Education Resources
Library literacy and support for
K-12 educators and students
Q&A with Liesel Culver
Liesel is a Library/Media Coordinator at Eagle Point Middle School
Would you mind telling us a fun reading or library anecdote from your childhood?
My oldest sister and I always loved going to the library and decided to make our own library at home. So, we gathered up all our books and our library books too, made up a stamp and library names, then got the neighbor kids to check out our “library” books. Well, my mom got a call when a bunch of books were returned with names, pictures, and due date cards all filled out in some not very legible handwriting. So, we had to pay some fines and learned that we couldn’t play “library” and write in books. Especially books that didn’t belong to us. I wonder how many of those books are still in that library with our names in them? When I had my daughter, my mom gave me a bunch of those books I had written on as a child that she saved.
What are your thoughts on how school libraries and public libraries can work together to support students’ literacy?
I really appreciate that public library staff can come into the school to support public school libraries and do special events. This gets students excited about reading. I always try to tell students about fun events going on in the public libraries. If I don’t have a book in my school’s collection, I look it up to see if the local library has it available. I try to always promote all the benefits that students can get from both their school and the public library. I really feel like this helps build community.
What inspired you to work at Eagle Point Middle School in your current position?
When I was in 5th grade, my librarian helped me get through some really tough days. From then on, I wanted to have a job in which I could create a positive environment that kids could enjoy going to and reading a book to relax. As an adult, I’ve worked for over ten years as either a preschool teacher or IA. My favorite part of the day was reading to the students. During Covid I was working on getting my business degree done and saw a posting about a middle school librarian job. I was sad leaving my preschool but happy to finally fulfill a dream of running a library. Now I get to see many of my preschoolers at the middle school.
What is your process when curating your space knowing that you serve such a wide variety of ages and students with differing needs and interests?
I try to always consider a lot of information. I look at online book reviews to see if it’s a popular book or not. Also, I try to get books, like classics, in an updated cover or form such as a graphic novel version of the book to see if the stories will be something that they will enjoy or be able to connect to. Hopefully it will help in motivating them with reading. I just really want them to enjoy and value reading.
Have you noticed any new trends surrounding teenagers' reading fixations?
When a book is turned into a movie or is already a movie. Those books are hard to keep on the shelves. I’m always excited when a student comes to me and says, “I just watched the movie and now I want to read the book”. That just makes my day!
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MARCH RESOURCES
The Inquisitor’s Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog by Adam Gidwitz
Travelers cross paths at an inn and tell stories of three children: an oblate, a Jewish boy fleeing a burning village, and a peasant with visions. Accompanied by a dog (recently brought back from the dead), the children go on a quest through France as they are taken captive, sit alongside a king, and save the land from a farting dragon.
Grade Level(s): 4th-8th | Genre: Historical Fantasy | Lexile: 620