Gender

Female

Location

Durham, NC

Birthday:

July 14

Hometown:

Durham, NC

Name of Your School / Library / Organization:

I’m a librarian, writer, and performer. I currently work as a school librarian in two Granville County Schools, where I build collaborative relationships with teachers and curate collections that support student learning and recreation. In my time as a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Information and Library Science (2009 – 2011), I earned a Master of Science in Library Science degree and my school librarian certification, won the Dean’s Achievement Award for Best Masters Paper, performed at a charity storytelling event, and worked at LEARN NC, where I optimized online resources for teacher empowerment. Before I did any of that, I was a Latin teacher at rural and suburban schools across North Carolina for five years, lighting students’ fires with the torch of classical civilization. I also spent more than fifteen years alternately entertaining audiences (as a performer) and keeping directors and actors from losing their senses (as a stage manager) in the community theatre scene here in the Triangle area of North Carolina. I love connecting people (especially tweens, teens, and their teachers) with the information they need, bringing clarity to others’ projects, and connecting big ideas with their practical applications. Right now I’m especially interested in the instructional role of the school librarian, using technology to support learners and teachers from a distance, and what librarians can do to facilitate the transition to the new Common Core and North Carolina Essential Standards.

Library, School, or Professional Website:

https://kimberlyhirsh.com