When you step into South High’s library, students are greeted not only by the shelves filled with books but also by our librarians. For the past six years Ann Maass has been much more than a librarian – she’s a mentor, a resource and a friend to every student who walks through the doors.
Maass didn’t always plan on being a librarian. She started her career at South as an ESL teacher.
“The old librarian, she was one of my friends, and I’d bring my students in, and I always came in to get books for myself, and she was the one who told me I’d be great at being a librarian and that I should think about it,” Maass said. “I realized that I do love to read, and literacy is really important to me,” so she went back to school and got her endorsement in library sciences.
Maass knows that a library is about more than just reading. She has helped transform South’s library into a place where students can explore, learn and relax. “I think just being nice to kids, being welcoming, talking to everybody helps. A lot of students who don’t even want to read but are looking for a place to feel comfortable come here, and we welcome that.”
Along with traditional responsibilities like ordering new books to read and managing resources, Maass goes the extra mile by helping to sponsor the South’s student and faculty book clubs, organize author visits and create fun activities for students to participate in. “We try our best to create activities that will get people into the library and get people to participate in all the stuff we do.”
Maass’ work may seem quiet to some, but to the students who visit her every day, she is an essential part of South’s school community. Her kindness, dedication and genuine interest in each student have made the library a haven for all.
