As the sun rises, Etowah’s librarians open the library at 7:15am throughout the school year. Every afternoon, as students rush to buses, Etowah’s librarians lock and close the library’s doors at 3:45 pm.

A librarian is a person, usually with a degree in library science, who administers or assists in a library. There are actually different types of librarians, and some require additional training. A school librarian has a Master’s degree, or a certificate in school media and must pass a state test to be certified.

“There’s nothing about this job I don’t like. I absolutely love it,” says Denise Lewis, librarian.

Lewis opens the library everyday at 7:15 am except on Thursdays. She attends Leadership Meetings on Thursdays and opens the library later at 7:45 am. This is Lewis’s fourth year at Etowah, and her first job as a librarian. She worked as a teacher at Woodstock Middle School for twelve years and has taught Language Arts, Reading, Science, and Social Studies.

Cari Cain is in charge of the library. She takes care of the library’s finances and decides how the money is spent. Ms. Cain buys all of the books, comics, and magazines in the library. She closes the library every day at 3:45 just as the school day comes to an end.

Both librarians collaborate with teachers, help students, and help find books and resources for class. They integrate technology into their lessons and help others with technology, as well.
During the school year, both librarians take important roles in the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl club. Ms. Lewis is one of the facilitators of the county, she reads ten of the elementary and middle school books and writes the questions for the competitions. On the day of the competitions, she’s behind the scenes making sure everything runs smoothly. Ms. Cain is the coach for Etowah’s Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl team, and both she and the team work hard in preparation for the competitions. They have made it past county, but their goal is to make it to state competition.

Days before the school opens for the year and days after the school year ends, Ms.Cain and Ms.Lewis are in Etowah’s library. They’re packing up books and setting up new ones. They’re making sure everything is in order by the time they leave for the day.

“There is not one person who comes across the threshold of the door that doesn’t need help in some way,” says Ms. Lewis.