Each morning, as students get to school early to hang out with their friends, the hustle and bustle always seems to be in the library. There they are greeted by the smiles of their friends, as well as those of the Library staff members.
There are several librarians in the school, and everyday they strive to encourage more reading, help with research and writing skills, and connect with the students here. But how much do we actually know about them?
“I love to go to the beach. Sitting on the beach, reading a book is like perfection. I do like to go to national parks. We (she and her husband) like to go hiking.” Gina Veschi said, one of the librarians.
She also enjoys spending time with her grandson Luca and reading whatever book genre she’s in the mood for. She mainly prefers reading historical fiction, but if it sparks her interest then she’ll read it.
Libraries are important because, “It’s a way that students can explore the world or their interests in a space that sometimes forces kids to learn about something that they’re not super interested in,” Camille Bales said, another librarian here. “A library makes a school a place where everyone can truly learn and be empowered to be their best selves.”
Libraries give everyone a chance to gain knowledge and interests that they may need in the future, or which help them feel a sense of security in a world that can feel like too much. Librarians want to help students access and achieve that knowledge and interests, possibly through book recommendations.
“We’re always open to book recommendations. If anyone reads a book and they love it, please come tell us. Either we’ll read it ourselves if we have it, or we’ll add it to the library if we don’t have it,” Bales said.
Bales loves being outdoors with her dog Cleo and doing other outdoor activities, such as recreational soccer. She also spends time doing yoga, and of course, reading. Her favorite genres are fantasy, science-fiction, and psychology. Some of her favorite books include American Gods, by Neil Gaiman, the Red Rising Trilogy, by Pierce Brown, and the Attack on Titan manga series, by Hajime Isayama.
“This is my first year in a library, so I’m still learning what being a librarian really means to me. But I really love working with young adults. You have all the depth of personality, you are yourselves, you just are experiencing life and making your choices and learning,” Bale said.
Bale is incredibly nice and great for conversation, so make sure to say hi next time you see her! Another one of our librarians is Patricia Bagdasarian, the Head Librarian. “My hobbies are reading, obviously, and I like to travel. That’s an expensive hobby, and so when I can, when I have the money, I like to travel. And I love live music, so I like to go out and listen to live music as well,” Bagdasarian said.
Her favorite book genre is historical fiction, and she’s always on the look for award-winning books. Books on her top ten list include A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman, The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, and The Year of Magical Thinking, by Joan Didion. If you’d like to view more of the librarians’ favorite books, make sure to visit the LCHS Library Website.
“Libraries bring back reading books. A wealth, not only of knowledge, of comforting advice, of information. So much that books offer to people. Provides insight into different cultures. Explore anywhere and everywhere, and really feel like you’re there. It captures life,” Arlene Lewis said.
She’s been a volunteer here since she retired in 2021. She runs the Writing Center and is the perfect person to reach out to if you need help with any research or writing assignments. You can find her in the library and she has posters for the writing center set up in the library to contact her digitally.
“I love working with students, it’s the best part of teaching. Working directly with students. The reward is when students walk away and say thank you,” Lewis said.
