Shared Foundation 2- Include with Ginger Frady

Shared Foundation 2- Include with Ginger Frady

    For the Shared Foundation, Include, I interviewed Ginger Frady (known as Ms. Wes to her students) the librarian at Mabry Middle School in Spartanburg School District One. Ms. Wes has worked in South Carolina and Florida school libraries, and this is her second year at Mabry Middle.  

    I picked Included for Ms. Wes because that is something she is passionate about, finding a space for everyone in the library. She brought it up often during my five-day internship with her so I knew she would have good wisdom to share with me for this Shared Foundation. She has a variety of programs that meet the needs and interests of her students. She has participated in a “Read Around the Tree” winter holiday event that will be hosted in the library but also included ELA teachers and the art teacher. This event even includes the 4K students at a neighboring school in the district. I work in a high school library, and I think it would really cool to put on an event like this and involve the younger kids for another school in the district. Maybe a club that meets once a month where the highschoolers read books to younger students at an Elementary school or put on a story time or play or other event for them. She also told me about some of her after school events like a game night for students and their families. I also want to do events where families can attend, like an after-school game night or trivia. This would be a way to get to know parents and give them a chance to get to know me. Ms. Wes has also had the public library come in and host events during lunch that students can sign up for. We have a wonderful public library where I work but the students don’t use it like they could.  

    Ms. Wes uses the public library, inclusive books talks, and programs for non-readers to include students in the library. She has really made a push for programs that don’t revolve around reading to bring students into the library. She still has programs that include reading, but she has so many reluctant readers that she wants to offer something for everyone. I will work on ideas I can take to my library that will interest students who don’t love to read. I also really want to promote the public library and everything it has to offer students and their families.