Our New Normal, Volume IX

This latest installment in the Our New Normal series takes us to Collegiate’s Reed-Gumenick Library where I ask Carolyn LaMontagne, head librarian since 2013, what’s changed in her professional world since COVID entered our lives.
“Feels like everything,” she replied without hesitation.

For starters, she explained, the tried-and-true system of students perusing the shelves in person, then checking out a book or two, isn’t happening as in the past.

“Kids are browsing online now,” she said. “We’re making videos to book talk, suggesting books, and creating collections. Kids reserve books, and we deliver them to their advisory rooms. That’s really different.”

The large open area in RGL (which serves the Middle School) now has partitions which have created much-needed classroom space. Books still line the shelves, of course, but access by the staff is limited.

“We pull books whenever we can: between classes, early in the morning, or after school,” Carolyn said. “Circulation has been good. When we were remote (in January), we had curbside pickup. We didn’t get many takers. When we’re in person, we get a lot of book reservations.”

There’re other new normals, she added.

“We’re doing a lot of tech support,” said Carolyn, who came to Collegiate in 2004. “That’s a big change. Now, we’re way more focused on technology than we typically would be.”

How so? I asked.

“Helping people,” she replied. “When somebody sends an email (requesting tech assistance), I run and try to help them. I don’t like people having trouble, but I really enjoy being able to help. I enjoy learning new things that will make us more efficient in the future. I really miss the casual and authentic interactions with the kids who come in to browse and chat, but in terms of what I’m learning, it’s exciting and challenging.”

On the other side of the partition was Carolyn’s associate Mary Kendall White, who was watching a squirmy bunch of 5th grade boys while their teacher was en route from another assignment.

What’s your new normal? I inquired.

“For me, I’m hand delivering books which means I’m getting lots of steps every day,” said Mary Kendall, who has worked in RGL for 10 years and is the parent of three Collegiate graduates. “I love it because I can actually see the kids get the books. That makes me really happy. The kids can’t browse, which makes me sad, but they can browse on the website."

There’s a light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s hard to see, I offered. How are you managing?

“I’m enjoying improving my digital skills,” she replied. “I’m making videos instead of talking to kids about books. I like that because it’s a permanent record of the things I read and what I thought about them."

What’s your favorite book you’ve read this year? I asked.

“Oh, that’s so hard,” she replied. “That’s like picking my favorite student.”

At that moment, a flurry of waving hands went up amidst much laughter. 

“My favorite book I’ve read this year is Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk,” Mary Kendall replied after the guys had settled.

Why is that? I asked.

“I just thought it was beautifully written,” she replied. “It’s a Depression Era historical fiction book. It was just a really neat tale about family and surviving in the woods when you’re not used to it.”

Then, I took that opportunity to make a public service announcement to the assemblage of 5th graders.

Listen up, guys, I began. Listen to Mrs. White. Reading – losing yourself in a book – is a great way to escape the craziness of the world. For a while, you’re somewhere else, not worrying about COVID, not worrying about remote or in-person or politics or anything else. That’s the beauty of reading.

“Yes!” Mary Kendall added, as I took my leave and headed to the desk of Catherine Clements, who’s in her fifth year in RGL.

What’s your new normal? I asked.

“So, my new normal is actually very different than my old normal, mostly because I’ve been spending a lot of my time helping with Chromebooks and troubleshooting,” she replied. “That’s a huge part of my job.”

How’d you end up with this gig? I asked.

“I was asked, but I was happy to do it,” she answered. “It’s been a lot of learn-on-the-go.  Mostly I’ve been working with Dr. (Fletcher) Collins (assistant MS head for curriculum, instruction, and technology). I’ve definitely learned a lot from him about what I need to know to help kids.”

What’s the craziest Chromebook issue you’ve dealt with? I asked.

“One was accidentally stepped on,” she said. “You could still see the shoeprint on the case. I asked, ‘Are we really going to send this to get it repaired?’ We did.  It came back good as new.”

When this is all over, I asked, do you think we’ll have learned some pretty good lessons?

“For me, yes,” she said. “Proctoring shared classrooms, I get to see what happens on a day-to-day basis in the classroom. It’s been so fascinating to get better insight into what the teachers are doing. That helps us help the kids when they work on assignments.”

So challenges are worthwhile if you can find the positives? I said.

“I would definitely say that dealing with the world has been a huge challenge, Catherine replied, “but it’s nice to come to work and feel useful. I really appreciate that.”
   ~Weldon Bradshaw
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