Something exciting is happening beyond the double doors of the Glenbard South library. A familiar face to some, but a new face to many, Mrs. Roberts, returned home to Glenbard South Library. For Mrs. Roberts, returning to South feels like starting a new chapter, but also like stepping back into a beloved story. “I am incredibly, deliriously happy to be back here,” she said with a smile. “This has always felt like home to me, and it felt like coming back home.”
Roberts’ journey has bounced all over. She has worked in other Glenbards within the district, before finally coming back to South. She started her educational path after switching her major in college from marketing to focusing more on library sciences and education. When hard decisions about the future were difficult to figure out, Robert’s mother gave her a piece of advice that changed everything: “Figure out what you like and figure out a way to make money doing that.” The choice for her future became clear when she listed her strengths: books, research, writing and kids.
Mrs. Roberts first came to our district in 2006 when hired by Mrs. Mankowski, who just recently retired from Roberts’ new position as head librarian last year. She was on for tenure but her position shifted and she was led to part time with East and South. After bouncing around the district, she found her way back to South, building connections along the way. Two friendly faces to welcome her back at south are Ms. Rochford and Ms. KR, who were actually Roberts’ students.
She went to graduate school for library science, focusing specifically on school libraries. “I wanted what I did to matter,” she explained. That motivation has guided her ever since. Her passion for working with students shines through in her attitude towards the work and actions that she takes within the library. When asked what motivates her to come to work, she answered that the students are what have been the common denominator in all of the schools she has worked at. “I love giving kids book recommendations. I generally just like hearing about their lives, I really like the ‘aha’ moment when somebody gets something that they didn’t seem to get before.” With these words, it is clear that Mrs. Roberts is incredibly dedicated to her work and to our library.
As mentioned before, an exceptional role model in Robert’s life is her mom. As a dean and teacher, her mom understands the challenges and struggles as an educator. Another guiding factor to Mrs. Roberts’ career was her mentor, Mrs. Mankowski. As her friend, advisor and guide, Mankowski led Roberts to be the passionate and experienced librarian she is today. Mrs. Roberts states that “She was my first phone call for everything, she’s been a wonderful mentor and teacher.”
Now that she is leading the LRC, Roberts is focused on learning and understanding the rhythm of South’s library before starting with any big changes. She appreciates the hard work her successors have done to the library to make it run so smoothly. She plans to spend her first year learning how South operates and what contributes to making it such a unique space. “I think it would be presumptuous to come in and change a bunch of things right away,” she adds, “I want to build on what’s already been working.”
In addition to her leadership within the library, Mrs. Roberts has always valued connection with students by helping run extracurricular activities. She loves the way that she can build connections beyond the library. Because Roberts does not teach a regular class, building relationships with students can be difficult compared to other teachers. Over the course of her career within schools, she has sponsored clubs like Pep club, Speech team, Flags, and her newest addition: Best Buddies here at South. “What I love about clubs is that they give me a chance to get to know students in a different way than I know them in the library,” Roberts states.
With her deep roots at Glenbard South, the history she holds with District 87’s libraries, her passion for education and her dedication to students, Roberts embodies what makes the heart of a school beat.
Her path isn’t just about a career, it’s about finding purpose for coming to work and returning to the place that feels most like home.
