One of the most valuable resources in our nation’s educational community is our Teacher Librarians. And one of the best of them is Melaney Sanchez, who works at an elementary school in Calvert County, Maryland. In fact, she was featured recently in an issue of George Washington’s Mount Vernon Magazine.

Melaney works with students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade at Mount Harmony Elementary School. There she supports the schools teachers as she works with students at every grade level throughout all their years at the school. And she is passionate about the work. “I adore my job and the possibilities it brings for programming an cultural arts,” she declares.

As a Teacher Librarian, Melaney creates experiential learning activities, and has especially focussed on activities that bring President George Washington and Mount Vernon into the curriculum. She organized a “wax museum” where fifth grade students chose to portray key historical figures such as Paul Revere, Deborah Sampson, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, and others. The students prepared a monologue, and when approached, they speak as that figure and remain in character to answer questions. “Historical figures must come alive to motivate students to ask for more,” Melaney asserts. “When students care they will seek more knowledge, more books, additional websites, and more experience in and out of school,” she continues. She notes that the effort encourages students to become lifelong learners.

The innovative Teacher Librarian also presents lessons that include debates between American patriots led by George Washington and loyalists led by King George. “They throughly enjoyed learning about how Washington used spies to outwit the British,” Melaney observes.

Melaney earned her Bachelor’s degree in Social Studies, Language Arts, and Early Childhood Education from the University of Michigan, Flint, in 1992. She earned her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from McDaniel College. She completed the requirements for her PhD in Instructional Leadership from Notre Dame of Maryland University in 2012. Her career as an educator spans 26 years.