Today we are welcoming back Libby, an IDEAS Associate and librarian! Libby works around the world helping to implement and improve library programs in schools. Since it is World Teacher's Day, what better way to celebrate those working in the classrooms than by interviewing someone who supports the learning process with books and resources! Read how the school library becomes a refuge.

What is your professional title?

Director of the Global Reach Libraries Project at IDEAS.

How long have you been doing your current job?

I started this project in February of 2013. I have been a librarian for 28 years.

Where have you worked?

I have worked in libraries in Morocco, Turkey, Croatia, Uganda, India and currently two schools in Jordan. Before that, I worked in public libraries for over 15 years in Colorado.

What project are you currently working on?

I'm helping a new school start their library from scratch so that it meets the needs of the teachers as they look for instructional resources and encourages the students in developing a love of reading and learning. I'm making sure they have access to quality materials and am training the local librarian who will take over the library.

Why are school libraries valuable?

Libraries are a hub for learning; they are resource gathering places where teachers and students can access the information and literature they need for learning. It is not a warehouse for books, it is an active place for continual learning, with both online and print resources. They can also be a place of refuge for kids. It's crucial that beyond having quality resources, we train knowledgeable, welcoming librarians who can collaborate with teachers and students.

How do you collaborate with teachers?

I am constantly talking with them about what they are doing in their classrooms. Sometimes they come to me with specific needs; other times I hear about what they are doing and I give them resources. My goal is to make their jobs easier and help them be better teachers!

How do you collaborate with students?

By making the library a safe place by responding to their questions about anything they want to know more about. For example, a boy has been asking me for LEGO books for the past year, so while I am in the states, it is a high priority for me to get them. It's a small thing, but it responds to his personal desires, a step in a growing curiosity about the world.

What are the greatest needs for your project right now?

For someone to sponsor an online library system for one of the schools. It is the tool that will enable us to provide 21^st century library services, providing these Middle-Eastern kids with access to high-quality, global information! We also need sponsors for books, so we can locally purchase up-to-date, appealing books that will encourage reading and learning. (If you would like to donate, please visit our GIVE page!)

Can you tell us a recent story about how the library has impacted someone?

There are so many! One highlight for me last year was when one of the boys who was known as a troublemaker who drove all of the teacher's crazy would come to the library. He was so good there, reading about animals, and wanting to tell me about everything he was reading in his limited English. The library is a place of refuge for the trouble-makers like him.

Thank you, Libby! We love working with you and we are so thankful for the work you are doing around the world!

How can you celebrate World Teacher's Day?