While many students think of the library as simply a place to print assignments or spend their free blocks, librarians at LHS do a lot more work behind the scenes to keep the library running. From teaching research skills to helping students find reliable information, librarians play an important role in supporting the school community every day.

For librarians Harriet Wallen, Sarah Anderson, and Carin Casey, no two days look the same.

“There isn’t one [typical day],” Anderson said. “There are so many different things happening, whether it’s teaching classes or working with students.”

Casey agreed, adding that the job requires a lot of flexibility. 

“Each day can be unexpected,” Casey said. “You can come in the morning and think, ‘Okay, this is what I’m going to be doing today…’ and then it doesn’t [happen].” 

In addition to overseeing book checkouts and handling Chromebook loans, librarians assist with printing and research projects. They work closely with teachers by co-teaching lessons and designing research assignments. “We work with students individually, not just in classes […] students come in looking for help with the Junior Research Paper or the Freshman Research Paper. Sometimes, students are just looking for a book to read, and we will talk to them and help them find a book.”

Managing that dynamic environment presents its own set of challenges, particularly when it comes to accommodating everyone in the library space. 

“We see about 685 kids on an average day,” Wallen said. “Sometimes we have as many as three classes here at one time.”

The team also manages complex tasks like collection development and information literacy. 

“Some people think all we do is check out books. Some people think all we do is throw away books,” Wallen said. “We’re not just about books. We’re about information in any format that exists.”

To build a collection that satisfies both research requirements and personal reading interests, the library staff depends heavily on collaboration and feedback. Anderson explained that librarians carefully select materials based on book reviews, award winners, and teacher requests. However, student input remains the most important factor. 

“Students … might notice, ‘You guys have a huge hole in your collection about X or Y.’ That’s great,” Anderson said. “If you want the collection to be used, [student input] has absolutely driven it.”

The role of librarians has also changed significantly over the years because of technology. Wallen, who has worked in librarianship for 48 years, remembers when finding a single magazine article meant hours of flipping through a physical index called the Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature. 

“You had to hope that your library had the magazine … and then you had to hope that somebody hadn’t stolen that copy off the shelf,” Wallen said. 

Today, online databases do the work in seconds. 

“The delivery of it is what has changed,” Wallen said. “And therefore, the strategies in finding it have changed.”

Beyond academic support, librarians also work hard to make the library a welcoming space for students. They try to create a space where students can study, explore new interests, or simply take a break during the school day.

“We’re glad you’re here. We invite you in. We want you to be here,” Casey said.

For the librarians, the best parts of the job come back to daily student connections. Wallen recalled helping a frustrated student who couldn’t find anything until he pulled out a specific reference book. 

“He went away very happy,” Wallen said. “He really yelled out, ‘This is a gold mine!’”

The LHS library is a place where students can ask questions, explore ideas, and find support throughout the school day. No matter how much technology changes the landscape of information, the heart of the library remains the relationship between the staff and the student body. 

“Bottom line: we can’t survive without you guys,” Wallen said.