Library Tech has Passion for Books and Students

Lori Davi, a library tech at Wawona Middle School for 11 years, was an Excellence in Education finalist last spring. Wawona vice principal May Her says about Davis: "She treats all students with respect, even if they come to school with a bad attitude. She has an amazing way of turning students around after they work with her in the library."

You have a knack for making connections with students, even though you are not a classroom teacher. What is your secret?

I truly respect each and every student that walks through the library door. Whether they have earned my respect is not important. Each student needs to feel valued and more than a few students, by the time I see them, feel of very little value to anyone.

What is the most challenging part about your job?

I think the most challenging part of my job is getting all the things I need to get done on a regular basis completed. Many people assume that all a librarian or a library technician does all day is check in and check out books. That is actually a very small portion of what our job entails.

What kind of experience do you hope students have in the library?

I want to see them back again and again, and that includes the ones that claim they don't like to read. I believe they just haven't found the right book yet; I can and will help them with that if given the chance!

What was your favorite book as a teen?

"Island of the Blue Dolphin" by Scott O'Dell.

What is your favorite book(s) to recommend for students at Wawona?

"Wonder" by R.J. Palacio.

What is one thing most people do not know about you?

I am a volunteer for The Healthy Marriage Coalition of Fresno County and for the past 10 years have helped teach communication classes.