OUSD Featured Library: Emerson Elementary
OUSD Featured Library: Emerson Elementary
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John Pabst joined this school is his neighborhood 4 years ago as its library technician. Emerson is located in the Temescal neighborhood of North Oakland, hosts the Social Justice Book Fair, and has been open as long as staff can remember. We interviewed John about his work at Emerson Elementary.
What do students call you?
The students call me “Mr. Pabst.”
What is something you’d like folks to know about your library? What makes it unique?
The Emerson school library is a fun, safe space for the entire Emerson community to access a wide range of information. Students learn how to find and evaluate published materials which are at their skill and developmental levels. Through exploration, students will identify subjects they enjoy and build an information literacy toolkit to use across the curriculum.
What is your favorite thing about working at Emerson Elementary’s library? How do you see it enriching students’ education?
A school library is a great place to build community. I come from a youth development background, and it is a natural place for young people to examine subjects they are interested in and skills they are good at and enjoy.
What are some of your favorite books to share with students?
I don’t share specific books with students. I interview patrons with a regular list of questions and we work together to find books they might like based on their interests.
Why are school libraries important to you?
A school library is a great place to build community. It should be a safe place for ALL students, not only ones who love already love and find success in reading.
Tell us about your journey to working in the library.
Are you sure you have time? I have worked in and with public schools for over 30 years. I was briefly a classroom teacher, supported classroom volunteers, was a teacher in afterschool programs, directed afterschool programs and was director of an agency that ran after school programs in San Francisco. In the winter of 2014, I was trying to move into working in museums to do education and outreach and not getting any traction. Through my wife, who was working as a school librarian, I found out about a temporary opening at Hillcrest Elementary and Middle School. I planned to fill in for 3 months and ended up staying for 7 years. In the fall of 2022, I started as Library Tech at Emerson which is where my son had gone to elementary. The community matches my temperament. It is very team oriented. I work with the entire community, including the CDC and 5 Self Contatined Program classes. I also walk to work– living the dream!
What do you remember about your school library?
I remember there was a book with a character named “Penelope.” My mind was blown when I learned it was NOT pronounced penny-LOPE.
What are YOU reading now?
Assembling the Dinosaur by Lukas Rieppel.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I do “urban hiking” and cook.