@image /content/dam/pebblegodev/blog/Lauren%20Lynn.png PebbleGo Community member spotlight graphic. The image shows the PebbleGo Beagles article on an iPad and a book. For this month’s Community Member Spotlight, I had the pleasure of connecting with [b]Lauren Lynn[/b], a passionate librarian with over two decades in education. With 22 years in the field, 18 of them spent in the library, Lauren has seen firsthand how [b]powerful[/b] the [b]school library[/b] can be for students. From creative lessons to meaningful research projects, Lauren’s library is a place where curiosity thrives. But as she shared during our conversation, the role of a librarian is often much bigger than people realize. @h6 The Many Hats of a School Librarian When people picture a librarian, they often imagine someone sitting at a desk checking out books all day, but it’s [b]much more than that[/b]! “The role is really about teaching,” Lauren explains. Her days are filled with delivering lessons, planning instruction, running the school’s morning news show, maintaining the school’s website, and supporting teachers and students with technology. Like many librarians, she balances being an educator, technology leader, and [b]literacy advocate[/b] all at once. Before stepping into the library, Lauren spent several years teaching Pre-K, but her love of books and libraries began long before her career started. As a child, she often played “school” and always chose to be the librarian, even asking for a date stamper as a gift. Her mom, who read to her from infancy, helped nurture that early love of reading. @h6 Advocating for the Role of School Librarians Right now, Lauren and many librarians across Maryland are [b]navigating a challenge[/b] that hits close to home. A proposed regulation could replace certified school librarians with aides. For Lauren, this isn’t just a policy discussion; it’s about protecting the role librarians play in student learning. Research shows that schools with certified librarians often see [b]higher student achievement[/b] compared to schools without them. Because of this, Lauren has been actively advocating for the profession and is currently drafting a proposal for the Maryland State Department of Education highlighting the importance of trained and licensed librarians. She’s encouraged by the support she’s seeing from fellow librarians and her school community. @h6 Research Made Accessible With PebbleGo When it comes to research, PebbleGo is one of Lauren’s [b]go-to tools[/b]. Her school recently completed a fun “Dogs vs. Cats” project where students researched different breeds before designing a fictional library pet. After gathering facts using PebbleGo, students created digital posters to campaign for their library pet, and the school community voted on the winner. “It had everything we needed right there,” Lauren explains. [b]PebbleGo is also her first stop[/b] when introducing a new topic. She often uses the copy link feature to quickly place articles or eBooks into her LMS so students can access them easily. She also appreciates the ready-to-use activity plans and the ability to search by standards within [b]Educator Tools[/b], which helps streamline lesson planning. @h6 Supporting Every Type of Learner Lauren works with students who have a wide range of reading abilities and research confidence. For her, accessibility is essential. By linking both PebbleGo and PebbleGo Next when topics overlap, she’s able to easily [b]differentiate[/b] for students who may need simpler text or those ready for [b]deeper exploration[/b]. The audio support is another feature her students love. Listening to the narrators while following along helps early learners build confidence as they explore new topics independently. @h6 The Moments That Make It All Worth It After more than two decades in education, Lauren says the most meaningful moments often come from the [b]connections[/b] she builds with students. One of her favorite parts of the day is personally checking out books to eager readers. Those small interactions give her the opportunity to learn about their interests, recommend new titles, and encourage them to explore perspectives they might not have considered before. Seeing former students years later is another highlight. She still remembers a student from her very first year teaching pre-K who learned [b]American Sign Language (ASL)[/b] in her classroom. That early experience sparked such a passion that the student continued studying ASL throughout high school and even considered majoring in it. Moments like that remind Lauren just how powerful early encouragement can be! @h6 A Job That Truly Matters When asked what advice she would give other librarians, Lauren doesn’t hesitate. “[b]It’s the best job in the school[/b],” she says. “You have such an impact. Stick with it, even through the tough times because the kids need it and deserve it.” And when it comes to trusted tools in her library, one thing is certain. “PebbleGo is my go-to. It’s safe, reliable, and I just love it.” @image /content/dam/pebblegodev/blog/Lauren-Lynn-footer.png An image of a librarian with a yellow and pink background. @h6 Join the PebbleGo Community If you’re inspired by Lauren’s approach to creating an engaging, student-centered library, be sure to join the [b]PebbleGo Community[/b] to connect with other educators, share ideas, and discover new ways to bring learning to life. As Lauren and many librarians across Maryland [b]advocate for the importance of certified librarians[/b], it’s also a great time to support and uplift the vital role librarians play in schools. Together, we can help ensure libraries remain spaces where students explore, research, and grow. Don’t forget to join the [url=https://www.pebblego.com/resources/community]PebbleGo Community[/url] to see, share, and implement new ideas into your space! We are excited to connect with you! @button #8DF1FF https://www.pebblego.com/resources/community/sign-up Join the Community