Dear Class of 2019,
Congratulations! You have completed the first leg of your life's journey. Some of you are off to colleges and universities, some of you are joining the military, others of you may be starting vocations or getting jobs and some of you may be taking some time to figure out what is next. No matter where you are going, you will be learning and gaining new knowledge as part of your academic, professional and personal lives.
The past twelve-ish years have provided you with an educational foundation that no one can take away from you. During these years, you have walked into a school building with a library just down the hall and with a librarian who has been dedicated to helping you learn and succeed.
I hope that during those years you have learned that libraries are welcoming places, where you can go to work, read, use computers, do research, and a quiet place to escape when life get noisy. Libraries host a variety of programs, free of charge, to help you learn to use their resources, write a resume, learn new digital tools and skills (that you might need for a job), how to do your taxes (yes, taxes are in your future) and so much more. I recommend signing up for your library mailing lists so you can find out what they are offering.
I hope that you have learned that you do not have to physically go to a library to access and use their resources. Libraries are also virtual spaces with digital tools, databases, ebooks and audio books.
I hope that you have learned to seek truth and to fact check what you find on the Internet and your social media streams. We all love to Google and Google is great for a lot of things. However, when you need to fact check or do deeper research, for school, a job, or personal interests, I hope that you remember that library resources and databases are available to help you. Your college and university libraries will have a website or LibGuide with those resources. Your town library provides databases through the State of Connecticut. All you need is a Connecticut public library card to access free of charge. You can find links on your local library website.
I hope that you have learned that librarians are people who want to help you on your journey. Introduce yourself to your academic and public librarians. Do not be afraid to contact them to ask for assistance.
I hope that, in your not so distant futures, you will make time to read books you love and I hope that love of reading will continue to grow. I know that as a student you have been busy with schoolwork, sports, clubs, activities, and jobs. I know this means many of you have not had much time to read for enjoyment during the past 4 years but I hope that you make time to read.
Even though you are leaving Ledyard High School, I hope that you know that I will always be a librarian you can turn to, and am only an email away.
-Mrs. Smith
Libraries are For Everyone graphic by Hafuboti.
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