The Perfect Perch

The library is a place of calm, patience, and academics.

Ms. Olsen, our school’s dedicated librarian, has recently given our library a new name, look, and identity. It has been rebranded as “The Perch”; Ms. Olsen has cleverly made its slogan, “Shhhh happens at the Perch.”

The library is now a place created by teens, for teens. It is meant to connect students with others and is a sanctuary for all. Personally, I have become a frequent visitor. It is a game changer for studying and doing homework.

All photos by Eva Jones

Although I have been visiting the library almost every day at school, I didn’t know much about it. It has substantially changed since last year and continues to every day. The library has not only changed physically but has also become a class you can take. The students in the class are lively, and creative, and have a love for the library that transcends through all of the rebranding. 

Students in the library class make up wonderful themed displays to encourage reading and promote the perch. 

Annie Baker Young (8th grade) is a new member of The Perch and is dedicated to renewing our library. She said, “The library is a fun opportunity to do something for the school, to make the library cooler and make people come to the library.” Even though the library can be a challenging class, it is very calm. Annie loves to make displays and see the finished product because it is always super cool and imaginative. 

“Nothing really goes down in the library, it’s a very chill environment.” - Annie Baker Young 

Rio Fisher, another up-and-coming library student, chose the class because they were involved with the library last year and absolutely fell in love with it. 

“I chose the library class because I did it for community service last year and really liked it. I wanted it to be a class.”

Their favorite part of being a student is the freedom. Students have creative liberty and get to do other work: it is similar to a College Eds. class, but without boundaries. 

The final boss, Ms. Olsen, is fiercely dedicated to the rebranding of the Perch. She has been working hard, nonstop for about a year now, and has truly changed our school for the better. I interviewed her about the experience so far.

What was the process of making the library into a class?

“I want the library to be a space for teens, designed by teens. By having a team of students who provided me with feedback and ideas, I made sure that I was creating a space that teens would like.”

This is the first year that Ms. Olsen has done a class with eighth graders. Most of her students became familiar with the library through service as action in seventh and eighth grade.

“I got lucky! Last year's seventh graders, which are this year's current eighth graders, accepted the invitation and started volunteering a lot last year.”

“I relied on the students who already volunteered and showed interest because they already understood what we were trying to do. Then they had to make a choice between which electives they wanted, and after that, it was just a matter of whether their schedule lined up.”

What kind of students do you hope to attract to the class?

“Students who believe in the library and really believe in having a dynamic school library, and wanting to build a culture of reading and questioning.”

“I am very much committed to helping students succeed academically, and also helping students embody this idea of understanding yourself better through library science and library practice.”

Students don't just make displays or do work for other classes, they also develop marketing skills and organizing skills, yet another way to better yourself through community and creativity.

What does the library stand for, and what does it mean to you?

“[There are] four words that are also on our door: care, question, create, and connect. The library is a place for students to discover and explore things they care about, and to ask questions about themselves and the world. I hope that it inspires them to create something, and as they create something that they care about, they will find someone to connect with and share their findings.”

Ms. Olsen is a librarian with a dream to connect students, and that is what the library is all about. It projects our values and what kind of environment we want to have at Eagle Rock. The library could mean the future of our school and how we shape ourselves, it could help bring us together as a school and connect us with creativity.