So I haven’t blogged about my move yet. It’s been very emotional for me, even though it’s been in the works for many months. I just wasn’t ready to put it out there onto the Internet (and into reality for me, maybe?) until now. Plus I wanted it to be approved by the School Board and all that formal stuff, which went down a few hours ago.

So on January 10th (my official date) I will no longer be an elementary school librarian. I will be moving to the library at Central Middle. Middle school has always been where my heart is. It’s where I originally taught, and their librarian is now retiring. I was asked to come back and it wasn’t an easy decision for me. I know that in the long run, it’s what I want to do. But it sure is hard to leave the blood, sweat, and tears I’ve put into my library for the last few years. It’s also hard to leave the faculty and the wonderful relationships I have formed. As a librarian, it’s not easy to build working relationships and street cred from teachers, and this year I was finally feeling like I’d gotten to that place. I’m so proud of the elementary school library that has been created (not from scratch, but from a big fat mess) and the program that really TRULY fosters a love of reading. It’s going to be hard for me to let go. But I am so grateful that I’ll be walking into a much more organized library and don’t have to start at the bottom again.

So over the next few weeks and months I’ll be sharing lots of things that excite me about my new opportunities. I’m looking forward to my move to middle school, but there are lots of things that I’ll miss about my little ones. I want to take some time to reflect on the things I love about working in an elementary library. Here are a few of the things I’ll miss most:

1. Precious little smiling faces. Smiles still full of baby teeth. Smiles full of gaps from lost teeth. Smiles that are growing into the ones they will have as adults.

2. Reading beautiful picture books while I have their rapt attention. Especially when we get to that point in a story where they all gasp because they are so completely engrossed in what’s happening.

3. Their innocence. There are always a few who are losing theirs too young, which is heartbreaking. But for the most part they are still so innocent. And that innocence allows them to be so imaginative and throw themselves into whatever they’re doing.

4. Holidays. Every holiday is such an event for them. They require decorations, celebration, holiday themed stories, arts and craft projects, singing, and snacks. This includes birthdays, which are IMMENSELY important when you’ve only had 8 so far in your life.

5. Reading is cool. Books are fun and something to get excited about. And when they take the leap from picture books to chapter books — I love that.

I’m going to miss the teachers and administrators desperately. There are so many great things about the school that can’t even be described unless you’ve worked there. I will always be grateful for the support that I’ve had, particularly from my administration, that has helped shape my professional path. The few years that I’ve been privileged to work with 2nd and 3rd graders alongside so many amazing educators have given me experience and perspective that I will always carry with me. The transition will be bittersweet for me. I am sad to leave such a great crew, but I so look forward to the experiences to come. And I’m going to end here before I start bawling.