As Marshall begins fresh with a renovation just under its belt, the library has undergone a multitude of drastic changes to its interior. Beyond the shiny furniture and the refreshing change in layout, the library has two staff members brand new to the faculty family, Krissy Ronan and Elizabeth Toledo.
They have begun the daunting task of getting to know an entirely unfamiliar group of students and faculty, but seem nothing but eager to face the challenge. “Getting a job in a high school library was on my bucket list, and it came up last minute and kind of suddenly, when I really hadn’t expected that I would find one for this school year,” said Toledo. “Everybody’s friendly, it’s a beautiful library, and I’m doing what I want to do, so I’m very happy.”
Having graduated from Oklahoma State and South Carolina, Ronan has many passions, such as watching sports, crafting, and reading her favorite genre, realistic fiction. Toledo also enjoys sitting down with a good historical fiction book, as well as traveling and cooking. Before attending Purdue, her dream was to pursue engineering, which she did up until now. Although the two librarians differ in personality and experience, they have one thing in common: their dedication to helping the students.
“I like to help people, so when someone comes in and they have a problem with their homework, I like being able to help them come up with their solution, or even when a teacher is struggling to come up with the best way to teach these research skills to their students. My very favorite thing is helping the kid who doesn’t want to read and having them come back and tell me they liked that book,” Ronan said.
Toledo feels no different.
“I’m available for any questions, and certainly if anybody needs help finding information, I may not have the answer, but I can certainly try my best to find it. And there’s always references around so it shouldn’t be too hard to find. Also, if anybody needs it, I do speak Spanish!” Beyond homework help, the librarians are welcoming of any personal questions the student body can toss their way, whether the question is about Ronan’s inspiration from her mother’s perseverance for an education, or Toledo’s stories of growing up in Spain, and then returning to the United States as a freshman in high school. Before rushing off to class, take a moment from your day to get to know the new additions to your school, and the help and support they can offer might surprise you.
“I prefer working with people, and one of my favorite things about this job is that I have the opportunity to really work with any teacher and any student,” Ronan said, “When people ask me what I teach I say everything, because I can!”