While many receive recognition for their contributions to the environment and education of students at WHS, some jobs tend to receive less acclaim than others. Of the staff at WHS, some of most underappreciated but crucial staff members are the librarians.  

   Librarian Jennifer Barry believes that the role of school librarian includes many aspects that are typically  unknown to students.

   “My guess is everyone understands the teaching side [of being a librarian], but there’s so much more that a librarian does in a school,” Barry said. “We aim to create a safe space in the library where anyone can come and study, read, or just relax for a bit.”

   Last year, the prior WHS and WMS librarians retired. Barry, who was previously an English teacher at WMS who had undertaken the training to become a librarian, was selected to replace them. Barry splits her time between the middle school and high school as the librarian for both. This change in the position has come with some challenges.

   “My list [of things to do] keeps growing longer,” Barry said. “It’s harder to get to know students, because I’m not available to kids and faculty as much as I’d like to be in each building. Time will tell if this is a sustainable model.” 

   Paraprofessional Erica Lockwell, who supports Barry by working full-time in the WHS library and managing the space on her own when Barry is at the middle school, enjoys the social aspect of the job.

   “The most rewarding part of my job is talking with students and getting to help them,” Lockwell said. 

   Many students also have a positive view of working with the librarians and agree that the library serves as a friendly environment.

   “The librarians are very approachable and are good at helping with finding the best resources to use,” senior Lizzie D’Amaro said. “I use the library almost every day, normally during frees, and it helps me focus on homework.” 

   Librarians play a key role in the teaching and learning of WHS students, both in finding books and assisting teachers.

   “Often, I ask librarians for additional titles to suggest for students for a particular theme of interest. I read a lot but not as much as they do,” English teacher Henry Moon said. “I find the librarians to both be incredibly helpful and incredibly friendly. Usually, to decompress I’ll step outside to the library to see a familiar face.”

   Despite the challenge of splitting her job between buildings, Barry still believes she and Lockwell can support students with a wide range of needs.

   “I would encourage students to use the librarian more as a resource when researching for school assignments, or for their own personal interest,” said Barry. “We are here to help, and we love answering student questions.”    

   While some may believe that a librarian’s job is simple, it has many complexities that people often do not understand. 

   “We’re constantly trying to think about what students might want to read, what would help with their studies and what they have a hard time finding,” Lockwell said. “One of the most interesting parts of my job is putting together the displays as it’s fun to showcase books students may not otherwise know about.”  

   For Barry, the schedule of being a librarian in two buildings is  what is creating most of the complexities of her job so far. 

   “As a classroom teacher I had a very predictable Monday through Friday schedule,” Barry said. “Now that I’m in two buildings with two different schedules, I live by my Google Calendar.”

   Though many students see the library simply as a good place to study, those who use it most see other opportunities there.

   “I think people should check out books more,” junior Ryugi Nawa said. “The library should be more than just a study space.”

   Barry and Lockwell also strive to ensure that the WHS library offers a far more social space than the classic silent world of dusty books and scolding librarians depicted in TV and movies.

   “High School can be a stressful time, so we want this space to support both the social and academic needs of our students,” Barry said. “This involves creating and maintaining spaces such as the craft corner, the quiet study room, and various displays that highlight monthly themes.”

   Moon believes that the library is a valuable resource at WHS.

   “The librarians have done a very good job of making the library a friendly space,” Moon said. “They offer students a vast range of resources.”