The Library Staff are April’s Cavs of the Month!

1. What made you want to work in a library?

Ms. Gulck: My path to becoming a librarian was definitely a little non-traditional. My first passion was filmmaking — I loved the creativity, the storytelling, and the process of bringing ideas to life on screen. But as I gained more experience, I started to realize how limited the job opportunities were in South Dakota, especially if I didn’t want to relocate to a larger city. That realization eventually led me back to school with the plan of becoming a high school speech teacher.

That plan changed when a guest speaker from the South Dakota State Library visited one of my education classes. She gave a book talk featuring some of the most buzzworthy YA titles that year. I wrote down several of her recommendations, read them, and absolutely loved them. It sparked this question in my mind: What would it be like to be a librarian — to connect students with stories that could inspire them the way these books inspired me?

The more I learned about the role of a school librarian — supporting readers, collaborating with teachers, teaching research and information literacy — the more I knew I had found the right fit. It felt like I had discovered the perfect job that incorporated all my passions.

I’ve now been a school librarian for 14 years and have my Masters degree in Library Media Education. Throughout my career, I’ve had the chance to circle back to those early media passions — whether that’s through library programming, collaborating on student projects, or advising yearbooks. Looking back, I realize that what initially drew me to filmmaking was storytelling and being a librarian has turned out to be the perfect way to share stories. 

Ms. Holland: I’ve always had a deep appreciation for books, stories of all formats, and the spaces that make them easily accessible to their communities. Before JHS, I was in my eleventh year at Last Stop CD Shop working with books and other media, spending much of my days helping customers while also cataloguing, handling, and organizing the books that would come through the store. I had many friends and family encourage me to take the leap to work as an EA at the JHS Library, and the rest is history!

Ms. Vetos: I am an EA in the library, and I love it. I have a degree from SDSU in sociology and criminal justice and was a social worker before working in the school district. I love books and working with kids so….this is my dream job.

 

2. What is your favorite book and why?

Ms. Gulck: It’s always hard for me to pick just one favorite book — I feel like it changes depending on what I’m reading or what’s stuck with me lately. Right now, I’m completely absorbed in re-reading The Hunger Games series. The second prequel, Sunrise on the Reaping, came out in March, and it sent me down a rabbit hole of revisiting the entire series from the beginning. I’ve been loving rediscovering the world of Panem and noticing new connections to the prequels. 

Another all-time favorite of mine is Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. I think I’m just drawn to a really well-built dystopian world — stories that explore what happens when technology, power, or society take unexpected turns. 

Ms. Holland: So many good books, so hard to choose!!!  BUT, I suppose the first two that come to mind are:

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen–a classic for a reason! Timeless despite its age!  Mr. Darcy will always have a special place in my heart. Elizabeth Bennet is also a great character. It’s funny, smart, romantic and has one of my favorite romance tropes!

More modern pick: All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir (We have it in the JHS Library!) and I’d recommend it to pretty much anyone.  It’s a beautifully written story; it deserves all the accolades. It features two friends navigating various struggles with friends,family, and school. It’s an emotionally charged, powerful book. It’s a doozy at times (grab your tissues) but has glimmers of hope and reminders of human resilience.  

Ms. Vetos: Growing up my favorite book was Little Women, I read it quite a few times and bought a copy for each of my three daughters.

At this time right now my favorite book is probably Fourth Wing, I didn’t know I liked fantasy books until I read it. Fantasy does open up a whole new world! I mean, dragons? And war colleges? I can’t get enough! 

 

3. What is the funniest experience you’ve had in the library at Jefferson?

Ms. Gulck: Nothing super specific stands out, but I love that the library has become a space where people feel comfortable being themselves, having fun, and sharing a laugh. We share a lot of laughs in the library. 

Ms. Holland: It’s hard to pinpoint a specific hilarious moment, I think Mrs. Vetos, Ms. Gulck and I often end up having a good laugh about one thing or another, but really I find that I am often surprised at how much you youngins make us laugh. You all have a wicked sense of humor, keep us smiling and entertained and can often make me chuckle and SOMETIMES SMH and I love it. I am silly and pro silly….well…to a certain point. I guess I have heard some funny excuses and reasons for late returns or damaged books over the years.

Ms. Vetos: I was going to say nothing came to mind, but then I remembered the sky light over our head started leaking… splashing on our heads, that was kind of funny.

 

4. As a Jefferson library staff member, what is your favorite time of the school year?

Ms. Gulck: While the back-to-school season is definitely one of the busiest times of the year, it’s also one of my favorites. There’s an energy and excitement that comes with a fresh start. Those first few weeks are a whirlwind of helping students find books for their reading periods, but it’s also when we really start to build connections. I love seeing which students make the library their home base, watching new friend groups form, and getting to know all the new faces.

Ms. Holland: Hmm, I think I get most excited and energetic at the beginning of the year. 

Many of the English classes come through to encourage students to check out a book for reading period, and become more familiar with the space, etc. It’s a great time to meet and see the incoming freshman class. It can be busy, but it’s great; we love folks getting to know us and vice versa. 

March is a fun month, too, as we get to promote the joy of reading and importance of literacy across the Sioux Falls community. It usually involves some themed and interactive visuals to allow the students to watch in real time the literal upward movement of books being read! This year we made a Candyland-esque game board, and it was fun to chat with the students about each book they finished and see the school’s reading progress throughout the month. 

Ms. Vetos: I love the start of the year, seeing everyone return, hearing how their summers went and meeting the new students. Seeing everyone reunite with each other is so great. Getting to talk to all of the students and get to know them is my favorite part of my job (and recommending favorite books).

 

5. What advice do you have for our students?

Ms. Gulck: My advice for finding great books is the same as my advice for life: try new things, and don’t be afraid to change course if something isn’t working for you. There are so many amazing books out there, so if one isn’t grabbing your attention, don’t feel stuck. Keep exploring, and you’ll find something that clicks. The right book is out there waiting for you, just like the right path in life!

Ms. Holland: Never stop reading! It’s tough to put your phones down, I know,  I get it! But try to read even outside of reading period, and beyond high school.  Keeping space for books and reading in one’s life can build empathy, improve writing skills like expanding vocabularies, enrich social skills, and animate one’s curiosity.

Ms. Vetos: My advice is don’t sweat the little things. There are enough things in life to worry about.  Pick up a good book to read, and come back to it, it will seem smaller.

 

6. What’s your biggest pet peeve as a Jefferson library staff member?

Ms. Gulck: My biggest pet peeve is overdue books — not the ones that are a few days or even a couple of weeks late, but the ones that are months overdue. Renewing a book literally takes seconds, and when books from the very first week of school are returned at the end of the year without even being read, it’s especially frustrating. Often, someone else has been waiting for that book, and it could have been enjoyed by others if it had been returned sooner.

Ms. Holland: When people say they hate reading or quit a book after only a few pages. Give it time to cook! 🙂 OR When students press print list, DO NOT PRESS PRINT LIST -iykyk- and if not, please just ask us for help! We love to help!

Ms. Vetos: Checking out two really popular new books at the same time and keeping them both for 2-3 months. If you are going to keep them that long, just check out one please.