As part of Canadian Library Month, CUPE is presenting stories from members of the National Library Workers’ Committee to highlight and celebrate the different roles CUPE library workers play in promoting literacy in their communities.
Natalie LeBlanc, CUPE 2745
I’m a library technician working with students in grades 5-8 at Maplehurst Middle School in Moncton, New Brunswick. Everyday I talk with students about what they are reading or want to read. By taking time to build relationships with students, I get to know them and learn about their interests. These connections enable me to share individualized book recommendations that are intriguing, exciting, and capture their imaginations! Putting the right book in a student’s hands at the right time is key to fostering a love of reading. Among reluctant readers, it also helps boost self-confidence in their ability to read, along with their enjoyment of reading.
Our school’s motto is, “Realize Your Impact!/Ayez un Impact Positif!” It is the best feeling to see the way I impact students as their confidence as readers and desire to share their thoughts and feelings about what they have read, grows. My displays are now filled with recommended reads by students with their personalized book reviews tucked inside! It’s wonderful to spread joy one book at a time.