New York City School Librarians' Association

Melinda Morris has been the school librarian at PS007K in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, for 24 years. Her work as a school librarian has led her on many adventures including hosting a weeklong Winter Wonderland celebration every year that includes a high school visiting to read to her students; annual author visits including notable children’s book writers such as Tedd Arnold, Colleen AF Venable, Vera B. Williams, and Jerry Craft; and creating clubs like The Comic Book Club, The Krafty Knitting Club and The Green Thumb Gardening Club.

Melinda likes to help teachers enhance their students’ learning by hosting several guests that support the curriculum. This year, a family friend from the Cayuga Nation came to speak and sing traditional Native songs to 4th grade students who were learning about Indigenous people, as well as a Pushcart Prize-nominated poet who worked with students to inspire and develop their own poetry.

One of Ms. Morris’ favorite things to do is write grants, which she learned from Library Services (thank you very much), for the school. As a result, PS00K has received a brand new hydroponics lab, a new school yard, a new playground, ENL/SWD dance grants, and an A+ Stem lab which includes robotics, makerspaces, and Zscaler 3D programming.

Melinda says that it is important to create an environment where the library is the heart of the school. She tells the children and staff that a teacher’s job is to teach students HOW to read, but it is a librarian’s job is to teach students how to LOVE to read. Both are very important jobs, but Melinda thinks her job is a lot more fun!

Matthew Sarkowicz is the school librarian for William H. Maxwell CTE High School in East New York, Brooklyn. He began his career in 1999 teaching ELA in a transfer high school with much success, and he has worked as an ELA teacher in numerous other schools. He wanted a new challenge, and at his current school, his administration offered to transition him in February of 2023 into the library, which had been closed for over a decade. Matthew dove into the task, and since that time has worked to build community and promote literacy by curating books students want to read. Matthew also has hosted numerous guests from different walks of life to speak with students, guests that include a Hiroshima bombing survivor, two NYT bestselling author friends, and a Native Cayuga friend of the family who taught students the ways and songs of New York’s indigenous population.

Being in a CTE school also allows for unique opportunities, and Matthew took advantage of several. He had a Coney Island mermaid talk to the fashion students as well as a trend forecaster visit to explain how the fashion world works, and he also brought photography students and their teacher to his night job at CUNY to allow them to use a dark room and stage a professional photo shoot. Matthew hopes to give his students as many opportunities to interact with successful people who can offer practical advice and is off to a solid start.

Congratulations to Zalykha Maria Mokim, NYCSLA’s February Spotlight Librarian! She is an amazing educator at the helm of a busy, thriving library.

Wow, we accomplished a lot together this year! Thank you to the NYCSLA executive board, the NYCSLA membership, and all of the guest speakers that worked with us! We won’t stop until there is a… #LibrarianInEverySchool!