As a school librarian, Mandi Martinez sees the library as much more than a quiet place full of books. Libraries have become an extension of the classroom where students and teachers go to learn, ignite creativity and discover new ways to grow. Martinez strives to create this type of environment in two Irving ISD schools – Brandenburg and Lee Elementary.
An Irving ISD graduate, Martinez attended Lively Elementary and Austin Middle Schools before graduating from Irving High School in 2006. After earning her degree from Texas Tech University, she returned home to teach in the very community she grew up in. After seven years in the classroom and a growing love for teaching reading, Martinez decided to pursue a master’s degree in library science from Sam Houston State University. Since then, she has happily served as a school librarian for the past 8 years.
“When I was a teacher, I loved teaching reading, but my favorite part was teaching students to love to read,” she says. “Now, I get to work with students in a different way. The library is the heart of the school, and there’s a place for everyone here.”
Whether it’s through storybook STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) lessons, collaborative projects or learning cognitive skills, Martinez builds an environment where students feel safe to stretch their thinking, problem solve and freely communicate with each other. Over time, the role of a school librarian has evolved far beyond checking out books. Librarians like Martinez reinforce curriculum, introduce new technology and provide various professional learning opportunities for teachers.
When it comes to encouraging students to read in a tech-driven world, Martinez has found a creative way to blend both.
“It’s pretty neat. The district has an extensive amount of free eBooks available, and I always encourage our students to utilize them. For instance, they love the Dog Man books, but I don’t have 900 physical copies, so I refer them to the eBooks and that helps a lot,” she adds.
One book that’s made a lasting impact on Martinez is The Oldest Student by Rita L. Hubbard. The book tells the true story of Mary Walker, the nation’s oldest student who learned to read at the age of 116. For Martinez, it serves as a beautiful reminder that it’s never too late to learn and she shares this message with her students to keep them encouraged.
“I love when teachers email me saying their kids are begging to come to the library,” she says. “This year has been unique with two campuses, but it’s been fun building programs in both spaces and meeting even more students. I like to think of the library as the living room of the school, and I love being a librarian because I get to host everyone in here. It’s like an extension of my home.”
As we celebrate School Library Month, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the importance of school libraries and librarians.
“In Irving ISD, we have a strong library program, and I’ve had the privilege of learning from and working with the best,” says Martinez. “Librarians are essential. We support academic growth, provide access to resources and help create a community where every student has the opportunity to discover something new.”
And thanks to librarians like Martinez, the library will always be a place where everyone belongs.
