SLJ Talks to Media Specialist Judith Dahill about Her Extreme Makeover
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Debra Lau Whelan -- School Library Journal, 09/18/2007
Judith Dahill, a media specialist at the High School of Fashion Industries in New York City, just won an extreme makeover—and not just for her school library, but for herself, too, courtesy of Jones New York/Lowe’s.
Dahill entered the Third Annual Back to School, Back to Style Contest honoring teachers and was one of seven educators nationwide to be selected as a winner. Now her library will go from looking drab to fab—and Dahill gets a brand-new wardrobe to boot.
A new library for you and your students! Is this a dream come true?
I almost had a heart attack. I’ve been having so much fun telling people about it. I told my summer school classes about the makeover, and they called me Cinderella. The actual makeover takes place October 2, and NY Cares is working on coordinating all aspects of it. About 200 volunteers are coming to my school not only to make over my library, but also selected areas of the building, like the student cafeteria, auditorium, and the teachers' lounge.
What made you enter?
Someone posted the contest on the NYC School Librarian Information Sharing Tool. It sounded wonderful. I’ve been trying to get a makeover for my library, so this opportunity seemed to have my name on it. Also, I told the students that I would be willing to get a makeover only if we could get the library makeover. So I encouraged them to nominate me. On the basis of their nominating me, I won!
Why do you think you won?
I’m a high-energy librarian. I am an excellent teacher; I am very organized and excited about bringing my library into the 21st century with technology and technology skills. My students teach me what they need. I do the best I can to get what they need to succeed.
I also really need a makeover, because I have two children: my son, Morgan, is eight and my daughter, Gisele, is four. I used to be thin and so cute, but now I’m too busy. So I needed a makeover like the ones you read about in magazines and see on TV. I need to get ready for work in five minutes and look good. My favorite show was Extreme Makeover. It was a Cinderella story every Thursday night at 8 p.m..
Tell me about your makeover. What are you expecting to look like?
It’s so funny. They want the makeover people to cut and dye my hair to get rid of the grey. They told me that they will probably get rid of my glasses. They want to give me a personal shopper. The students' vision of what will happen to me is really cute. The students want to jazz up their librarian!
This is the story I am telling my students: “October 2, I, as Cinderella, arrive at school at the assigned time. I get whisked away in a Hummer or limo. I arrive at Macy’s for my makeover. They do everything: hair, makeup, new wardrobe. I arrive back at school to see what the students have done with the 200 volunteers to make our school go “from drab to fab.” Then I go from room to room and end up at the library, my classroom.”
What's been the reaction to the library makeover from your students?
They are so excited about working with the volunteers from Jones New York and NY Cares. They are so proud that their teacher and their school have been chosen. I have 50 to 60 interns every semester who help me run the library during their free period, their lunch period, or before they leave school. They want to celebrate with me, and they love it when I tell them to call me Cinderella.
Do you have a great collection to go with this new library?
I’ve made large changes to the library in the past four years I’ve been at HSFI. Our statistics for circulation, classes, and individual research are sky-high-ing. Hey, I know that when library usage and spending on libraries increase, so does student achievement, according to the research from the Colorado studies.
Although I’ve received a technology grant for laptops and a SmartBoard, the physical place needed to be as beautiful as all the students in our school. We are a vocational high school with 90 percent girls. The students come to school looking so fine, with amazing glitter and designs; so I know that making the library into a beautiful place will make students and staff feel comfortable, and they will be able to read, relax, and [conduct] research in a beautiful library.
