Blog

What do students call you? 

Ms. Denise!

How long has your library been open? How long have you been working there? 

The library has been open since 2022! I have been working in the library for 3 years now.

What is something you’d like folks to know about your library? What makes it unique? 

The library is a safe space for students to be themselves amongst the daily chaos of school life. Students are welcome to escape into stories, socialize with their friends, do classwork, and play board games in the library. Unlike the stereotype of libraries being silent, Roosevelt’s library is always bustling with noise and chatter from students.

What is your favorite thing about working at Roosevelt Middle’s library? How do you see it enriching students’ education? 

My favorite thing about working at Roosevelt’s Middle School is my connection to this community. 

My parents immigrated to America from Vietnam in the 1980s. Like many other refugees at the time, they found asylum here in the San Antonio District of Oakland. Knowing this, to me it has been very rewarding to be able to connect with fellow students and share cultural similarities.

Why are school libraries important to you?  

School libraries are so important and crucial in schools because it is a third space that every student needs to thrive. It is a space where students have freedom to learn things that interest them, a place to spend and make memories with their friends, and escape into the wonderful world of books.  

Growing up as a fellow library kid I have such fond memories of spending time in my school library. Whether the memory was lunchtime conversations with friends or being recommended a new favorite book, libraries were a place that helped me come into my own as a student.

Tell us about your journey to working at Roosevelt Middle. 

I started working at Roosevelt in the 2020, peak pandemic time as an after-school teacher at East Bay Asian Youth Center (EBAYC).  The former literacy coach, Molly Nicol, had been working to reopen the library. Molly saw something in me that I hadn’t seen in myself yet at the time, and advocated for me to be the one to reopen Roosevelt’s library. I have been here ever since and cannot be grateful enough for Molly’s encouragement and support in helping me bring  Roosevelt’s library back to life.

What drew you to working at the library?

I have always been a library kid, the earliest memory I have is going to Oakland Public Library’s Asian Branch with my dad. I have always had my nose stuck in a book and libraries were always places I could explore new topics and also hide from the chaos of real life. Knowing that libraries were so crucial to my childhood it has been amazing to be able to continue sharing the joy of libraries to students and Roosevelt’s community.

What are some of your favorite books to share with students? 

Some of my favorite books to share with students are Dragon Tea Society by Kay O’Neill, Wings of Fire by Tui. T Sutherland, and One Year at Ellsmere by Faith Erin Hicks.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Outside of reading constantly my other hobbies include hiking, crocheting and scrapbooking with friends.

What are YOU reading now?

Misery by Stephen King!

What do you remember about your school library? 

My memories of my school library were the large amount of books and comfy wooden chairs. I have been lucky enough to be able to get a new set of wooden chairs by OLC at Roosevelt’s library. It was a place where my shy teenage self was able to pause from the daily bustles of school.