Just One! More Thing Our Director Does

Melody Jenkins, our director, said she's gearing up to talk to the high school students about their senior English term papers. This is not her first time. She's been talking to them since 1999. This year she goes to the high school on September 4 to speak to six classes about how our public library resources will help them with their papers. She said the subject used every year is about Medieval British History, i.e., Henry VIII and his wives, Richard III, the Great Fire of London, etc. It's coordinated with World History. Melody said when she talks to the students, she's hooked up to the Internet (well, not literally!) and a projector to show how they can search libraries, as well as ours, for pertinent information. She brings along our Index to National Geographic, tells them about GALILEO (Georgia's Virtual Library), and how they can get a library card. Melody first began helping students because they would come into the library at term paper time, not know anyone, be scared to ask for help, and leave frustrated. She said it took time to order the books they needed, but now these books can be found in the Reference and Nonfiction sections of our library. She also gives students her name, phone number and email address, and encourages them to come see her at the library. She has even proofread their papers when asked. All this assistance from the library has helped decrease not only the frustration of the students, but the teachers, parents, and library staff as well. Melody said she always talks and jokes with the students, and one thing she tells them is that many of the library staff are older women just like their grandmas. And if they come in and kindly ask for help, or show a pathetic face, those librarians will be more than willing to show them how to pull up information on a computer or use a reference book. Senior term papers are due the end of October or first of November. Students begin working on them the first day of school. So, now you can see why this is just one more thing our director does! But isn't it a great one? And aren't we thankful she had the insight to see the need and meet it?