Pencils, notebooks, and laptops are scattered around tables as students are hard at work. Quiet chatter drifts throughout the cozy space. The library has always been a haven for students to study, conversate, and of course, check out books, but this year, the person behind the front desk is different.

Rebecca Terrell has taken the position as the new librarian this school year, introducing a new library system.

Terrell has always held an important role for students. Prior to being a librarian, she was an English teacher for 15 years. A goal of hers was always moving into the library position, but it was unclear when the job would become available.

Last year, Terrell left to take the library position at Skutt Catholic High School but returned once the job opened up at MN.

“I am very happy that they took me back because there were a lot of good applicants, so I am very fortunate,” Terrell said.

With every new job, there is an ample share of great new experiences, but also tough, unfamiliar challenges. For Terrell, being head librarian has definitely proven to be a learning experience.

“There is a learning curve to stuff when you try something new. I’m not super great at technology which has been a little stressful for me,” Terrell said.

Working in the library is a privilege Terrell doesn’t take for granted. She holds a deep passion for reading and is extremely grateful she gets to help students to find a passion for it as well.

“I think reading is super important, so I like helping kids find a book that they like and seeing the excitement it brings them,” Terrell said.

Being a librarian is a heavy job that Terrell can’t man alone. Paraprofessional and library helper Deborah Noah has appreciated having Terrell around this school year.

“She has been such a blessing to have and very sweet. She’s so dedicated to all the students, and I just love working with her,” Noah said.

Along with a new librarian, there have been other adjustments to the library system this 2023-2024 school year. Several rules have been put in place to help the flow of the library. One of these includes a new iPad station at the main entrance of the library–used by students to sign in and out.

“We have kids sign in here because we’ve got a lot of kids coming in without E-Hall passes. This way we have a list of everybody who is in here in case an emergency happens,” Terrell said.

Another latest rule put in place is not being allowed to use the back door. This has affected many students during night library as they use it to exit the building.

“We made that call for safety purposes, because you can’t open the door from the outside and we just feel that when people keep coming in and out, it is a safety precaution,” Terrell said.

In addition to this, new top displays and author spotlight have caught the eyes of many students. These  add to the friendly atmosphere and essentially bring an academic aura to the space.

Library volunteers sophomore Marley Marrs and senior Joshua Liptrott also contribute to the library, making it a warm and inviting place.

“We’ve set up new top displays and an author spotlight which are changed depending on the season. We have a really well thought out idea for October that we are excited to put up, and the decorations with it,” Marrs said.

As for future developments, Terrell has been brainstorming several ideas to improve the flow of the library. This includes categorizing the fiction books to improve the experience of book browsing.

“I want to genrefy the fiction, which means all the horror books are together and all the science fiction are together. We have already done it with the nonfiction and now I would like to do it with the fiction,” Terrell said.

With all these new changes, the library is sure to become even more of a welcoming space for students to become stronger academically and socialize quietly. The library has always held a special spot in the school structure and will continue to hold such significance for years to come, especially with Terrell at the wheel.