Hermantown Community Schools

As April comes to a close, so does the celebration of National School Library Month, a time to recognize the invaluable role of libraries in fostering knowledge, curiosity, and literacy among students. With that recognition, Hermantown Community Schools is highlighting the work of our library clerks, who help cultivate a love of reading within our students and assist students with projects, papers, technology, media and so much more.

HCS talked with Hermantown Middle School Library Clerk, Melanie Olson, to get insight on the library and her favorite part about her role.

What is your favorite part about working in the Middle School library?
"I have always enjoyed working with children and I am also a lifelong lover of reading. Being a Library Clerk lets me have the best of both worlds! I love connecting with our students over books they've read as well as offering new recommendations. Nearly every day I am tasked with finding a book for a student who only has a tidbit of information, such as "I think a character's name was George but that's all I remember" or finding a book for a student in a genre they aren't usually drawn to. I enjoy the challenge and through the years I have learned to ask the right questions to help us find the answers!"

What are the top five books checked out from the library?

"Our top five books this school year:

• Out of My Heart-Sharon Draper

• Allies-Alan Gratz

• Creep-Eireann Corrigan

• The Baby-sitter's Club: Dawn and the Impossible

• Three-Gale Galligan\ Cabin Fever-Jeff Kinney"